Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-04-23
A PROPHECY.

state fair held at Hobbswich we were lust
engaged to each other, and everything
seemed roseate and lovely.
I do not suppose that the machinery was
more wonderful than usual, or that the
pyramids of fancy soap and wax candles
were more translucent, or the silverware
more elegantly designed, or the pumpkins
bigger, or the artemeriaS and dahlias finer
pr the specimens of portraiture sent by the
fval photographers more lovely. or Sweets
preserves more delicious, or Spicer's pickles
more dainty: or any of the exhibits much
beyond what they always were in beauty
Or value, but we were engaged, and every
thing seemed so.
We loaded ourselves with arms full of
yellow and blue circulars, under the i'm
preston that we were making a choice lit
erary collection. We tasted free spoonfuls
Of ''Dr. Dodd's Magic Cough Syrup" and
deemed it the 'nectar of the gods" We
listened to a hideOuS brass band that blared
away in kind of loft at the bottom of the
main hall, and believed that a heavenly
orchestra was giving us musical treat;
and later we partOOk of chicory coffee,
corn starch ice cream, leather sandwiches
and stale sponge cake, served in a grotesque
arbor hung with tissue paper flowers, and
believed ourselves to have Toasted deli
Ciously. You see, we were engaged, and
that makes such difference in everything
We spent long afternoon at the fair, going
about arm in arm and thinking of little be-
sides each other, and in the twilight came
out upon the grounds among the "side
shows"
Punch was there, chattering as usual,
and our hearts were so soft that we wept
when he killed the baby. There was a
frightful juggler in booth who cut
peoples heads off, but afterward found
them under clothes baskets, we'll mended
and none the worse for their ecapitations
We bought oriental amulets of gentle
man in a turban, who, when we inquired
as to his nationality, said, $50 help him
Moses he was a Turk!'' and at last we
came upon the prophets cave and entered
in. The prophet, done up in flowing robes
and white wig and beard, presided behind
counter on which two beribboned baskets
were set forth, one marked Ladies'" the
other Gentlemen" 1t appeared on in
quiry that the prophet saved time by put
ting up number Of prophecies in envel-
Dpes, as busy grOcer5 10 pounds of tea and
sugar. You paid five cents, and then a
little green paroquet came down from a
perch aud picked out an envelope as he
stood on the prophets finger. Of course
we bought a prophecy each. Were we not
engaged? Did we not delight in the mys-
ferrous, as all lovers do? and after that
hurried home to take high tea with Armies
mother. We had no time to open our en-
; velopes before we reached the table, and as
it seemed probable that they would amuse
the party we produced them there.
"Ah.'' said |, reading the words printed
on slip OF paper within my envelope
! "ah shall be rich and powerful if 1 live.
Beware of speculation"
We all laughed; and Annie was called
upon to read her fortune aloud. She
opened the paper laughingly; but no sooner
had she cast her eyes upon it than she
turned pale.
ooh, dear." she cried "Oh, how dreadful,
just when I am so awfully happyl Oh,
John! oh, pal oh, mammal and she burst
into a flood of tears and began to sob Bit
terly. l caught the paper from her hand
Ind read those words:
! Lovely lady, you will die before the vio-
let's bloom"
''And they bloom in May" sobbed Annie.
Surely, my dear, you don't believe this
nonsense?" calculated.
But Annie cried between her sobs:
ooh, yes, do. You will be rich and pow
erful, and you will marry some charming
woman; but shall be dead before the vio-
! lets blow!"
"How absurd A printed slip given you
! by an old humbug in fair booth" said
| her father.
In fact we ali said something; but Annie
wept until she grew hysterical, was led
away and put to bed, and was i'll for a
week The doctor was very serious over
! the attack, and when she came down stairs
again she was pale and nervous, and per
sisted in taking the prophecy as though it
were revelation from on high. continu-
ally repeating:
81 shall die before the yiolets bloomr'
1t was quite Christmas time before she
began to be like herself again, and al
though / loved her better than ever, and
she was always the sweetest little creature
alive, l could not but wonder how such an
absurd thing could have such an effect on
any one endowed with a grain of common
sense. | felt sure that although Annie
was merry and bright again she had not
forgotten the prophecy, and once when
spoke of the fact that we were to be mar
ried in June she sighed and said:
mer, and the violets bloom in May"
The worst of it was that the doctor made
such a serious matter of her condition. and
told US that he could not answer for the
results unless we could rid her of what he
spoke of ay monomania.
Still the winter was not bad, but wher
April came we found her constantly wan
dering about the garden and watching the
violet plants, of which there were many.
AS coaxed her away from them l uset
to wish That could meet that old wretch
J of prophet and punish him as he deserved
but he never crossed my path. He hao
vanished with the closing OF the tar. Il
was we'll for him that this was so.
With May our trouble grew greater
We who loved Annie were in despair. Th'
, mother arose at day break to nip OH the VI
olet buds. But there were other gardens
, in the place, and Annie might find then
there, for now it was really the time TO
blooms. We knew not what to do. re
member that it was the 10th of May, whel
l bethought me that trip to the city nigh
divert Annie, and went to the house to in
, vite her. Ny dear girl met me at the gate
holding violet leaf in her hand.
"How green they are just before the,
bloom!'' she said.
I took the leaf from her and threw
away.
Forget all about those violets, love,
, said |. s'Let US take an outing. Come t
New York and spend the day"
She smiled and said that she should Tx
,, that very much, and ran away to dress
, while talked with her mother, who wa
, very sad and anxious.
81 fear for her mind and her life," sh
said
1 also Tad my terrors. but my dariin
came back looking so bright and prett
that bsgan to feel hopeful again, and VI
e started on our way quite merrily.
We all know how people who visit Ne
/ York but seldom amuse themselves W