Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-04-18

Mother CABRERA. Cross my palm. good
lady, and I'll tell your fortune" Then
wrinkled hand was held up to the gaze OF
the fair equestrienne.
"Good! I've been wanting my fortune
told for a long time. Here. Now tell me
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
ly over the precious metal. Thrustlng 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 it.
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.
81 see clouds ahead, trouble, q 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 cooling sensation crept over her gay
spirits.
81 will not tell you more, the picture is
too black. Poor child! poor child!'' and
Mother CABRERA dropped the girls hand and
| turned away her head, as if to shut out
some terrible vision.
"Ieu me all, demanded Lura, nalI
angrily.
'.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 a look akin to pity on the parchment
face then she once more grasped Lura's
hand and proceeded:
1.-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. I
hear woman's wall of woe, see his 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
nos without their effect, and brave Lura
could not repress the shudder that crept
swiftly over her frame.
"That is 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.
"Of course there's nothing in such
things,' argued Lura Il thought I had
more sense than to allow the sayings of
such q toothless hag 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
10 20 IL ,bo,.
cut to Stoneteld.
81 do believe shall have to turn back as
it is" 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.
"Night and a storm coming"
There was solemn ring in the words.
and at that moment Lura would have given
a 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 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 herself that the let
,on account of which she had undertaken
the journey, was lost
She must needs return now, since there
could be no object in continuing on to Stone
field withou Grace Penroy's letter.
''How could have lost it!"
This was the burden of the young girls
thoughts as she rode slowly on the return.
Eagerly securing the ground until darkness
fell Lura rode and then she drew rein with
a low exclamation of impatience and cha
grin.
81 don't suppose the letter amounts to
much after all. Grace can write another,
and there are other days to come in which
it can be delivered, but it is provoking after
all. wonder il old Mother CABRERA had a
hand IN the mischief. I'll interview the
lady when 1 again strike her man SION"
Then, uttering seemingly merry laugh,
which had in it a ring of defiance for the
fates, the maiden touched Romeo with her
whip and was once more borne on her way.
lnnumerable stars came out and dotted
heavens blue orb. The threatened storm
did not come, aud when Lura found herself
once more in the vicinity OF the fortune
teller's cabin she began to breathe easier
The trail she was following ran along near
the edge of deep gulch, which assured the
girl that she could not be far from Mother
Cabera's cabin.
Suddenly Romeo came to stand. In vain
did Lura urge, he refused to move another
step, and soon began to snort with fear.
'Something is wrong, surely. l never
knew Romeo to act so strangely before"
Peering forward Lura gave utterance to
a sudden, startled cry. A human hand had
grasped her bridle-rein, and pair of gilt
tering eyes peered up into her face.
For the moment the girl was paralyzed
with dreadful fear.
"Miss, you'll have to get off the boss"
Quickly Lura raised her riding-whip and
dealt the speaker a blow in the face with
all her strength, at the same time speaking
to her horse.
With mad cry the man reeled back. He
chung to the rein, however, and as the horse
forged ahead dragging him forward,
another hand grasped the arm Of Lura and
snatched her from the saddle.
"Never mind the boss, Bill, I've got the
gal"
And then Lura heard Romeo tearing
swiftly down the bridle-path while she was
left struggling in the arms of a man.
"Release me. villain!'
Then Lura was not permitted to speak
further. A broad palm was pressed over
her lips, and strong arms lifted her from
her feet Struggle as she would, escape
was impossible.
"Jest keep quiet!" Kissed voice in her
ear. ''Mebbe you'll fare better if you quit
your tantrums."
'sDon't bother with the she cat,' said 4
voice. Here's the place to dump the crit
ter and no questions asked tn be an &C