Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-16


= fear for her mind and her life," she
said
also had my rerrors, 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
1ork but seldom amuse themselves. We
saw all that was to be seen and had lunch
at line restaurant. We had finished and
were about to seek other amusements when
IN turning the corner of busy avenue we
came upon little museum where curiosi-
ties were exhibited, and there was every
afternoon performance of some kind, and
at the foot Of the long line of attractions
read these words: THE prophets cave.
Don't fail to have your fortune told by the
only surviving prophet"
The prophet again!' cried l. ''Now for
it,
Annie clutched my arm and tried to pull
me away, but l refused TO depart.
My dear" said I, ga dime museum is a
very vulgar show, but l intend to inter
view that prophet and tell him my opinion
of him, and shall be obliged to take you in
with me-"
As l spoke l 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
ABR said as read this, "and it is very
probable that in a little while the world
will be entirely destitute of prophets. 1
intend to finish off this one"
AS l expected, Mr.. Mesrom was our old
original prophet-white wig, beard, robe,
baskets, paroquet, and all as before Two
met Wi,
their envelopes in their hands, and we had
the place to ourselves. walked up to the
counter, and, fixing stern gaze upon the
prophet, said, in low voice:
Mr.. Nesrom, have an account to settle
with YOU"
The prophet retreated as far as the wall
of his cave" permitted.
Look a-here, sir, - said he, 81 don't wish
no trouble with no gent, but if you are
looking for any you will be bounced. My
remarks are not personal, but any gent
making trouble in this museum will be
bounced by the management"
"AIl right" said l, II suppose, being a
prophet, you don't mind answering a few
questions"
Not if they're CIVIL" said he.
"What | want to ask you, Mr.. Mesrom,
is this said l. What the deuce do YOU
mean by putting up in your envelopes
prophecies calculated to alarm nervous fe-
males-prophecies of death and Disaster
Such one, bought of you, has done more
mischief than 1 can tell. 1t is absurd that
it should be so, but it is fact You have
upset a lady's health and unbalanced her
mind"
ooh, john whispered Annie reproach-
fully; but l went on, shaking my fist at the
prophet:
"A woman who believes that YOUR non
sense is prophecy got hold of one of those
yellow envelopes that foretold her speedy
death, and, as l said, the consequences
were deplorable and are still. She will not
listen to reason. She may die of over
wrought imagination, and if she dies YOU
die also I've mind to kill you nowl''
The prophet reiterated again as l shook
my fist at him. but he stared at me in
amazement as he did so.
Look here, SIR" said he, I'VE 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 a 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 |, ''you are the person
who had a booth at the state fair at Hobbs
witch last autumn"
''Yes, / was there" said the prophet;
''but, as l said, our'n, especially for the la
dies, is all encouraging.
10 tbiu -ri,,
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 a blamed shame, I'm
a donkey! 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 1t had been folded so as to
conceal several words which followed those
l had read.
Lovely lady, he began again, you will
die before the violets blow if you let that
cold run on and don't take good old DR..
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-
ecy, but just regular adj? I'll tell you
the way of it: That old quack, DIR. Dodds,
had his cough sirup ct the fair, and he
bribed our boy to stick some of them cir
cylars into Or envelups. l suppose some
was distributed before l caught him at it
and dismissed him with as good welting
as boy ever had. Why, that amt no proph-
ecy, lady Here, lady, let Polly pick
you out a true one to make up for it. No
charge whatever
He held the paroquet toward the basket.
She jerked out any envelope with her beak
and dropped it into Annie's hand.
''Open it," said 1; ''open it and read it.
1t is the true one, you know" and on the
instant the dear girl obeyed and read aloud:
You'll be a bride in June"
'Alls well that ends well,' said the