The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-12-13
RID VIII De entirely destitute of proph-

| NOrlu VIII Dc entlrely destitute OK prOpn-
cts. / intend to finish off this one"
As l expected, Mr.. Mesrom was our old
original prophet-whits wig. beard, robe.
baskets. parrakeets and all as before.
Two young people were just departing
with their envelopes In their hands, and
we had the place to ourselves. l walked
up to the counter. and, fixing a stern gaze
upon the prophet, said. In low voice:
Mr.. Mesrom. have an account to set
tie with you"
The prophet retreated as far az the
wall Of his "caye. permitted.
Book a-here, sir" said he, II don't
wish no trouble with no gent, but II you
are looking for any you will be bounced.
My remarks are not personal, but any
| gent making trouble In this museum will
| be bounced by the management"
"All right" said l. II suppose, being a
prophet, you don't mind answering a few
questions"
Not If they're CIVIL" said he.
what want to ask you, Mr.. Mesron,
Is this" said 1. What the deuce do you
mean by putting up in your envelopes
prophecies calculated to alarm nervous
females-prophecies of death and disas-
ter? Such q one, bought Of you, has
| done more mischief than l can tell 1t is
absurd that It should be so. but It Is a
fact. You have upset laiy's health and
unbalanced her mind
"Oh, Johnr whispered Annie reproach-
fully, but I went on, shaking my fist at
the prophets
"A woman who believes that your nom
sense is prophecy got hold Of one of those
yellow envelopes that foretold her speedy
death, and. as l said, the consequences
wer. deplornbls and are still. She win
not listen 70 reason. Che may de Of over
wrought imagination, and IL she dies you
die also! I've q mind to kill you now"
The prophet retreated again as I shook
my fist at him, but he stared ut me In
amaEement as he did 20.
Look here, SIR" said he, I'VE don't
put no prophecies Of that there character
into none Of our enxelupa Them sort
wouldn't be popular. Our'n Il all favor
able and encouraging. We make q rule
they shall be. Besides,
''Hin that priEs what im,t hiTn,
when he's soteAsd mai b sent 70 prison,
which IL IN the gents basket and IL re-
garded 10 q Joke. There amt no evil
prophecies Ia the collection Oh, NO, It's
some other prophet There y two or
three Of them along the Bowsry. None
genuine but me-"
any friend" SAID I, you arc the per
son who had booth at the state fair Mt
Hobbswich last autumn"
Yes I was there" said the prophet.
"but. as I said, our'n. especially for the
ladies. In all encouraging"
"Do you call this encouragingf" ask
ed, taking the envelope from my pocket
book. where had kept 1t since that fatal
day. Read itr'
Mr.. Mesrom took the ship Of paper from
me, Eszed at it, and read It aloud:
Lovely lady, you will die before the
violets blow" he Hepeated.
Nov, eff that amt a blamed shame,
I'm a donkey! See here-that amt no
fault of mine. I'll explain. But the lady
hasn't read the rest Of the printing: It's
been folded up and tucked under some
how-reading it altogether amt 60 bad"
He had smoothed the paper now, and 1t
was evident that 1t had been folded so as
to conceal several words which followed
those had read.
Lovely lady, he began again, you
will die before the violets blow II you let
that cold run on and don't take good old
DIR. Dodds' Magic Cough Strip this win
ter. For sale in the great hall. One dol
lar per bottle
Don't you see?" Mr.. Mesrom said, ap-
pealing to me. that that amt no proph-
ecy, but just a regular ad.? I'll tell you
the way Of it: That old quaek, DR.. Dodds,
had his cough strip at the fair, and he
Drilled our boy to stick some of them cir
cylars into ou- envelups. ! suppose some
was disiribbyted before l caught him at
il and dismissed him with as good 4 welt
ing rs hoy ever had. Why, that amt no
prophecy, lady! Here. lady, let Polly
pick you out true one to make up for 1t.
No charge whatever
He held the parrakeet toward the basket
She jerked out an envelope with her bsak
and dropped it into Annes hand.
"Open It," said I. open it and read
1t. 1t is the true one, you know" And on
the instant the dear girl obeyed and read
aloud:
you'll be a bride in June"
"Alrs well that ends wen," said the
prophet. Hope you are satisfied, sir?"
Entirely" said |, offering him my
cigar case. and Annie and l went home
together in a state of utter beatitude, to
which we had been strangers since our
first interview with the prophet, and
when We arrived at the door Annie rush.
ed into her mothers arms, crying out:
"Oh, mamma, dear, / am not to die
when the violets blov-I am to be mar
ried in June"