Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-24

crossed the fence. .naere.l the house and
xEeE1t 70 bed
As Tins mile trotted along toward his
home his thoaghts ran something like
this.
~Oh, Lordy Cord. what am ssssins Ter
dos Life fer ne n0w Is busted goard
layin By the side o the spring o h2ppi-
hess. III pine an perish IN front o the
sweet writers. but czha't never drunk
EN- no more. Nv big feather bed viii
now be full o rocks whn lay down On
il at night III git up In the Eaornin
feelia sorry didn't peg cut dnrin sleep.
III 20 ter ny new ground Ter plow. but
won't have lite enough il me Ter cnss
when root hits my SHIN. The house
logs I'd got cut ter build little home
fer me an Nell viii now rot in the woods.
The good milk COW lately traded fer
VIII 20 dry. The hogs bought ten make
Is meat VII wander away an 30 Wild.
/ amt got no heart never ter DO rothia
more I've cot no more confidence II no.
body l thought Nell loved me. AN l
believe she once did. bat she Is lis' like
all the critters. When they find out a tel
Ier's TOO sweet ON EN- it turns 'em sour"
And the great, strong mana weak
ling at this Inoment-hfted mp his voice
and sang the following stanza of despair:
Fare ye well. my lovin Nellie.
I'll bat you adieu.
am ruined forever.
BY the losia OF YOU
'.Oh, don't you be bit frightened.
young man, about that girl. Don't
know human nature: Haven't 1 read
the book of humanity from the preface
To the end until every leaf is greasy
and yellow with my thumbs: It's my
business. young man. From what you
! tell me about the girl. and the account
| Of your quarrel with her, she Is now in
| the orchard under tree. lying flat in
| the grass 'snubbing' about YOU She's
rubbing tears from the corners Of her
eyes right now with her apron. She's
| drawing deep signs at this moment, and
| has chunk in the throat that she can't
| either get up or down. Shed give the
earth and throw in few other good
sized planets to be all right with you
again. Do as I've told you, and if the
thing don't work you don't pay me the
ten dollars, and give you leave to kick
me clear across the county besides"
| The speaker was travelling peddler
| and fortune teller" The gentleman he
was addressing, as the reader has guessed.
was no other than Tim Holbrook.
WAL. you better reckon" returned
Tim. rubbing his hard hands together
in an excess of glee, ''ef we can jis' make
that ar trick work, ye're not only well
come TO the ten dollars, but sixteen head
of fine fat shoats besides."
| Cit your rope an clear out then, and
so will l, impatiently spoke the reser-
voir of destiny, and off he went toward
| the cabin residence of old Bill Copfeld.
| An hour later the fortune teller" was
in front of the Copfield home.
| 'Hellor' he yelled.
| Hello yerself." glumly spoke young
| girl, coming out on the porch.
I'D like to stop with you and get my
dinner" he spoke smilingly.
] There won't be no trouble erbout
Il I. II.
much to eat. but erbout az good az
| guess yer use to while yer goin through
| this country. Have this cheer. Nam,
this man wants his dinner. Lemme have
your hat. stranger"
\ few moments later the fortune teller
was at the table. He sat in front of the
young girl. and his penetrating eye told
him all that be had suspected. He saw
the languid droop of her lids. He saw
the paths Of tears down her cheeks. so
dim that they would not have been de-
tected by an eye less observant.
Dinner being concluded. the man asked
| tho bill"
Muffin, stranger" simultaneously
| spoke mother and daughter.
THAT is certainly cheap" laughingly
spoke tho fortune teller.
''Yas," returned Mrs. Copfeld, 'but
| it's all we ever charge"
''Well, WELL" spoke the fortune teller,
81 must do something for such good
dinner. l am fortune teller, and
know the young lady would be pleased to
know her fortune. Most young people
would"
The young girl colored brightly and
said she'd like awful well to have it
told if he could tell"
4 cup with coffee grounds staining its
sides and bottom was soon revolving in
the wizards practiced fingers. Finally.
in tones OF deep gravity. he spoke:
Young lady, you are in love"
The girl turned TO her mother with an
astonished look in her eyes. The mother
smiled through the vel Of establishment
that covered her features.
You are in love with young man. ,
| spoke the oracle in tones of mystery.
"You are in love with young man not
far from here. lie loves you. You have
lately quarreled. He thinks you hate
him, and he has made up his mind to kill
! himself"
''Oh, bOohoo. Oh. don't say THAR
pleadingly cried the girl.
Tho fortune teller gazed long into the
| depths Of the cup. Then a frightened
look sprang to Ids face. His eyes spread
open Ike saucers His breast heaved.
his hands clutched together. Finally he
spoke. hoarsely:
Quick. girl, Go 70 himi Go at once.
He viii soon hang himselfi7
"Oh. L0Tdy Cord screamed the girl.
wringing her hands. where. oh. where
il her
Down tho road. | think. On. yes; |
see him plain. Us under 2 biz oak down