The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-02-23


nis anxious inquiries could only au-
swer that would call again on the
morrow. | told him his daughter had
no organic disease,--I was sure Of it.
This assurance gave him hope.
On the following day saw Cordelia
Gregory again, and spent another hour
by her side.
And so, for a week, | visited her
daily. / should have been less than
human had not, in that time, learned
to love the sweet gentle.natured girl.
Had my heart been already another's,
should at least have given her sis.
ters place, but my heart had been all
mine own until she possessed it. And
in weeks time she had come to wei
come me with brighter kindling of
the azure eyes, and warmer flush of
the fading cheeks. And yet, during
all this time | had been utterly unable
to analyze her disease She was fail.
ing just as the rippliAg brooklet fails
when its fountain is drying up.
1t was on my seventh visit, that, as
| sat by her side, with her hand in
mine, her head dropped upon my
shoulder. / was thrilled to the very
centre of my being, and, without tax
ing time to consider, | drew her nearer
to my bosom, and eagerly cried,-
"Cordelia!-O, for my sake live
live"
One of her hands crept up around
my neck, and she answered.
II have not cared to live until now
but it is too late too late II an
dying-dying-dying
And she wept upon my bosom.
AT that moment knew that Cor
della Gregory was the victim of some
frigntful hallucination. Something
was wearing her life away through hel
Imagination. She had made up hel
mind to die, and nature was gradual,
but surely, succumbing to the menta
force. | dared not then question her
When | next joined her father | ask
ed him if his daughter had any femal,
friend whom she particularly trusted
as a mate and contidant.
There was one--a Mary Larkin-
who had recently removed to distan
part of the State She and Cordeli;
had been like sisters until within TIVE
months, when the removal of Mar,
had separated them.
"We must send for Mary Larkin,
said: "and | must see her before sh
sees our patient
| Mr.. Gregory was ready to do any
thing. Mary Larkin was sent for
and she came-a bright faced, true
hearted girl-just such an one as
should have supposed would win tn
confidence and love of Cordeia.
sat down with her, and gave her t.
understand what | wished She start
ed when l told her what | thought wa
the matter with her friend, and afte
little reflection she laid her han
upon my arm and looked up earnestl
into my face.
doctor" she said, 81 am remihde
of circumstance which had almos
slipped from my memory; but you
7 fears for Cordelia bring it back yer
vividly to my mind"
And she told me as follows: Nearl
year before a band of gipsies ha
been encamped upon the outskirts c
the town, and of their number thel
was an old sibyl-a dark eyed, wlert
faced woman, whose whole make u
: was awe inspiring and mysterious
woman who told fortunes, and col
cerning whom wonderful stories wei
related.
"One day." went on Mary, "a part
,, , of us visited the gypsy camp, and Il
sibyl intercepted us. [ allowed her
tell my fortune, and others of our pa
ty did the same. She not only pro!
nosticated for the future, but she tol
things of the past with marvellous a
curacy. AT length she approache
Cordelia, but the girl would not SUI
nit. The sibyl persisted, and Cord
/, liza resolutely refused, at the san
! time declaring the calling was an in
pious one At length the bedlam, in
spiteful way, drew forth from HI
bosom a bit of reed, like a piece
dried catnip stalk, and having split
she took therefrom pellet of pape
which she gave to Cordelia, biddin
; her to take it home with her, and NJ
to look at it save in the privacy of hi
own chamber Then the old woma
hobbled' off, and our attention W;
: Immediately attracted by glee girl. "
"Several times after that / askC
Cordelia what she found in the pap,
, !, the slbyl had given hers but she new
: : gave me a direct answer, though 81
would have me believe the thir
amounted to nothing at all. / remer
Der it all very well now and ] CT
also remember that the last time
spoke to her of the gypsy's pellet, s.
started as thoug the subject gave h
pain and of course | did not refer
= it again"
: SEQ to Cordelia,' | said, sand fiji
6 out what was in that paper Do n
= use my name. Let her not know that y
: have seen me, Your revelation Civ
me the light of new hope. Co.,
= and make no failure"
On the following day | met Ma
Larkin in MIR. Gregorys parlor. S
! had found the paper.
II have acted both traitor and THE
= she said, as sh9 put out her har
y "First | won Cordelia's confidence
. pledge of secrecy; and next, st,
y y this paper from a secret compartme
of her writing desk"
Sand this said /, sis the pap
'" which the gypsy gave herr"
', "The very same
'. Mary gave it to me, and took it
" my fingers and opened it, 1t wa,
u triangular bit of letter paper, mu
u worn and soiled, and it bore charact,
y written with brilliant vermillion il
y The writing was cramped, but pla
u and distinct, and this is what "
!. written;
"a ''Malden, now so bright and fair,
70 OF the future take no care
o Within the twelyemOnth next TO come
I Thine early pllgTalnage Is DONE
u Bear IN MIND the mStlc date
N | No power OF earth can change thy fatel
" "SiXth mOnth-Fltth day,-lSlS