Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-03-11
A Fortune Teller.

One day Mrs. Lorrimer's daughter,
Violet, was nowhere TO be found
neither was the gentleman, Senior Es-
pSnol, who taught the guitar. The
whole city was alarmed ty the accou Mt
of the mysterious disappearance of IA
beautiful belle and hard working gen.
tlemanly young foreigner. However,
when some one had discovered that the
last gave lessons to the first, an Infer.
ence was drawn by some cool locker
on.
"May they not have gone togetherp"
The mother at once drove the SLAM
derer from her presence, preferring the
idea that her Violet was murdered
However, before long penitent letter
all blotted with tears reached the poor
old lady, all alone in her great Fifth
Avenue mansion. Violet was married
to Senior Espanol.
The more one loves person the
more furious does any deception on her
part make one. A less loving mother
might have forgiven. Stung to mad
ness, this one wrote terrible letter to
the foolish girl who had so hurt her.
The husband, hot Spanlard, read it.
1t insulted him. and he forbade his
wife ever to see her parent again. To
do him justice, love, and no mercenary
motive, had led him to elope with the
pretty heiress.
So the gulf was fixed between the
only two Of the same blood who lived
on earth. and Seror Espanol began to
give lessons on the guitar for two in.
stead of one. Then for three, four and
five. If he had lived little longer it
would have been for six. But the day
the fourth child was born, a country
man, who had mistook him for rival,
stabbed him IN the back. He spologiz-
ed the next moment, but the poor VIC
tim did not live to hear him through,
but died trying to express the fact that
the gentleman Was perfectly excusahIe.
And so Violet, who lad bean very
happy with her music master, was left
q widow with four babies, no money,
and no accomplishment that had been
sufficiently cultivated to earn a living
by. Or course she took in sewing, and
of course day came when there was
very small prospect of supper and not
even a dream of breakfast.
Not penny in the house. not loaf
of bread in the closet, not dollars
worth of work to be got anywhere,
what was she to do ? The poor little
woman walked up and down the room
and cried. That did not help her. She
looked over the relics Of the past
There were pretty pieces of jewelry,
worth nothing. Valuable things had
all teen sold long ago. She glanced
out of the window. A woman with
very large new basket and no shoes
went begging from door to door.
The basket was worth two dollars
and half, the shoes could be bought
for two. The singular circumstances
preyed upon her mind. She began to
take an interest in the ways and man
ners Of beggars as the awful expecta-
tion of becoming one began to haunt
her.
II could drown myself" she said,
''but could not we'll drown four chill
dren. like litter of puppies"
Then leaning her chin on her hands
she watched from her window another
woman. with a handkerchief over her
head going from door to door. Was
she begging ? 1t seemed not. Once
or twice she entered and stayed some
time. At last she saw her at her own
door, and heard her going from room
to room. There was knock at the
door. She opened il, AID the woman
was there.
"Well ?" she said inquiringly.
LET me tell your fortune, lady. l
only charge twenty. five cents, "said the
woman.
my fortune is told, since l have not
twenty We cents in the world" said
Violet.
The woman turned away.
''Stop minute" said Violet. 'In
this age do people say you tell their
fortunes ?'
mo age is too Old" said the wo-
man. II just told an old lddy's for
tune below. 1t was in the cards that
she was to have husband-her fourth.
She gave me dollar. Look !" she o.
peued her palm II make money! do.
I'm seventh Child sea the future.
I'll take any bit of jewelry if you have
not any money. Have your fortune
told %