The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-03-13
THE FORTUNE-TELLER.


Conrad Won Arnheim, Lieutenant in
Czekler's Hussars, marched from Mi
cios-Var, in Pennsylvania, at the head
of body of old troops and recruits, to
join his regiment in the environs of Or
sova, and forming a part of the corps
then operating against the Turks.
They halted to rest and refreshed the
men and horses at a small village not
far from the lines of the army. After
eating the best suppers that money
could procure, the Baron lighted his
meerschaum and strolled for the even
ing walk. Perceiving an unusual
crowd ABOUT one of the bivouac fires, he
drew near TO see what was going on.
The object of attraction was tall,
swarthy, dark-eyed and black-haired
Bohemian woman, dressed rather rich
" in a sort of half-Oriental costume,
who held the hand of a SCARED and
gray-haired veteran. She was telling
his fortune.
.Son of the Danube" said she,
"your days are numbered. Fire and
steel have spared you thus far-but the
bullet is cast that will cost you the
number of your mess. Ere three
horse and the rider will have parted
company"
The old soldier turned away from
the prophecies with blank look.
There won't be many of our troops
left, Lieutenant said an old hussar,
touching his cap to the Baron, '.if the
woman speaks true. She has predict
ed the same fate to half-a-dozen of US.
'.Who is shep" asked the Baron.
"a vivandiere," replied the hussar.
'.Faith she sells good wine and brandy
they say-and gives credit sometimes,
on good security. She never loses, [
fancy-and then she turns a penny by
telling fortunes"
who comes next for his fortune?"
asked the Bohemian, glancing her
brilliant, snake-like eyes around the as
sembly. "Who Graves knowledge of
the wise Zela?''
That do |, Mistress" said the Bar
on, gayly, advancing and ungloving his
hand. Il have no faith in your fore
bodings, though my tire-eaters seem so
daunted by them"
The fortune-teller curiously scanned
the lines on the Baron's palm.
The twentieth of August" said she.
The twentieth of Augustr repeat
ed the Baron; that's wonderfully ex-
plicit. What am | to make of that?
ask you for my fortune, and you re-
ply
.The twentieth of Augustr' repeat
ed the fortune-teller, dismissing him
with a wave of her hand 81 tell no
more tonight. But forget not the
date-you will have occasion to re-
member it."
And with these words she turned in
to tent where her merchandise was
stored, and drew the canvas over the
opening. The deep voice of the sor
ceress, her striking face, figure and
manner, the oracular laeonism and
mystery of her reply, contributed to fix
her words on the Counts memory, and
mingling with his prayers that night,
1.-The twentieth of August" seemed
whispered by a busy demon.
Ia due time the Count reached the
army, whose fatigue and dangers he
shared. 1t is well known that in this
war the Turks made no prisoners.
Their leaders had set the price of a du-
cat on each head brought into camp,
and spahis and janissaries neglected
no opportunity of earning it. This ar
rangement was fatal to the Austrian
outposts. There was scarcely a night
that the Turks did not come in super
ior numbers to seek for heads. and
their expeditions were conducted with
such secresy and promptness that they
rarely failed, and often at day-break a
portion of the camp was guarded only
by deeapitated trunks. The Prince of
Coburg conceived the idea of sending
every night strong pickets of cavalry
outside the chain of videttes, to pro-
tect them. These pickets consisted of
from one to two hundred men; but the
Turkish generals. irritated at seeing
their men disturbed in the wholesale
and retail business they had engaged
in, sent detachments yet more numer-
Gus against the infdel pickets, which
yielded them yet handsome per cap
ita return. The picket service, there
fore became of such nature that,
when a man was detailed for it, it was
really worth his while to settle his lit
tie accounts before setting his foot in
the stirrup.
month of August. A few skirmishes
had not changed the position of the ar
my. Eight days before the twentieth
our friend, the Baron. was favored by
| visit from the fortune-teller. He had
frequently seen her by the way, and
purchased provisions Of her. and
though her manner was strangely
naughty and repellant at first, still he
| had managed to overcome her reserve,
and was on quite familiar terms with
| her.
What now?" was his salutation.
81 came on a begging errand," said
the vivandiere. ''You are rich and I
am poor"
Nonsense said the Baron. My