Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-10
CHAPTER Tx. 


 THE TRAGEDY. IL was ten miles to Stonefield through comparatively unsettled country. During her two weeks soiourn at Lone Hollow Lura Joyce had been twice over he road on the back of her own animal a aeet black gelding she was pleased to call Romeo. live heard there is short cut to the town," unused the young girl as she rode put of the hollow at an easy pace. And they do say that it leads past old Mother Cabera's hut, the gipsy fortune-teller. I've q good notion to take that route. 1 should save time, and might see the old hag, to boot. What say, Romeo, shall we take the path or the dusty road to Stonefield!"
 She patted her horse gently, speaking to him as though he were human.
 A low whitney answered her appeal, and Lura laughed.
 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 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 Stoncfield was reached. Lura was of an adventuresome disposition, and seldom weighed the conse- Quenccs.
 "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 ncces- sarly slow, however, and Lura began to suspect that she had been little tho gainer lNx-l would not rctrace her steps now. Presently the path led along tho edge of a gulch, and little later she came upon a 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 paces of the old woman My good woman, am I on the | right road to Stonefield!"
 The crone removed her pipe and stared | without utterng a word. Lura felt just a little queer when she caught tho glcam of the old crone's black | eyes. There was serpent glitter in their | depths, and the wrinked face seemed to take on the aspect of goblin.
 II asked if l am on the right road to | Stoncticld'
 | II rcckin."
 "How far is it." Ten mile or thrreabout." The old woman had found her tongue at | last.
 "Goodncss!" cjaculated Lura II don't 1 seem to be making much headway. must be near two miles from the main road, and when I left that 1 was but nine miles or less from town. Can it be that I have been | going bacllward?"
 The old woman rose, and taking her cane hobbled forward.
 "Is missy goin' to Stonefield9"
 "That's my intention"
 Are you from Lone Hollow!" II am."
 "Thc new mistress, 1 s'poSc"
 Not exactly" returned Lura, laughing II am only n visitor there, a friend of the family"
 You arc Miss JoyccP'
 'Yes, and you are"
 "Mother Cabcra Cross my palm, good lady, and I'll tell your fortune.' Then a wrinkled hand was held up to tho gaze of tho fair cquestricnne.
 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 Til haunt you.' Lura dropped gold coin into the palm of tho old wood witch The recipients eyes sparkled, and the bony fingers closed quick | l money from sight in the folds of her dirty gown, Mother Cabera grasped the small brown hand held down for her inspection and glanced at the various lines crossin E it. There was no revelation of her thoughts in the parchment face of Mother Cabera She examined the hand in hers for some moments in silence. II see clouds ahead, trouble, a life sacri feed to the greed of one man," uttered the l oil iY, colo vol,
 The smile that had rested until this mo ment on the face of Lura Joyce vanished and cooling sensation crept over her gay spirits.
 !, II will not tell you more, the picture is too black. Poor child! poor child!' and Mother Cabera dropped the girls hand and turned away her head, as if to shut out } some terrible vision. l "Tell me all,' demanded Lura, hal1 angrily.
 But it is too bad--''
 "Then refund the money" Once more Mother Cabera looked into the piquant face of the girl on horseback. There } vas 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 t pelled, pushed aside to make room for tho last scene; it is one of blood. A man. darl and handsome, treadS on a human heart. . hear woman's vail of woe, see his hand
 upraised against her, and then she falls
 Oh! it is wicked. She lies in q darlSsome place dead, and he goes out to win the great t heiress, smiling as ever, with no one tc know that he has murdered the girl who
 foolshly thought to thwart his will"
 Again the witch paused.
 Her words, spoken in a solemn tone, were
 not without their effegk.%and brave Lura could not repress the shudder that crept
 swiftly over her frame . "Thati all." ? Mother Cabera 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 l brought unpleasant thoughts to the mind 3 of the orphan girl.