The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-17

were about to seek other amuSementS WneI
| in turning the corner of busy avenue WI
came upon little museum where curlosl
| ties were exhibited, and there was ever.
afternoon a performance Of some kind, ane
| ut the foot of the long line Of attraction,
read these words: 1.-The prophets cave
| Don't fail to have your fortune told by thu
only surviving prophet"
'The prophet againr cried l. "Now fol
| it."
Annie clutched my arm and tried to pull
me away, but refused to depart
"My dear" said I, "a dime museum is {
very vulgar show, but / intend to inter
view that prophet and tell him my opinion
of him, and shall be obliged to take you in
with me-"
AS spoke 1 stalked through the door
and, having bought my ticket, made my
way directly to the curtained archway over
which saw the words:
"The prophets cave. Mr.. Mesrom is the
only prophet yet alive"
"Ahr'I said as read this, "and tits very
probable that in little while the world
will be entirely destitute of prophets.
intend to finish off this one"
AS expected, Mr.. Mesrom was our old
original prophet-white wig, beard, robe,
baskets, paroquet, and ali as before. Two
young people were just departing with
their envelopes in their hands, and we had
the place to ourselves. walked up to the
counter, and, fixing a stern gaze upon the
prophet, said, in low voice:
"Mr. Mesrom, have an account to settle
with you"
The prophet retreated as far as the wall
of his ''cave" permitted.
"Look a-here, sir" said be, 81 don't wish
no trouble with no gent, but if you are
looking for any you will be bounced. Ny
remarks are not personal, but any gent
making trouble in this museum will be
bounced by the management"
CAN right" said l. 81 suppose, being a
prophet, you don't mind answering few
questions"
Not if they're civil" said he.
"What want to ask you, Mr.. Mesrom,
is this" said l. "What tine deuce do you
mean by putting up in your envelopes
prophecies calculated to alarm nervous fe-
undergraduates Of death and disaster?
Such one, bought Of you, has done more
mischief than can tell. 1t is absurd that
it should be so, but it is fact. You have
upset a Iadys health and unbalanced her
mind"
ooh, Johnl" whispered Annie reproach-
fully; hut went on, shaking my fist at the
prophet:
ga woman who believes that your nom
sense is prophecy got hold of one of those
yellow envelopes that foretold her speedy
death, and, as / said, the consequences
were deplorable and are still. She will not
Isa Of
wrought imagination, and if she dies you
die also I've mind to kill you now!"
The prophet retreated again as I shook
my fist at him. but he stared at me in
amazement as he did so.
Look here, sir" said he, eve don't put
no prophecies Of that there character into
none of our envelups Them sort wouldn't
be popular. Our'n is all favorable and en-
couraging We make rule they shall be-
Besides,
Him that prigs what isn't his'n,
When he's cotched shall be sent to prison.
which is in the gents basket, and is re-
garded as a joke There amt no evil
prophecies in the collection. Oh, no, it's
some other prophet. There is two or three
of them along the Bowery. None genuine
but me-"
"My friend" said I, "you are the person
who had booth at the state fair at Hobbs
witch last autumn"
Eyes, / was there" said the prophet;
''but, as said, our'n, especially for the la
dies, is all encouraging"
DO you call this encouraging?" asked,
taking the envelope from my pocketbook,
where had kept it since that fatal day.
"Read it!''
Mr.. Mesrom took the slip Of paper from
me, gazed at it, and read it aloud:
Lovely lady, you will die before the
violets blow he repeated.
Now, eff that amt blamed shame, I'm
a donkeyl See here-that amt no fault of
mine I'll explain. But the lady hasn't
read the rest of the printing; it's been
folded up and tucked under somehow
readin' it altogether amt so bad''
He had smoothed the paper now, and it
was evident that it had been folded so as to
conceal several words which followed those
had read.
Lovely lady, he began again, you will
lie before the violets blow if you let that
,old run on and don't take good old DIR.
Dodds' Magic Cough Sirup this winter.
For sale in the great hall. 81 per bottle
Don't you see?" Mr. Mesrom said, ap-
pealing to me, that that amt no proph-
ICY, but just regular adj? I'll tell you
he way of it: That old quack, Dr. Dodds,
had his cough strip at the fair, and he
)ribed our boy to stick some of them cir
,ylars into our envelups. / suppose some
vas distributed before I caught him at it
md dismissed him with as good welting
is boy ever had. Why, that amt no proph- |
,cy, ladyl Here, lady, let Polly pick
you out true one to make up for it. No
harge whatever"
He held the paroquet toward the basket.
She jerked out any envelope with her beak |
md dropped it into Annie's hand
open ii" said I; 'open it and read it. |
L is the true one, You know" aud on the !
Instant the dear girl obeyed and read aloud: |
You'll be bride in June"
"Alfs well that ends WE'LL" said the |
prophet. Hope you are satisfied, sir?''
Entirely" said |, Offering him my cigar
ase, and Annie and went home together |
u a state of utter beatitude, to which we |
lad been strangers since our first interview
With the prophet, and when we arrived at |
he door Annie rushed into her mothers
Irms, crying out:
"Oh, mamma, dear, l am not to die when
he violets blow am TO be married in
|une. Mary Kyle Dallas in Fireside
A Whist Story.
When Lord Thanet was imprisoned in
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