The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-01-03
HOW IT ENDED.

in this wicked world to know that even
single-blessedness is not always perfectly
satisfactory to its possessor of her pariicu-
lar style of beauty. She had hirsed with
several admirers; but she went too far
when she refused Billy Winkum because
he was poor and unknown, for Billy had
in him the stuff that makes a man rise
to some place opinions of his own, loud
voice, feeling that he was as good as any.
body else, if not little better, and talent
for Fourth of July orations. So that in
these years that had changed his old lady
love from that there handsome Jane Bea-
gle" to ''Miss Jane Beagle that hasn't ever
married" he had risen in the world and
been 70 Congress, and was such a person Of
distinction that no one would have dared
to called him Billy Winkum. Mr.. William
Warrington Winkum was his designation.
and q finer coat, more watch and chain. or
. larger diamond in his cravat were owned
by no one In Bilberry.
He had never married, but that made
him all the more desirable to Bilberry
society. he had met Jane very often there
and now that Jane would willingly have
proved 10 him that her decisive No OF if
teen years ago had been repented of. Bat.
alas Either Mr.. Winkum mo longer
grisved over that No, or he regarded it Is
inal.
ssAnd yet he hasn't married, /. said Miss
Jane, 'sand he doesn't f1irt around 'mongst
the young girls. nor pay attention to
widows. have not q gray hair. He is
i've years older than I am, anyway. Sup
pose he should like me still r.
However, concealment did not seem to
prey ike worm in the bud on Mr.. Will
liam Warrington Winkum's damask cheek
He shouted ON the platform at election
time with unimpaired lung power. and he
built himself house on the hill wherein
he installed housskeeper, his remarkable
grandmother, who had out-lived fourteen
children, and at ninety walked, rode
talked and ate with an energy not often
met with in q woman of forty
Oh that house, with its bright bricks.
its new shutters, its elaborate roof. its
stately chimneys, its balcony and front
porch, and its interior of Wilton carpets,
real Lace curtains and velvet parlor furni-
zure.
How often Jane Beagle said to herself
a. All this might have been mine If / had
said yes to Billy" She said it to herself
very OAtcA uuc 3hys a0u0t uUUSt-clSHAl4&
time, when she was doing her best with
the shabby old house that was all her own
now One after another had slipped out
of it-soma were married and some were
dead-nobody remained.
81 don't think can stand il much
longer" sighed Jane. II must take
boarders or something. Nobody 90 speak
20 all day long; if feel sick nobody to do
for me-"
Jane was down on the kitchen floor
scrubbing as sne spoke. The rag carpet
was hanging ON the line outside. The
rush-bottom chairs, well-scrubbed. were
turned upon the grass to dry; every pan
shOne beautifully but the wood was worm
eaten and the smoothest whitewash could
not make the walls fawless.
ssHeigh-ho |" sighed Jane, 81 like a
handsome house, but l shan't ever have
one of my own."
She said it aloud-a habit of talking to
herself had grown upon her-but to her
surprise she was answered on the instant
AZ Why, who knows?" said q voice, " you
may have the handsomest house in the
village yet, Who knows? Don't you want
me to tell you"
GOOD gracious cried Jane, jumping
to her feet . who is that ?"
Its only me, ma'am, replied a stout,
dark woman, with a big straw hat trimmed
with peoples on her ears. who sat upon the
door-sill and smiled at her merriiy. cts
only poor gypsy wandering over the world
to tell folks fortunes for them. Will You
have yours told, lady 2"
Miner" said Jane, laughing why,
am too old"
'sYou're young enough tor lots to be
ahead OF you, lady said the gypsy "Come,
that twenty five cents to yon to hear ali
yoar goo luck. Besides, luck il misnsed
sometimes If we are not on the lookout for
ii"
What woman does not believe IN her
Utmost heart that there are more things in
heaven and earth than are dreamed of in
philosophy? What single woman doubts
chat somewhere upon earth Fate keeps the
other half of her soul.
'1t would be foolish" said she, ssbut
nobody will ever know, and know I'll do
at"
She felt in her pocket for some chenge
1t was not there. She had given it to the
man who had mended the wash boiler that
norniBg. And she went to the drawer Of
the little bookcase with a sliding desk in it,
which stood in the sitting room, to get it.
The gypsy followed her, chatting, laughing,
limiting at things which brought the bushes
to james cheek. She peeped into the
drawer. There lay the silver spoons and
forks, the sugar tongs. brooch set with
pearls James only bit of costly jewelry-
and roll of bills. Miss Beagle drew her
little income once quarter, and kept it in
the house in fear of the savings bank,
which had once ceased payment for awhile.
The origbt eyes, set close together in the
gipsy's head, saw at a glance; and her
smile urao VA hrsr1,k &C. To q
twenty i've cents into her hsnd
II have taken notion to you," she said,
looking at the palm of the beautiful, il not
youthful hand that lay in hers "There's
luck afore you. There's one that is liked,
mot far off, Ell ?"
Jane blushed sgain.
Hell give you handsome house, and
set you up in a carriage" added the gypsy.
Now come up, lady your heart is toward
him, is it not ?"
"He does not care whether it is or not,
sighed Jane, unaware that she hal spoken
Lady" said the gypsy, solemnly, Il
have great power. II can bring together
the disunited. I can cure love troubles
Do as tell you, and he shall come to you
again
<sWhat am ] to d ?" asked Jane, carried
away by her own emotions and the gipsy's
dramatic manner.
sI'il tell you, lady" said the gypsy
'Kueel down here teside this chair Let
me cover your face with this handkerchief.
Don't be afraid, it's clean it is magic
handkerchief. Now think OF him. Think
of him you love; don't move until / tell
you"
People In love are generally little mad,
4 am afraid, and jane had been hopelessly
treasuring the image of Mr.. Warrington
Winkum in her heart for years. She did
what the g psy babe her.
The next moment she felt the handker-
chief tied tightly over her eyes, and next
her hands were tied with stout cord. She
zscreamAd, but some one was tying her feet
together.
ITS no use, lady," said the gypsy voice,
blandiy. I've got the key Of the drawer,
and I sha'n't hurt you. Ill help myself
60 and"
The spoon jingled. Miss Jane could not
see but she knew that the contents Of the