The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-09-21
THE ORACLE.

LIE UhACLE.
I have never believed much in for
tune-telling, or palmistry, or anything
of that kind; but when my two dear
cousins, Amy and Dolly, who were de-
vout believers, urged me to go with
them to Fatima-Fatima was the last
new prophetess-I could not refuse
them. l 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-Amy a
lovely blonde, Dolly a sparkling bru-
nette. Each had fifty thousand dol
lars, and each, I think l may say, was
quite ready to marry me. only hes
itated between them because / could
not bear to crafty one at the expense
of the other; and, in spite of their
liability, l had seen unmistakable
signs of little rivalry between them.
We went all together to Fatima's,
and took my stand before her, exactly
equi-distant from a cousin on either
hand-I was not going to give Fatima
lead if could help it. The prophet
ess was plain woman of about thirty,
and she looked rather sour when in
sisted on both the young ladies being
present. However, she went to work
and droned out some details of my
past life, giving special attention to
my smoking habits-I knew l smelled
of cigars--and my debts; which latter
information she might just as well
have kept to herself At last she could
not shirk the question of my matrimo-
nial future any longer. She cast puz-
zled glances, first at Amy, then at
Dolly-both were looking at me with
sweet affection. She turned to me;
gently took hand of each and pressed
It affectionately. Fatima sighed and
gave it up.
"You are loved" she said, in deep
tone, "by two beautiful women (the
girls looked pleased); one is fair( Amy
blushed), the other dark Dolly col
ored). You love both in measure q
pressed the two hands), and"-Fatima
paused.
"WeIl, which is it to be?" l asked.
She bent over my hand. 81 see
double line, once broken. l see we'd
ding, and a death, and a wedding;
and the time for all this is short. You
will wed one; but let the other endure;
the JOY of the one will be destroyed
with her life in little space, and the
other shall be satisfied. I have spoken.
The charge is one dollar"
"But stop" 1 cried. (Which is to
marry me frst?"
"The lines say naught as to that.
One you will marry, ana she must die;
and the other follows"
"But hang it! is there no way out of
this?"
She knitted her brows and looked
again. ave, if you will; but that
way lies red hand-a hand dyed as
though in blood. All, it's woman
causes it,"
The girls shivered, and I hastily
| flung down the dollar and went out,
considerably impressed. in spite of my
skepticism, with the somber prophecy.
Nv cousins were rather silent on the
way home and met all my somewhat
forced attempts at making fun OF
Fatima with coldness; both were dis
| tant 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; and this doom
was only to be averted if l committed
a murder. Was I to murder one OF
themP Horrid thought!
Before many days were over1 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 they began to show al
most exaggerated affection for one an
other; they were never apart, and
treated one another with the most low
ing, almost anxious, friendship. In
fact, l should have found my stay in
the house very dull had not Mrs. Cir
dlestone, pretty little widow, with
great hazel eyes and mass OF auburn
curls, consoled me little.
l soon found out the meaning OF tbs
girls changed behavior.
1 was smoking in the study one
morning, when l heard them talking
in the veranda outside.
! "My darling" Amy was saying, "why
think any more of such nonsense?
t know you love him. Accept my will
ing, willing sacrifice, and be happ.
2 with him; he loves you."
i. "My sweet Dolly, you are too, to,
generous. l think Fatima's story al
I nonsense, and, just for that reason,
can not, will not, purchase happines
4 at the cost of your misery. L res1g
him-but what do l say? 1t is you h
= loves"
"Tm sure it's you, Dolly" resumes
! Amy. He's always looking at you.
wouldn't say so if didn't believe II
and how you can pay any attention l
O that stuff, l don't know"
you're quite wrong, Amy. He a
| - haJ rd r
, YOU to pretend not to know it"
r Something followed did not heal
then the tone of the voices changed
= and Amy said, with the sound of
choked sob:
y you're a horrid girl; you want m
n to die, and then you'll marry B-B-Bob
y 81 thought you loved me-" sobbe
is Dolly, in reply; "and now you're plal
ming nv death. | hate you, Amy"
= Lunch was somber meal that da..
The girls would speak neither to n
nor to one another; only Mrs. Girdl
stone tried to keep up the convers
\, tion. 1t was just as bad all day; the
, snapped at one another and the
- snapped at the little widow, and, wor
of ali, they snapped at me until real
the horrid thought that had struck
before would have seemed less horr
if only could have relied on the inc
ficiency of the bloodhounds of justic
but the police happened to arrest
murderer about then-he walked in
the station, and that stayed my f
p imaginings. Besides, I should n
have known which to murder a.
10. more than 1 had known which
oEs marry.
e. In very low spirits, started on
.in. solitary walk next afternoon, think
ue' I would come to definite conclusio