Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-03-17
A PROPHECY.

state fair held at Hobi,swlch we were lust
engaged TO each other, aud everything
seemed roseatc and lovely
! do not ~ pose that tho machinery was
more wonderful than usual, or that the
pyramids OF fancy soap and wax candles
were more translucent. or tho silverwntr
more elegantly designed, or the pumpkin.
bigger, or the artcmcrias aud dGhlins finer,
or the specimens Of portraltur sent by the
rival photographers more lovely. OF Sweet.
preserves more delicious, or Spicer'. pickles
more dainty or any Of the exhibits much
beyond what they always were In lrauty
or value, but we were engaged. aud every.
thing seemed ~.
We loaded ounelyes with arms fun Of
yellow and blue cirtuiars, under the i'm.
preston that we wcru making n choice M.
crnry collection. We tasted free spoonfuls
Of "Dr. Dodd's Magic Cough syrup" aud
deemed Il tho "ncc,ar Of the go,lsn We
listened 10 n hiieous brass band that hlnrcd
away In Kind u loft at the bottom of tho
main hall, and believed that n heavenly
orchestra was giving Us musical treat.
and later we partook II chicory coffee,
corn starch Ice cream. leather sandwiches
aud stale sponge cake, served In grntesquc
srbor hung with tissue paper flower. and
clously. You see, we were engugo,l, and
that makes such difference In everything.
We spcnt a long afternoon nj the fair, going
hbou, arm In arm and thinkihgo little he.
sidos each other. and In the twilight came
out upon the grounds among tho ".idc
showH."
Punch was thcr, chaticring as usual,
and our hearts were 10 soft that ". went
when he killed the baby. There was q
fhghttul jugglrr In booth who cut
peoples heads OF. but aiterward found
them under clothes baskets. we'll mcndcd
mud mons the worse for neutrality-suspicious.
We bought oriental amulcts of gentle.
man In a turhan, who. when we inquired
~ to his nationality. said, 80 help him
Moses he was TurkW and at last We
came upon the prophets cave and entered
IN. The prophet. done up In flowing robes
aud white wig and beard. presided behind
a counter on which two beribboned baskets
wrru set forth, ono marked Ladies'" the
other "Gcntlemen." i, appeared on In.
quiry that the prophet saved time by put.
ting up number II prophecies In cnyel.
opes, M busy grocers tlo pounds OF tea and
sugar. You paid i've cents, aud then a
little green parOquet came down from
perch and picked out an envelope NJ he
stood on the prophets finger Of course
we bought prophecy each We're We not
engaged Did we not delight In the mys.
FERROUS. ~ all lover. dol and after that
hurried home TO take high tea with Annlc's
mother We had no time 10 open our en-.
yclopcs before we reached the table, aud NJ
1t seemed probable that they would amuso
che party. we produc'd them there.
"Ahi" snid !. reading the words printed
on slip Of paper within my envelope
.'ahl shall he rich aud powerful II live.
Beware " speculation"
We all laughed, and Annie was called
upon TO rad her fortune aloud. She
opened the paper laughingly; but no sooner
had she cast her eyes upon IL than she
turned pale.
"oh, dcarr' she cried. "oh, how dreadful,
jus, when ] am 40 awfully happyi oh.
Jobnl oh, pal oh, mammal and she burst
Into flood 81 tears and began 10 sob bit
terly. caught the paper from her hand
and read those words
Lovely lady. you will die before the vlo-
lets bloom"
"And they bloom In May. sobbcd Annie.
''Surcly, my dear, you don't believe this
nonssnseW circulated.
Hut Annie cried bctweon her sobsi
"Oh, yes. do. You will be rich aud pow.
srful, and you will marry some charming
woman; but shall bc dead before the yio-
lets blown
"ilow Absurd A printed slip given you
by an old humbug In a fair booth said
her father.
In fact we all said something's but Annie
wrpt until she grew hysterieal, was led
away and put 10 bed, and was III for u
week. The doctor was very serious over
the attack, and when she came down stairs
again sho was pale aud nervous, aud por-
sisted In taking the prophecy ~ though II
were revelation from on high, continu-
nlly rcpentlng
~ shall die before the vlolcts bloom"
II was quite Christmas time bcfoc she
began 10 DO like herself again. and al
though l loved her better than ever, and
tho WAS always the sweetest little creature
alive. conld not but wonder how such M
absurd thing could have such an effect on
any one endowed with grain OF common
sense. felt surr that although Annie
was merry aud bright again she hal not
forgotten the prophecy, and once when
spoke " the fact that We were 10 DO mar
rlrd In June she sighed and sadi
'Ah, John, spring comes hefore sum
mer, and the yi0lcts bloom In May"
Tie worst Of Il was that the doctor made
such "A serious matter OF her condition. and
told us that he could not answer for the
results unless va could rid her OF what ho
spoke Of as a mon0mania.
still the winter was not had but when
April came We found her constantly wan
derlng about the garden and watching tho
violet plants, Of which there were many.
A. eoaxed her away from them l used
TO wish that could meet that old wretch
OF n prophet aud punish him as he deserved,
but he never crossed my path. lie hal
vanished with the closing Of tho fair IL
was well for him that this was 10
With May our trouble grew greater
We who loved Annie were In despair Tue
mother arose nj daybreak TO nip oil the VI
olet bnds. hut theru were other gardens
In tho place, aud Annie might ilnd thnn,
there, for now IL wis really the time idr
blooms. We knew not what TO do. re-
member that II was the l0.h OF May, when
! bcthought mo that u trip TO the city might
divert Annie, and went 10 the house 10 IN
ylte her. Ny dear girl met ne at the gate
holding a violet leaf In her hand.
GLOW green they are Just before they
bloomn she said.
took tho leaf from her and threw 10
away. =,
Forget all about those violets, love-
said |. "Iet us take an outing. Come TO
Now York aud spend tho day.
She smiled aud said that she should Ike
that very much, and ran away TO dress,
her