The Red Cloud chief., 1897-06-04
r Fates ~Ostwhted.''
BY BESSIE

BY BESSIE CARPENTER.
sat dreaming one night long after
the other members of the family had
retired. Without the storm howled
mournfully, the rain beat fiercely
down, ever and anon II was driven
against the windows In fierce gusts;
the house creaked and rocked In the
bowling tempest.
The wind aud rain seemed to pene-
tratt from without chilling my very
being; u dark shadow began to settle
down upon me, gloomy and somber
thoughts oppressed me. Restlessly
paced the ioor-the surging tide OF
feeling left me in the prOfoundest
melancholy. From regrets for the
past / turned into hopeless coniectures
rs TO the future. While ! unused the
shadow upon me began to deepen;
ghostly forms Of awful shape seemed
TO hover In tho gloom, even the
shadows made by the lire assumed un-
canny shapes. l threw myself on my
couch In an agony Of doubt and uncer-
tsin<y. o To be able to pierce the
gloom that surrounded me and Q the
future with all that might O'ershadow
Ill Why this doubt, this uncertainty,
this horrid suspense' Might not acme
merciful hand draw aside this misty
veil and at ono resolve all these
dOubtss II the future holds for mt
something better than the past, long
to know II, IL 1t should reveal nothing
but gloom and sorrow, Mt least this
awful uncertainty would be at an end,
In an agony of hope | sprang from my
couch and In an hysterical voice pray.
cd the unkind fates to rend this dark.
ness that enshrouded me, ut least for a
moment to remove the veil, But no
They remained obdurate | was turn.
Ing away, giving up tn despair when
my eyes CHANGED 10 fall upon an Mays
instrument. A happy thought seized
me, ! placed IL To my eyes. Already
n rift in the dark STROUD. Peering he
You'd the future | saw strange scenes,
some things old, yet some things new
changes IN fashions, dress, nearly
everything Needed reforms had
taken place, long felt wants had been
supplied. Indeed the gloomy cloud
which had oppressed me so terribly
had had u silver lining-allt the brighter
all the more beautiful for the dark ex'
terror which was u, first alone visible,
As | gazcd there passed in procession
before me thousands Of people, a few
Of whom In the past | had known, Il
great many Of whom l had never g
aOr heard. How ioyfully would
recognize now aud then M old time ac
quaintxnce, One person In particular
excited my in~terest-a beautiful woman
richly dressed aud decked in jewels
surrounded ny n throng of admirers; y
leading society belle, one whose path II
strewn with rOses--one upon whom
fortuae smiles uastintingly. The fea
lures seemed familiar and, as I gazed
] recognized one Of my former schooI
mates, Edna Henderson. turned Il
behold the next 10 the procession-s
noted lecturer. Woman's advance
ment in the past few years owes mach
To her efforts: no woman Of tins day i,
SO widely known and 50 reverenily
spoken Of as 10 Ada Skjelver. The mex,
ono which | noticed wasA great polii
clan, the senator from Nshrasks, den
mis- Schaffnit, whose infipepcs 10 publ.
life is by no means limited. The n,er
chant prince Of New York, by whose
magic touch seems to DO turned Il
gold IL the psxtto claim my attention,
Robert Mitchell, one Of the leading
business meu Of the nation, in no man.
ner disappointed the hopes Of the
friends of his youthful days. Another
one In the procession is also easily
recognized, Matte Abel, . renowned
artist whose beautiful. pictures adorn
many homes. An authorcss mex, APP
p{srs wh6sS afaby. vedetE ssxd books
tss,ity ,sdI& 0pnit S4& sSHp~u a.
-. psopoSo ceonO uo1klng POWA0