Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-03-14
CHAPTER TX.
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III was ten mics 10 OlODeneiu through
comparatively unsettled country.
During her two weeks sOiourn at Lone
Hollow Lura Joyce had been twice over
the road on the back of her own animal,
feet black gelding she was pleased to call
Romeo.
"pve heard there j. short cut 70 the
town. unused the young girl as she rode
out ofthe hollow at an easy pace. s'And they
10 say that it leads past old Mother
Cabera's hut, the gypsy fortme-teller. I've
a good notion 10 take that route. Isshouid
save time, and might see the old bag, to
boot. What say, Romeo, shall we take the
path or the dusty road to Stonefeld!'
She patted her horse gently, speaking to
him as though he were human.
A low Whitney answered her appeal,
and Lura laughed
4" You say yes, good Romeo. Well, I'll
think on il, 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 a 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 Stonefield was
reached. Lura was OF an adventuresome
disposition, and seldom weighed the conse-
quences.
''whos afraid = she at length exclaimed,
tossing her head until the ostrich plume on
her jaunty hat danced like thing of life in
the breeze.
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 to
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 8
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 now exclaimed Lura
drawing rein within few PAGES of the old
woman. "My good woman, anu l on the
right road to Stonetield!'
The crone removed her pipe and stared
without uttering a word.
Lura felt just a little queer when she
caught the CLEAN OF the old crone's black
eyes. There was serpent glitter in their
depths, and the wrinkled face seemed to
take on the aspect of a goblin
81 asked if / am on the right road ia
Stonefeld.m
81 reckin. y
" How far is it,
"Ten mile or thereabout"
The old woman had found her tongue at
last
Goodness ~ Calculated Lura. II don't
seem to be making much Roadway. must
when l left that l was but nine miles OF
less from town. Can it be'that have been
going Backward"
hobbled forward.
is missy goin' TO Stonefield!"
That's my intention
Are you from Lone Hollow.n
II ann
sThc new mistress, / s'posetn
mot exactly returned Lura, laughing
II am only visitor there, friend of the
family
"You are Miss Joyces"
''Yes, and you are
Mother CABRERA. Cross my palm, good
lady, and I'll tell your fortune.p Then
wrinkled hand was held up to the gaze OF
the fair equestrienne.
Good I've been wanting my fortune
told for long time. Here. Now tell me
the truth and nothing but the truth, onyour
honor, or I'll haunt you"
Lura dropped gold coin into the palm OF
the old wood witch. The recipients eyes
sparkled, and the bony fingers closed quick
ly over the precious metal Trusting 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.
Il see clouds ahead, trouble, a Lille sacri.
feed to the greed of one man." uttered the
fortune-teller, at length, in a solemn voice
The smile that had rested until this mo.
ment on the face of Lura Joyce vanished,
and a cooling sensation crept over her gay
spirits.
I" / will not tell you more, the picture is
too black. Poor child poor childr' and
Mother CABRERA dropped the girls hand and
turned away her head, as if to shut out
some terrible vision.
"Tell me all, demanded Lura, half
angrily !.
9 But it is too bad -
"Then refund the money"
Once more Mother CABRERA looked into the
piquant face of the girl on horseback. There
was look akin to pity on the parchment
face, then she once more grasped Lura's
hand and proceeded:
''The black cloud that saw has been dis
PEELED, pushed aside to make room for the
last scene; it is one Of blood A man, dark
and handsome, treads on human heart
hear a woman's wall of woe, see hi hand
appraised against her, and then she falls
Oh! it is wicked. She lies in a darksome
place dead, and he goes out TO win the great
heiress, smiling as ever. with no one to
know that he has murdered the girl who
foolishly thought to thwart his will
Again the witch paused.
Her words, spoken in solemn tone, were
not without their effect, and brave Lura
could not repress the shudder that crept
swiftly over her frame
"Thatis all.'
Mother CABRERA at once moved away to-
ward the cabin.
With 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 to the mind
Of the orphan girl.
things" argued Lura. 81 thought had
more sense than TO allow the sayings Of
such toothless bag to trouble me in the
least
Then she urged her horse to greater
speed. The path soon became ill-defned,
and she began to fear that she might lose
it altogether. She now realized that it was
emistake, her turning aside to seek short
cut TO Stonetield
~ do believe shall have to turn back as
It isl sighed the bewildered girl. Then
she glanced up at the sky TO note the fact
that it was almost night, and that clouds
were gathering adown the western horizon.
might and storm coming"
There was solemn ring in the words,
and at that moment Lura would have given
goodly sum to have been safely housed at
Lone Hollow. She found herself in an open
woods, the ground level and grass-grown.
The place was pleasant enough, but the
solitude was depressing. Remembering
her letter she thrust her hand into her
BOSOM to draw it forth.
A low cry escaped her lips,
The letter was gonel
Quickly Lura wheeled her horse and
glanced eagerly down the path she had fol-
lowed No white object met her vision.
Then she made thorough examination Of
her person, satisfying herself that the let
ter,on account Of which she had undertaken
the journey, was lost
She must needs retarn now, since there
could be no object in continuing on to Stone
field without Grace Penroy's letter
How could have lost it,