The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-10-18

BUT Este,ia crye,,
mo, madame, please; but i fear
that madame, the teller OF fortunes. :"
Nevertheless, on the morrow Miss
Ash went to Madame Smith. The
seerass was in better condition than
ususi. The gin bottle was full She
smiled upon Miss Ash, and said:
"Ah! I've been expectin' of you.
The boy is off your hands now. I
knowed you'd come"
Wonderful" said Miss Ash.
Then the seeress reclined in a rock
ing chair, and was supposed to go into
trance.
81 am spirit from the realms
above" said the seeress, in few mo-
ments. 81 ant come for to stay long,
only for to give this friend q promise
and warmth"
"Oh. dear!" said Miss Ash.
'The youth will become very
great man." said madame. "He will
climb the pinnacles of fame, and when
he has clumb 'em, the voice of the ma
ton will select him for the future
president But there's a dreadful
danger before you, although it may
be avoided. You have took into your
heart and home foreign person. Be-
ware!''
Nov, there" said Miss Ash, who
sometimes argued with her spiritual
guide. "there you are mistaken, Mad
anne Smith"
sit ant me-" said madame suddenly
coming to herself. Its a higher and
mightier power than what am"
swell, it's mistaken, anyhow" said
Miss Ash. "She'll turn out we'll"
mo. she WON'T" responded the
spirit in possession of Madame Smith.
"Look in your secret drawer when
you get home and see if your fathers
gold watch is safe. She opened it
last night after you were asleep and
took it out. And she's pawned il. or
sold it. It's gone"
Miss Ash looked horror stricken.
She went home trembling and cold
with apprehension and rushed
straight to the secret drawer of her
escritoir. The watch she valued so
was gone-her fathers watch which
she had treasured so long. And
Estelle and her nephew Dick alone
knew how to open it. Even good
Betsy Baker she had never trusted.
Estelle was the thief.
The girl sat sewing, and looked up
at her with smile when she called
her.
"My watch, Estelle-my watch
fathers great watch, that I showed
you. Where is it? 1t is gomez
"Ah, mon Dieu!" cried Estelle.
''Gone? Impossible!'
Her face was not that of a guilty
person, but Miss Ash never doubted
her guilt for one moment.
''Estelle," she said, 'the spirits
have told me all about it. You took
it. Give it back and I'll not punish
you"
Madame" cried poor Estelle, II
madame's watch! Impossible!"
And there were tears and prayers
and vows, but no confession.
Miss Ash would have believed no
living tongue that had told the tale,
but an angel from heaven had re-
vealed the truth and she could not
doubt it. After long hours, in which
she strove to force the girl to confess,
she took the course she had threat
ened from the first-called a police
man and sent the girl to prison.
~ must have the watch back" she
said, as she tossed upon the pillow.
"a night in Jail will do it. 1 shall
never have faith in any one again"
Betsy Baker lay awake also, giddy
with triumph, yet half terrified.
There was no fair-faced rival in the
house now. But she was white-faced
and miserable.
At dawn, or very little after,
came rapping at the door of Miss
Ash's house. A policeman stood there.
about tho young gal that took the
watch, num-" he said.
HAS she confessed?" asked Miss
Ash.
mot exactly" replied the man.
"But it points that way"
II don't wish to prosecute" said
Miss Ash, ''only to get the watch
back"
"Ah," said the man. "Well, there'n
be no need. She's dead"
''Deadr' screamed Betsy Baker on
the stairs. Dead! Deadw
"Hung herself" said the man.
Put her hair up in puffs, first, and
made herself neat as a picture.
Yes'm-dead."
Betsy Baker gave another cry and
threw herself screaming on the floor.
She tore her hair, CRASHED her teeth
and howled and had commissions; then
she averred that she saw satan stand
ing at her elbow and went off again.
Finally coming to herself, she put her
hand into her pocket and gave Miss
Ash a note, greasy at the edge and
smelling of smoke.
'I went to Madame Smith and told
her what to say" she said. II paid
her IS to say it. AS for your watch,
read that"
And Miss Ash, tearing the envelope,
read these lines in Dicks hand:
DEAR AUNTY-Please forgive me.