The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-27
SUPERSTITION.

was standing az the month OF the pcnti il
mont OF the Central when the trembling book
folder came forward and scanned the On
trance, much as many look at "a dentists door
She was ghasily pale and so Worn and thi,
that ! could have believed that she wa,
straight from a sickbed instead Of her work
think she,.ras about to turn and shrinl
away again, when her eve caught mine anc
] said:
Are yon looking for any oueF
"oh, no." she answered, IN a tone thai
meant "Oh. yes" and with a little NOR.
shrinking: then, seeing me smile she took
courage sad said.
rs there really such a man rs MGovanY'
laughed outright, and her courage seemed
- rse az tho sound, Tor she almost smiled in
concert
"Oi course there is-dont YOU see tner
Dear me arc you MGovanr she ex.
claimed quite forgetting her terror in the
nom'niary surprise II thought he was a
fearful man.
$50 aa. Are you not in terror before
me- A9e sou not afraid III eat YOU up on
the spot"
She laughed heartily, but when she had
done the old weary look came back 10 her
face
81 don't know il I've any right 10 bo
hese she saii, with the dentists door look
again seizing her "lsn't fortune telling
against the lawT
"les, If they take money for it. Did you
give them money!
81 didn't got my fortune told she slowly
answered, with tears i'm her eyes. $50 I've no
night Go bother you With my trouble"
"Oh, &c was somebody that got the fortune
toldn
NO. its not that either, for I've no right
e. interfere with what She does. but there
must D. something wrong IN ~ when IL has
turned my lad against me-" and she burst
ont into I'll Of CRYING. 50 had
90 get her inside TO take her
away from prying eyes. She gave me
her name as Bella Richardson and her trade
as "a book folder. naming n big printing place
not far OF as the shop IN which she worked
and hy the time had these details jotted
down she bad so FAR recovered ne to be able
70 look around her and speak more calmly
But her excitement remained, and her mind
evidently still ran on her wrongs, for she ex
claimed.
I'm sure That fortune teller is at tire bot
tom of 30, bat Gamma prove 1t. She came t.
the workshop one day selling needles and
tapes and things, and She told Rosina vii
son fortune for sixIence and said she was
T. SEQ fair man who didn't care for her al
that time. though she was daft about him
Ny lai B. fair. and Rosua Wilson was just
mad 90 ge, him, hut he never would look az
her Hisname is George Marshall, and he's
"a French polislor. aud works near orr shop"
"Bu, how could that prediction affect your
lovers regard for you when he did not hear
10 made ] observed. little amused 40 her
gravity.
81 cont know how it was done. but h.
never was the same 10 me after, and / re
memtercl thon that Iosina followed the
fortune teller out of tie shop. and stood
speaking 20 her Tor ten minutes. and gave
her more money. know she gave her more
money, for the lassie tha. SAW 10 si'en would
n0t tell me "a lie
Nv hat was Che extra money forN
81 don't know, bat I think 10 was for
charm
"A charm. What on earth is that'
Something that would turn him from me /
e. her, she answered, biushiug at her own I
confession.
"bicss me- is il possible tia! any human /
being believes such nonsense ~ the present I
day. warmly exclaimed why you're a /
thousand years behind Your time"
2 ',ne hung Ler head, bat speedily returned /
20 her point
''.'he dii something o. Linn, and it was
through that fortune teller. for No were 10
be married ia June, and now he never looks
near me. And Zoe is never away from him.
and She told one " the las,ics that she's 70
be married o. him next month"
"You had quarreled with linn OF disap.
pointed him iu some wayl
no. never had a word with him, and ]
believe hes as fond of mo as ever. J ken by
by the way be looks at me when i pass him
ca tie street,
"Iuts cs fond % you as ever, and going 10
marry another woman-tlats absurd
Yes. that's the charm that's on him, and
itll never break tiil he's married o. her"
"lmplm. that's common enough without
fortune tel.eis being in the business at ALL
remarked But what do YOU want me 70
to' You can't expect me 10 90 and say,
Cham come ol him, and 90 on 20 some
man.. That's d little beyond my
power Then YOU 10 not charge tbs fortune
teller because she dil not tell your fortune
b. take money from you. Did you never
ask ban why De had changed towards your
"No. conduit I'm too proud 20 DO that. ,
Il b. doesn't want me be mist lustEo with !
bat me-" Eut the pride did not seem u give
ler great comfort, for she cried again quite I
utterly Aftera little, however, sLc thought ,
hat tle capture OF the fortune teller might
layo some effect in weakening the charm ON
.er lover and agreed O. get ono OF her com [
aniona in the saop O. come and Get informa- d
ion upon which we could act Accordingly y
be 70 and returned in the evening with au- z
thor gIgl. who not only described The telling {
Z beg fortune and the paying Of the money, a
ut Furnished me with TIE name and address b
tha torture teller, which bad been LEFT with d
er iest any Of Der friends should wish the
arrilan's aid. Mag Sfoiric was not a gypsy, e
nd knew 10 more Of divination by cards OF a
{ paImistiy than tho man in The moon, but I,
las simply a cunning old bag, with few b
.ruple.. and nil her wits about her, ready 10 b
AN a shilling in the easies, and safest way. II
ho lived iu Haikefston's Wynd and had il
.uci nicer home than any other successful "
lief in ray Ken Up tin that time had 5,
ever paid any attention % her, as shc ar 81
ct..d - be weak 1nfoid, and totterel along II
itA hof basLe, of tapes and needles as pa d
Ictlcaliy as AZ she had just been uIoppiNs
10 the grave. and seemed u be earning an v
oncss livelihood Now, however, / had b
~ Interest IN her, for the story Of the book e'
,lder had impressed me Ia spite Of myself n
'hatcyer may he said OF a wOman's reason,
sr instincts are quick enough and seldom at d
.ulf, and this giri seemed % feel Ia some la
az that there bad been conspiracy be.
veen the fortune teller and her rival which n
"a resulted IN her losing Der husband. Her b'
w suffer.ngs had been terrible. and her
,mpanion assured me that month or two W
fore she had been the bonnlesi and Freshest
ssis Ira the works. though now but gbastly nc
Gdow. apparently on the verge Of The grave.
DO following evening waited at tho door sh
the printing place and bad her rival, ey
,sina Wilson, pointed out % me. There alb
Is nothing very daring Or wicked ia her an
pearance. She was very dark 10 complex be
and hair and rather smart looking-a hel