The Red Cloud chief., 1889-03-08

ayes, and you are"
mother CABRERA Cross my palm. Rood
lady, and I'll tell your fortune" Then
Wrinkled hand Was held up 70 the gase d
the fair equestrienne.
'+Good! I've been wanting my fortune
told for . long time. Here. Now tell ms
the truth and nothing but the truth, on your
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
~ over the precious metal. TRUSTING the
money from sight in the folds Of her dirty
gown, Mother CABRERA grssped the small
brown hand held down for her Inspection
and glanced Ut the various lines crossing It
There was no revelation OF her thoughts
In the parchment face OF Mother CSbera
She examined the hand in hers for some
moments in silence.
II see clouds ahead. trouble, . life sacrir
iced 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 . cooling sensation crept over her gay
spirits.
81 will not tell you more, the picture ID
too black. Poor child! poor child!" and
Mother CABRERA dropped the girls hand and
turned away her head, - IL TO hut Out
some terrible vision.
"Tell me ALL" demanded Lura, hall
angrily.
"But il il too bad"
"Then refund the money"
Once more Mother CABRERA looked into the
piquant face Of the girl on horseback. There
was Q look akin to pity on the parchmen,
face, then she ono more grasped Lufa's
hand and proceeded:
"The black cloud that I 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 a human heart.
hear Q woman's wall OF woe, see his hand
appraised against her, and then she falls
Oh! it is wicked. She lies in . darksome
place dead, and he goes out TO win the grea,
heiress, smiling Is ever, with no q u
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
noe without their effect, and brave Lura
could not repress the shudder that crep'
swiftly over her frame.
"That is all"
Mother CABRERA At once moved away to
ward the cabin.
With . long, ~quivering sigh, Lurs re
sumed her journey. She was not superssi
tious, but, nevertheless. the words Of the
old wood witch had . deep effect and
brought unpleasant thoughts TO the mind
Of the orphan girl.
"Of course there's nothing in such
things argued LuraA IL thought ! hsd
more sense thar to allow the sayings Of
such q tOOthless bag to trouble me in the
least"
Then she urged her horse to greater
speed. The path soon became ill-defined
it altogether. She now realized that it was
CT 70 S;oac.ieid.
~ do believe I shall have 70 turn back q
il is," sighed the bewildercd girl. Then
she glanced NJ at the sky to note the fac,
that it was almost night, and that cloud.
were gathering adown the western horizon
"Night and . storm coming"
There "a . solemn ring in the words
and At that moment Lura would have given
. goodly sum TO have been safely housed .,
Lone Hollow. She found herself in an oper
woods, the ground level and grass-grown
Tho place wa pleasant enough, but the
solitude was depressing. Remembering
her letter she thrust her hand into hel
bosom TO draw it forth.
A low cry escaped her lips.
The letter was gone!
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 heraelf that the let
ter, on account Of which she had undertaken
the journey, was lost
She must needs return now, since thert
could be no object in continuing ON 70 Stone
Geld withou Grace Peuroy's letter.
''How could have lost it"
This was the burden of the young girls
thoughts - she rode slowly on the return
Eagerly securing the ground until darkness
fell Lura rode, and then she drew rein with
. low exclamation Of impatience and cha
grin.
Il don't suppose the letter amount t(
much after oil. Grace can write another,
and there are other days 70 como in which
it can be delivered. but it is provoking after
all. l wonder il old Mother CABRERA had .
hand In the mischief. I'll interview the
lady when I again strike her mansion"
Then. uttcring a seemingly merry laugh,
which had in it . ring Of defiance for the
fates, the maiden touched Romeo with her
whip and Was once more borne on her way.
lnnumcrable stars came out and dotted
heavens blue orb. The threatened storm
did not come, aud when Lura found herselt
once more in the vicinity Of the fortune
teller's cabin she began to breathe easier.
Tho trail she was following ran along nsal
the edge Of . deep gulch. which assured the
girl that she could not be far from Mother
Cabers's CABIN.
Suddenly Romeo came TO Q stand. In vain
did Lura urge, he refused 70 move another
step, and soon began to snort with fear.
Something is wrong, surely. ! never
knew Romeo to act 30 strangely before"
PeerinR forward Lura gave uttersnce &c
. sudden. startled cry. A human hand bad
grasped her birdie rein. and . pair q gilt
terine eyes peered up into her face
For the moment the girl wal parslysed
with . dreadful fear.
"liss. you'll have to get Oh the hoss."
Quickly Lura raised her ridin0-whip and
dealt the speaker . blow in the face with
Ill her strength, ut the same time speaking
70 her horse.
With . mad cry the man reeled back He
chung to the rein, however, and - the horss
forged ahead dragging him forward.
smother hand grasped the arm Of Lura md
snatched her from the saddle.
"Ncver mind the hoss, Bill, I've got the
gal"
And then Lura heard Romeo tearing
swiftly down the bridie>path while she was
left struggling in the arms Of . man
"Release me. villainr"
Then Lura was not permitted to speak
further. A broad palm was prcssed over
her lips. and strong Arms hfted her from
her feet. Struggle - she would. escape