Holbrook argus. (Holbrook, Ariz.) 1900-1913, 1901-10-05
. OILY was seventeen; she was

door and crowed, she at once began to
prepare for a strangers visit; and if,
while wiping the dishes, her towel fell
to the floor, she was sure that some
friend or relation was coming; if she
dreamed of washing clothes, she was
going to move; and if there came
speck in the light it was q letter; and
If q swallow flew into the house she
felt sure that it announced death in
the family, and so on through so many
signs and fancies that it seemed as if
nothing could ever occur without its
having been foreshadowed.
Dolly lived with her grandparents,
who loved her with that absolute idol
airy which grandparents lavish upon
their grandchildren, and Fritz Muller,
their head man about the farm, loved
her, too. She liked Fritz very well.
He was good and patient, industrious
and q fair musician, and he was also
Quite we'll educated; but Dolly did not
think of such a thing as ever marrying
Fritz, and, indeed, he had never limited
at any such thing, though he had been
there over five years. But he thought
of her and intended that she should be
his wife, and at last he began to act
more like lover than pleased Dolly.
One day when the hay was ready for
cutting, and the air was heavy with
perfume of the flowers in the fields,
and the bees hummed drowsily among
them, and the birds fiuttered down into
the shade, all the men on the big farm
went out to cut the hay with Fritz at
their head, and old Mr. Martin and his
wife went to the funeral of an old
friend, Dolly was left alone in the old
house.
Something weighed upon her spirits.
She had seen three black crows circle
three times round the old well, and
she accepted that as a sign of coming
evil, and her little heart grew heavy
as she imagined all sorts of dangers
that might menace them; and then a
shadow fell across the doorway and
she raised her eyes, to see an old wom-
an standing there.
The old woman was in rags, and her
gray hair hung down over wrinkled
and smoke-browned face, and this was
lighted by piercing black eyes.
"Good-day to you, my pretty lady.
Shall 1 tell your fortune? 1 have come
all the way over the river to see you,
for 1 read Of your destiny in the stars
last night"
ooh, 1 think not" said Dolly, half
frightened.
do let me tell you, for you have a
wonderful lot in life. Your fortune
will take you far, and have come SO
far to tell you"
But" said Dolly, 81 have no money
of my own. never need any, and new
er have any to spend"
"Well, my little one, perhaps you
have an old brooch or pair of earrings,
or something of that sort that you
would give me. For such fortune as
1 read last night in the stars for you,
people would give handfuls of gold"
81 don't know" said Dolly. Il think
have something like that, If you will
sit down here and wait till 1 bring it, "
and with a beating heart, the foolish
child went to her room and took from
drawer a quaint old pair of ear
rings with yellow topaz stones. They
were heavy and handsome, though old
fashioned, and the gypsy received them
with cleaning eyes, for they suited her
barbaric taste.
Dolly did not know they were valu-
able. They had belonged to great
aunt, and they had lain year after year
among her possessions, and she offer
ed them fearing they would not be
enough.
"Now, my pretty dear, take hold OF
my hands and look me straight in the
eyes, and never forget what 1 have
said. You were born under a lucky
star. Your life lies before you q
smooth and happy path. You will trave
in strange countries and see wonders
and you will be very rich woman
You will marry a nobleman; one of g
long line of mobiles, and you will be en-
We'd of all women. Your husband will
adore you to your last day and die oil
grief two days later You will have
two children-a son and daughter-anC
they will be both great and distinguish
ed, and you will live to a good old age
and be loved by every one. All this is
yet to come, but the stars say that YOU
fate is very near you"
Dolly listened in breathless silence
Could this be true? Then she asked
timidly, "but how soonY
."Ah, my DEAR don't control destiny
l only reveal what read in the stars
"But how am 1 to know?'
'HThat l cannot tell either. 1t will b.
revealed to you in some way. Now
don't forget, and good-by," and thu
gypsy disappeared, leaving poor Doll!
COMPOUNDED.
She believed every word the ole
woman told her. She believed in al
sorts of supernatural things, and tn,
fact that any one could read the star
was as patent to her as that they coul(
read book, but she said nothing ant
went about her duties nowadays will
the same industry, but with look o
expectancy in her eyes, as if watchin!
for the enchanted prince to come.
Poor Fritz! in vain he played swee
airs on his flute or violin; in vain b.