Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-14

arve heard there i : short cut to the
town, /" unused tn young girl a. sho rode
out Of the holl0w at IN easy pace g And they
do SAY that it leads past old Mother
Caberass hut, the gypsy fortune-teller. I've
good notion to take that route should
save time, and might see the old bag, to
boot. What say. Romeo, shall we take the
path or the dusty road to StoneHeadp' g
I She patted her horse gently, speaking to
him as though he were human.
low Whitney answered her appeal.
and Lura laughed.
/ 't,You say yes, good Romeo. Well. I'll
think on it, as the old Romans would say
When she came to the path that turned
fron' the main highway, Lura drew rein
and sat for some moments in q brown study.
She glanced up at the sam, then into the
woods. which looked cool and inviting.
The sun was long past the meridian, and
ere the goodly town Of Stonedeid was
reached. Lura was of an adventuresome
| disposition, and seldom weighed the conse-
quences. "a ea
who's afraid r, 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 a
gulch. and q little later she came upon .
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 q heavy stan.
| "Mercy on US, here we have the old
gypsy fortune-te11er now! - exclaimed Lura,
drawing rein within a few PAGES OF the old
woman. my good woman, am / on the
right road to Stonefielda"
| The crone removed her pipe and stared
without uttering word.
Lura felt Just little queer when she
caught the gleam OF the old crone's black
eyes. There was q serpent glitter in their
| depths, and the wrinkled face seemed to
take on the aspect Of . goblin.
| 81 asked If am on thu right read to
Stonedeld."
| 81 reckiu."
slow far Is ici"
| "Ten mile or thereabour."
The old woman had found her tongue at
last.
"Goodnessl" calculated Lura. ST don't
| seem to be making much Roadway. 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.
Is missy goin' to Stonefelde"
"That's my intention"
| "Are you from Lone 8ollow3"
| II am"
1.-THE new mistress, 1 s'pose.''
"Not exactly" returned Lura, laughing.
| II am only a visitor there, . friend OF the
! family"
"You are Miss Joycer'
/ Eyes, and you are
'Mother CABRERA. Cross my palm. good
lady, and I'll tell your fortune" Then q
wrinkled hand was held up to the gaze Of
| the fair eQuestrienne.
'Goodi Pve been wanting my fortune
| told for q 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
| ~ 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
1 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.
II 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 q cooling sensation crept over her gay
spirits.
81 will not tell you more, the picture is
too black. Poor childl poor childi" and
Mother CABRERA dropped the girls hand and
turned away her head, as il to shut out
| some terrible vision.
"Ten me ALL" demanded Lura, half
| angrily.
"But it is too bad"
"Then refund the money" s.
l. 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:
1.-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 a human heart
hear 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 great
heiress, smiling as ever, with no one to
| know that he has murdered the girl who
foolish]y 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.
"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 81 thought had