Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-28
THE ORACLE.

have never believed much In fortune
telling, or palmistry. or anything Of that
kind; but when my two dear cousins,
Amy and Dolly, who were devout beIiev-
ers, urged me to go with them to Fatima
F dtima was the last new prophetess-I
could not refuse them. | felt that they,
or one Of them, had right to know what
there was to be known about my future,
because | was going to marry one of
them.
Both were delightful girls y Amy a
lovely blonde, Dolly a sparkling brunette
Each had fifty thousand dollars, and
| each, think | may say, was quite ready
to marry me. only hesitated between
them because | could not bear to crafty
one at the expense of the other; and, in
spite of their amiability, had seen I'M
| mistakable signs of little rivalry be-
tween them.
We went all together to Fatima'a, and
| took my stand before her, exactly equi-
distant from a cousin on either hard-I
was not going to give Fatima a lead if
could help it. The prophecies was plain
woman of about thirty, and she looked
rather sour when [ insisted on both the
young ladies being present. However, she
went to work and droned cut some details
Of my past life, giving special attention to
my smoking habits-I knew | smelIed Of
cigGr-and my debts; which later informa-
ton she might just as well have kept to
herself At last she could not shirk the
question Of my matrimonial future any
longer. She cast puzzled glances, first at
Amy, then at Dolly-both were looking at
me with sweet affection. She turned to
me; [ gently took a hand of each and
pressed it affectionatey. Fatima sighed
and gave it up.
You are loved" she said, in deep
tone, by two beautiful women the girls
looked pleased); ore is fair (Amy bushed)
the other dark Dolly coIored). You love
both in a measure q pressed the two
hands,, and'-Fatima paused
well, which is it to be- | asked.
She bent over my hand. Il See double
line, once broken. see a wedding, and
a death, and a wedding; aud the time
TOR all this is short. You will we0 one !;
but let the other endure; the Joy of the
one will be destroyed with her life in a
little space, and the other shall be salts
fed. | have spoken. The charge is enc
dollar"
But STOP" cried. (Which is to
marry me frst?"
The lines say naught as to that. One
you will marry, and she must die; and the
other follows"
But hang il! is there no way out Of
this?''
She knitted her prows and looked again.
cave, if you will; but that way lies a red
hand-a hand dyed rs though in blood.
All, tbs woman causes it
The girls shivered, and | hastily flung
down the dollar and went out, consider
ably impressed, in spite of my skepticism,
with the somber prophecy. My cousins
were rather silent on the way home and
met all my somewhat forced attempts at
makir g fun of Fatima with GOODNESS; both
were distant in their manner to me and
not over cordial to one another / dare
say this behavior was natural enough, for,
if Fatima spoke true, one of them was
doomed to early death, leaving her rival
triumphant; al this doom was only to be
averted if l committed a murder. Was 7
to murder one of then? Horrid thought!
Before many days were over | wished
heartily that we had never been to Fa-
tima's. No more pleasant talks tete-a
tete, now with Amy, now with Dolly!
They both avoided me sedulously. On the
other hand trey began to show almost ex-
aggerated affection for one another they
were never apart, and treated one another
with the most loving, almost anxious,
friendship. In fact, should have found
my stay in the house very dull had NOT
Mrs. Grrdlestone, pretty little widow,
with great hazel eyes and a mass of
auburn curls, consoled me little.
| soon found out the meaning of the
girls changed behavior.
| was smoking in the study one morn
ing, when | heard them talking in the
veranda outside.
my darling" Amy was saying, "why
think any more of such nonsense? |
know you love him. Accept my willing,
willing sacrifice, and be happy with him
he loves you"
my sweet Dolly, you are too, too gen.
erous. ] think Fattima's story all nom
sense, and, just for that reason, can not, |
will not, purchase happiness at the cost of
your misery. resign hin-but what do |
say? I'll you he loves"
I'm sure its you, Dolly" resumed Amy. !
"He's always looking at you. wouldn't |
say so if l didn't believe it; and how you
can pay any attention to that stuff, don't |
know"