Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-02-06
all the critters. When they find out fell

ling at this moment-lifted up his voice
and sang the following stanza of despair:
Fare ye well, my lovin Nellie,
I'll bit you adieu,
am ruined forever,
BY the loNn of you.
"Oh, don't you be bit frightened,
young man, about that girl. Don't l
know human nature? Haven't l 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 a tree, lying fiat 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 sighs at this moment, and
has chunk in the throat that she can't
either get up or down. She'd 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 dollara. and l 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.
"Waal, you better reckon" returned
Tim, rubbing his hard hands together
in an excess of glee, ''ef ye can jis' make
that ar trick work, ye're not only wei
come to the ten dollars, but sixteen head
Of fine fat shoats besidesw
"Git 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 Copiield.
n Il n y
An hour later the fortune teller" was
In front of the Coptield home.
"Hello!" he yelled.
"Hello yerself," glumly spoke young
girl, coming out on the porch.
"Pd like to stop with you and get my
dinner" he spoke smilingly.
"There won't be no trouble erbout
that. Come in. We hain't got nothin
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"
A 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 he 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
the bill"
"Nuthin, stranger" simultaneously
spoke mother and daughter.
''That is certainly cheap" laughingly
spoke the fortune teller.
"Yas," returned Mrs. Copfeld, but
it's all we ever charge"
well, WE'LL" spoke the fortune teller,
81 must do something for such good
dinner. l am fortune teller, and l
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"
A 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 veil of astonishment
that covered her features.
You are in love with a 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"
"0h, boohool Oh, don't say thatl"
pleadingly cried the girl
The fortune teller gazed long into the
depths of the cup. Then a frightened
look sprang to his face. His eyes spread
open like saucers. His breast heaved.
His hands clutched together. Finally he
spoke, hoarsely:
"Quick, girl! Go to him! Go at once!
He will soon hang himself"
''Oh, Lordy Gordr' screamed the girl,
wringing her hands, ''where, oh, where
is he?"
"Down the road, think. Oh, yes;
see him plain. It's under a big oak down
the road not over 300 yards away. Go
at once and you can save him. Go! go!"
"Oh, Lord help me! l know just
where it is. Will l have time? Oh,
Lordl"
But before the man could answer the
girl had leaped the fence and was run
ming down the road like a young fawn.
AS she neared the great oak she saw
her lover climbing up to the first limbs
a new seagrass rope in his hand.
A wild scream broke from the lips of
the girl.
"Oh, Tim, for Gods sake-for my
sake, Tim, don't do that. I'll kill my
self, too, if you do. Git down! Oh, do
git down! l won't never, never do so
any more"
The young man, affecting look of
| great sadness leaped to tho orround The