Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-04-10
A PROPHECY.

A PROPHECY.
When Annie and went together to thu
state fair held at Hobbswich we were just
engaged to each other, and everything
seemed roseate and lovely.
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
OR the specimens of portraiture sent by the
rival 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 CDR. Dodds Magic Cough Syrup" and
deemed it the "nectar of the gods" We
listened to a hideous brass band that blared
away in a kind of loft at the bottom of the
main hall, and believed that a heavenly
orchestra was giving us a musical treat
and later we partook of chicory coffee,
corn starch ice cream, leather sandwiches
and stale sponge cake, served in grotesq lie
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 a 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 s'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, well mended
and none the worse for their decapitations.
We bought oriental amulets of gentle
man in turban, who, when we inquired
as to his nationality, said, so help him
Moses he was TurkE' 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 Oh 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 a number of prophecies in envel-
opes, as busy grocers do pounds of tea and
sugar. You paid five cents, and then a
little green paroquet came down from a
perch and picked out an envelope as he
stood ON the prophets finger. Of course
we bought 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 Annie's
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.
"Oh, dearE' she cried ooh, how dreadful,
just when I am so awfully happy! Oh,
John! oh, pa! oh, mammal" and she burst
into flood of tears and began to sob Bit
terly. caught the paper from her hand
and read those words,
Lovely lady, you will die before the Yio-
lets bloom"
Sand they bloom in May" sobbed Annie.
"'Surely, my dear, you don't believe this
calculated.
But Annie cried between her sobs:
ooh, yes, do. You will be rich and pow
f,,1 oh
woman; but shall be dead before the vio-
let's blowl"
'How absurd A printed slip given YOU
by an old humbug in fair boot4.'' said
her father.
In fact we all 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
ag3in she was pale and nervous, and per-
sisted in taking the prophecy as though it
we're q revelation from on high, continu-
ally repeatings
II shall die before the violets bloom!''
It was quite Christmas time before she
began to be like herself again, and al
though l loved her better than ever, and
she was always the sweetest little creature
alive, could not but wonder how such all
absurd thing could have such an effect on
any cne 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:
"Ah, John, spring comes before sum-
mer, and the violets bloom in May"
The worst of it was that the doctor made
such serious matter Of her condition. and
5old us that he could not answer for the
fesults unless we could rid her of what he
spoke of as a mononiania.
Still the winter was not bad, but when
priI came we found her constantly wan
lering about the garden and watching the
violet plants, of which there were many.
AS | coaxed her away from them ! used
% wish that / could meet that old wretch
IF prophet and punish him as he deserved,
put he never crossed my path. He had
vanished with the closing of the fair. It
was well for him that this was so.
With May our trouble grew greater.
We who loved Annie were in despair. The
mother arose at daybreak to nip off the Vi
,let buds. But there were other gardens
n the place, and Annie might find them
here, for now it was really the time for
blooms. We knew not what to do. re-
member that it was the 10Th Of May, when
bethought me that a trip to the city might
livert Annie, and went to the house to in
lite her. My dear girl met me at the gate.
holding violet leaf in her hand.
GLOW green they are just before they
)loom!' she said.
took the leaf from her and threw it
way.
''Forget all about those yiolets, love-"
aid l. 'Let us take an outing. Come to
New York and spend the day"
She smiled and said that she should like
that very much, and ran away to dress,
while talked with her mother, who was
very sad and anxious.
81 fear for her mind and her life," she
said
I also had my terrors, but my darling
came back looking SO bright and pretty
that began to feel hopeful again, and we
started on our way quite merrily.
We all know how people who visit New
York but seldom amuse themselves. We
saw all that was to be seen and had lunch
1T fine restaurant. We had finished and
we're about to seek other amusements when
in turning the corner of a busy avenue we
came upon little museum where curiosi-