The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-04-03

-
"I've heard there Is short cut to the
town, mused the young girl IS she rode
out Of the hollow at an easy pace, "And they
do say that 1t leads past old Mother
Cabera's hut the gipsy fortune-teller. I've
good notion TO take that route, ! should
save time, and might see the old hag, TO
boot. What say. Romeo, shall we take the
path or the dusty road TO StoneheldW
She patted her horse gently, speaking to
him as though he were human.
A low Whitney answered her appeal,
and Lura laughed
| "You say yes, good Romeo. Well, I'll
think on II, as the old Romans would say"
When she came TO the path that turned
from the main highway, Lura drew rein
and sat for some moments in brown study.
She glanced up at the sun, then into the
woods, which looked cool and inviting.
The sun was long past the meridian, and
should she follow the road It would set long
ere the goodly town Of Stoneheld was
reached. Lura was Of On adventuresome
disposition, and seldom weighed the conse-
quences.
"Who's afraid !" she at length exclaimed,
tossing her head until the ostrich plume on
her iaunty hat danced like thing Of life in
| the breeze. r
Then she guided her horse deliberately
into the woods on the path that was quite
plainly visible at this time.
Progress through the woods was neces-
sarily slow, however, and Lura began 10
suspect that she had been little the gamer
by leaving the road Nevertheless she
would not retrace her steps now.
Presently the path led along the edge Of
gulch, and a little later she came upon o
I rude log cabin but few feet back from the
path In front Of this cabin sat an old
woman smoking black clay pipe; against
the wall at her side leaned heavy staff.
"Mercy on US, here we have the old
gypsy fortune-teller nowl" exclaimed Lura,
drawing rein within a few PAGES OF the old
woman. my good woman, am l on the
right road 10 StoneHeldln
The crone removed her pipe and stared
without uttering word.
Lura felt just little queer when she
caught the CLEAN OF the old crone's black
eyes. There was a serpent glitter in their
depths, and the wriukled face seemed to
take on the aspect Of goblin.
~ asked IL l am on the right road TO
Stoneield"
al reckin."
How far is iti"
"Ten mile or thereabout.n
The old woman had found her tongue at
last.
"Goodness calculated Lura. 81 don't
seem TO be making much headway. must
be near two miles from the main road, and
when ] left that was but nine miles or
less from town. Can it be that have been
going Backward"
The old woman rose, and taking her cane
hobbled forward.
"ls missy goin' TO Stoneneldl"
"Tbats my intention"
"Are you from Lone Hollowl"
81 ann
"The new mistress, s'poseW .
"Not exactly" returned Lura, laughing.
~ am only a visitor there, friend Of the
family"
"You are Miss Joycep'
Eyes, and you are"
"Mother Cabera. Cross my palm. good
lady, and I'll tell your fortune" Then q
wrinkled hand was held up 10 the gaze Of
the fair equcstrienne.
"Goodl I've been wanting my fortune
/
tho truth and nothing but the truth, on your
honor, or I'll haunt your e
Lura dropped gold coin into the palm Of
the old wood witch. The recipients eyes
sparlied, and the bony fingers closed quick
ly over the precious metal Thrusting the
money from sight in the folds Of her dirty
gown, Mother CABRERA grasped the small
brown hand held down for her inspection
and glanced at the various lines crossing 1t.
There was no revelation Of her thoughts
In the parchment face OF Mother CABRERA
She examined the hand In hers for some
moments in silence.
~ see clouds ahead, trouble, 4 life sacri-
feed TO the greed OF one man." uttered the
fortune-teller, at length, In solemn voice
| The smile that had rested until this mo
ment on the face Of Lura Joyce vanished,
and ,ooling sensation crept over her gay
spirits. .las
"I will not tell you more, the picture Is
too black. Poor child poor childw and
Mother CABRERA dropped the girls hand and
turned away her head, as II TO shut out
some terrible vision.
"Tell mo ALL" demanded Lura, half
angrily
"But II is too bad q"
"Then refund the money!
Once more Mother Cabera looked into the
piquant face Of the girl on horseback There
was look akin 70 pity on the parchment
face, then she once more grasped Lura's
hand and proceeded: -f
"The black cloud that saw has been dis
PEELED, pushed aside to make room for the
last scene; 1t is one Of blood. A man, dark
and handsome, treads on human heart
hear o woman's wall OF woe, see his hand
hpraised against her, and then she falls I
Obi II is wicked. She lies In darlcsoue
place dead, and he goes out 70 win the great
heiress, smiling as ever, with no ore 10
know that he has murdered tho girl who
foolishly thought 10 thwart his will"
Again the witch paused.
Her words, spoken In q solemn tone, were
not without their effect, and brave Lura
could not repress the shudder that crept
swiftly over her frame.
"Thatis all"
Mother Cabera at once moved away To-
ward the cabin.
With q long, quivering sigh, Lura re-
sumed her journey She was not supersti-
tious, but, nevertheless, the words Of the
old wood witch had deep effect, and
brought unpleasant thoughts 10 the mind
Of the orphan girl
"Of course there's nothing in such
things" argued Lura 81 thought had
more sense than 10 allow the sayings Of
such toothless hag 70 trouble me in the
least" M
Then she urged her horse 70 greater
mn ~.