Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1896-10-15
THE ARTISTS STORY.

81 tell you, ladies'" declared band
some aud cynical Wilton Robelev. the
artist, "a fortune teller showed me the
image Of my wife two years before |
ever saw her III the flesh and thou
sands Of miles from the place l frst
met her.
"You are the last man in the world
whose mind | would think obscured
by the clouds Of mysticism, replied
the rich Mrs. Austvn, his friend and
patron. ''1ou have never shown anv
patience with the charlatans who pre-
tend TO expose and eXpound the Sc
crets that Il wise Providence has or
dalned we should not futhom And
yet you arc taxing our credulity with
statement that would be marvellous
if true"
81 must insist upon my veracity in
this instance, smiled the artist.
"Now don't stop TO argue. m ANNA, ;"
urged the elder Of the Austyn girls.
There Is a story IN this, and after
Mr.. Robelcy has told it you can re-
claim him from the darkness of his
superstltlons and air your theories.
Now do tell us all about it ;'and three
pretty sisters sighed their curiosity in
chorus.
".Just SO, you don't ask me to ex-
plain, said the artist with a ouiZzical
look. 81 shall give you the remark
able facts and leave you to wrestle
with them. Eight years ago l was in
Paris pursuing my studies, and lived
the life of Bohemian from choice,
rather than from necessity. We fell
lows held the responsibilities of life
very lightly and laughed at all human
phenomena that would not yield to
the test of materlallsm. | was chief
among the scoffers, aud found bare
faced fraud in everything from clair
voynncy to the piercing of the future
through the medium Of tea grounds.
Then as now | occasionally broke
entirely away from my usual sur
rounniugs and was one day saunterine
alone through Rue dc Bouges. AS
passed one Of the most pfctcntIou.
houses | was startled by scream fol
help and dashed through theH opel
doorway to find n woman batting Will
flames that VITA great leaps and flash
cs were CONSUMING the white draper
les Of what struck me as n consecratel
altar ont Of place. Our combine,
efforts soon mastered the inclpien
confederation. As the woman anolnt
ed my hands with some soothing 10
ton saw that she was MS dark as
gypsy Her hair rippled back from
her forehead in waves Of blue black
her ewes we're brilliant in the SAM
deep colorIny, and her strong. even
teeth suggested polished ivory. Sh
was nn amazon III size, yet the sweep p
ing curves Of beauty were such as t
fascinnte the artist while her motion
were supple and graceful as those Of
tiger.
You are gentleman, an
there is but one way IN whlc
I can offer return for your services,
she said as | turned TO leave. He
voice was soft as the notes OF lut
and her accent gave unsuspecte
charms TO my mother tongue. i wa
born Of royal blood IN lndis
Through study of the sacred Neda
and the ,ure doctrine Of karma | a
tanned the power Of divination. You
people would classify me among fol
tune tellers: hut | am poles apart iro'
the vulgar humbuSs that trade upo
ignorance and superstltution. IRON
ise YOU will come tomorrow. i'
I am upset by this accident. Then
will be both your historian and yot
prophet. shall count on yo'
m'seur.
"Though l mentally sneered at II
woman's pretensions and lay avail
half the night assuring myself IN
would never seek her out, | was
her door ten minutes before The a