The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-03
FORTUNE TELLING.
GENTLEMEN...... ...................I 90
AADlES............'.,....... on


ia, but discovered it just after a sudden rain
storm had drenched me to the skin, and shelter
was what l longed for. AT the advertised
rates this would prove rather expensive,
but l entered the gate. felt in my pockets
to be sure that my wealth had not departed,
and knocked on the door that carried the an
nouncement on its panels. 1 was determined
first to get in out of the wet, then to learn
about my past and present condition, and as
much of futurity as could be secured for the
money.
While waiting for an answer to my knock
at the door I read the sign again, and it then
occurred to my financial bump that there was
no good reason for charging man twice as
much as a woman for the pleasure Of listening
to anecdotes of the dead past or predictions of
future happiness and sorrow. / had about
made up my mind to ask the
Seventh daughter of the seventh SON.
why she made this difference in tariff; but
just then she opened the door, and her vast
proportions doomed up before me. L buried
my inquistiveness and humbly bowed an
apology for intruding, at the same time asSur-
ing the prophecies that l would like to leave
q dollar in her care, in exchange for fortune.
The lady very deliberately ''sized me up"
The inspection over, she said, "Come in,
young man."
came.
No sooner was inside the door than this
wonderfully large woman locked it, This
filled me with sort OF fear that cannot be ex-
planned, but the imagination of other lonely
bachelors will fill in that part of my expert
ence.
The fortune-teller looked straight at and
through me once more, and then said, Come
into the parlor," leading the way in majestic
this-is-my-house sort of a stride that aroused
my admiration.
But as soon as the "parlor" was entered
80
ness one, the preliminary transaction
being transfer of my wealth to
the bosom of the prophecies. This seemed to
reassure her, and she became moro friendly,
asking me, with smile that made her look
more dangerous than ever, if wanted "all my
fortune told"
1 assured her that was willing to hear
everything that the dollar would pay for, and
she smiled once more. That was the last time
that have seen that smile, and it haunts mo
still.
But business now began.
Producing what l am almost certain
was deck OF common playing cards,
the LADY who was born with yeil''
shuf1ed them in mechanical sort of way and
laying them On the table which separated us
said "cut."
This separation was successfully performed
and my fortune was born.
In a voice that showed the ravages of time
and peppermint, the seeress informed me that
"
my parents were rich 1 was about to inform
her that she had made an error in starting me
out i'll life at that time and under such aus
pices, but she warned me with a look and I
kept quiet. She then proceeded:
'You have travelled far and wide over this
country, having had many interesting expe-
riences, some of which were very powerful in
shaping your life You have been a bold and
often successful Spectator, but will never be
a rich man"
AT this point she shuffied the cards again
and was on the point of asking her if she re-
ferred to my dollar deposit as bold specula-
ton on my part. Before L had time to ask
this question, she again ordered me to "cut,"
and did so. This was very prolific shuttle
evidently, as it conveyed the following start
ling information:
"You were born in n cold country and came
south to play baseball with the Augusta club,
arriving just in time to find out that this was a
cold country for poor ball players. just now
you are out of employment, but If you stay
here short time you will secure a good situa-
ton. You have a sweetheart in your old
homo and your letters to her are filled with
descriptions of Atlanta and some things about
yourself that are not true. You have been
flirting with this young lady and you do not
love her, but you do not dare to tell her 500
The portly lady was about to shuttle the
cards for another installment of this sort of
fortune, when =! tlmldiy asked her if she could
tell me something about myself that did not
KNOWN other words, if she could not get a
glimpse of the future in store for me.
She looked at me sadly, and said: 81 can
give you sitting for 81, if that is what you
want"
1 thought another dollar might work the
charm to some advantage and l parted with
the cash.
My second dollar disappeared in the same
manner as my first contribution to the won
derful woman, and then the "sitting" was in
order.
She told me to sit near her, and grasping
my left hand in grip like a Sullivan hand
shake, leaned back in her chair, closed her
eyes and seemed to go to sleep. l watched
her very closely, but there was nothing I'M
usual i'll her appearance-in fact, she looked
like the majority OF fat people who 20 to
sleep in chairs While L was considering the
peculiar surroundings, and wondering If /
would ever get my hand back again, the
prophecies heayed sigh that was even large
enough for lady Of her dimensions and in a
tone that made me sorry had patronized her,
said;
81 see before me shadow as Of some great
cloud that has enYeloped you in its embrace,
and for years estrangcd you from your friends.
This has been no fault of yours, but is the
work Of enemies who were Jealous of your sue
cess in business, and also of man whom you
suppose friend, who loved the woman who
had promised to become your wife. You CON
ided in him and lie betrayed your secrets and
poisoned the mind Of your bctrothed against
you. But the shadow is lifting-I see you
standing in the light indicated and admired"
At this tragic point in the seance there was
a grave doubt in my mind as to whether was
the man she thought / was. and I ventured 10
demonstrate with her about some inaccuracies
i'll the foregoing statement, particularly that
part which referred 10 my engagement TO a
young lady. She only squeezed my hand
harder, drew another sigh and procoeded
" You will be successful in your business in
days to come, and if you avoid speculation in
cotton during the month Of September, you
will 10 wise. 1t would be better for you not to
buy or trade until after the election in Noyem-
Der, particularly. avoid railroad stocks and
cotton"
L was beginning to get interested in this
affair by this time, and / gave the ladys hand
a very gentle pressure, and whispered conf
dentially, "Who will be elected president ia
November?"
She sighed again, free trade sigh. aud Civ
ing my hand a pressure of recognition, muir
INJURED. Harrison and Morton"
/ thought she must have made some error in
counting the votes, and, as / was getting very
confidential and friendly now, asked her If
she was certain that the republican ticket
would be elected
Certain" she almost shrieked. "Of course
] am certain. There is only one thing that
can prevent It, and that il death. did / not
predict the nomination Of this man Harrison
two DAYS before he was uOTniuafed9 did