The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-01-09
A FORTUNE TELLER
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Billy Stanwood, lusty young fellow
Of twenty, was sitting on the top rail
Of the fence whiting and looking very
disconsolate. A man came by with a
jnunty gait hummlng a tune. He was
In tatters, but his face beamed bright
~. II was he who addressed young
Stanwood.
''There amt nothin' the matter with
me-" repeated Billy.
II been a fortune teller in my time,
when had better clothes. kin tell
all about II II you'll let me see your
hand"
Billy got down from the fence and
put out bis hand
ITS gal" said the tramp.
"Waal, nowp
"She has light hair an blue eyes"
you're wrong there. Her hair an
eyes are black
I'VE can't always tell about them
trinn' matters. She's gal anyway,
and she won't have you"
"Thats right So she won't"
But she loves you all the same"
"Got It wrong again. She don't"
How do you knowT
"Waal, we was a-sittln' under n tree
back OF the barn, an l said, Now,
reckon | haint good enough fur you
an she said, Reckon you amt, Billy
Then said, Wei, Nan. I'm a-goin'
home, an amt a-comin' here no
more, an she said, Reckon you better
come ohct In awhile; we been such
good friends. | got up fur to so an
walked as fur as the gate when she
called me back. Amt you got uothin'
to say before partin'T What's TO be
Goodby' she said 'Goodby, said |.
'Nothiu' elseg she asked. 'Nothln' 40
| knows Of Wen, then, you mighS
as well CO. That's ALL"
"Whorc does she llyeW
"Iu the red house yonder."
~ tell you what you do. You go
home an put up n bundle OF clothes
an In just an hour from this time walk
by that red house as II you was goln'
away sOmewheres."
Billy went TO his home, and the
stranger sauntered OFF toward the red
house. lie passed a girl with bare
arms her dress pinned back and sun.
bonnet covering her face. She was
hanging clothes on a line I'm the yard
"Could you give me bite" he asked.
Il amt had nothin' since yesterday"
"Surtin." said the girl. She went into
| the house and brought out some bread
and meat, with cup Of milk. The
stranger partook Of the meal, then said:
II hau't got nothn' fur you, but
hin tell your fortune"
"Iiin youf'
"Ycs Let me look at your hand"
Taking the hand, he studied II care
fully for awhile, then said:
This line means n fellcr with gray
eyes an sandy hair This little hanC
! line means desperation - that is, he's ia
a peck OF trouble Mebbe he's in love
This line says you're goin' 10 do some
| him yOu'll regret. Il looks like thS
| rcllcr's in love with you. You wont
have him. an he's goIn' fur away"
The fortune teller was occasionally
looking up from the girls hand TO heI
face. in which he could plainly SEE
| satisfaction no the earlier part OF the
| Information aud anxiety at the last
part. From her face he cast glancof
/ mp the road and presently saw Billy
| StauwOod coming with a stick over
| his SHOULDER. from which hung a bun
| lie.
"'rhe sandy haired young man is
doomed TO great trouble. Hes gOn'
.Onc sira augcrs whore he'll not he
able to nnd work IIe'll get sick an
nobody TO take care OF him. He'll be
buried In the pottCr's field. an therein
be- no headstone 10 mark his grave"
The fortune teller cast glance at
the girls eyes and saw tears there.
The last pctur' | see" he went on,
lis your huutln' fur the grave OF the
sandy haired man. You lind II. There
you sit weepin,'
While the stranger was drawing this
lugubriOus picture Billy Stanwood was
drawing nearer
Don't see no more. miss" said the
former, Reckon IN go along. Sorry
I couldn't give sou a better fortune fur
the ylttes you give me, but fate Is
fate. an fortunes Is fortunes. Good
by"
Cant we do nothln' TO change our
fortunes = asked the girl.
Only by changin' our actions II
our hearts are hard, our fate must be
hard. If we take pleasure IN wOrryln'
people, we must expect the conse.
quences."
The stranger departed; but, reaching
tree with a convenient broad trunk
20 hide behind. he waited and watched
In due time Billy stanwood passed
without even a look for the red house
or the girl In the yard.
"BlllyF cried a voice behind him.
"Oh, Billy. come backP
What furT
Il don't want you 10 go away. / wlS !
only a-fOOlin' this mOrnin'. Come back |
an forgive me. hadn't Oughter
throwed you on when my heart was
yourn."
Billy dropped his bundle and ran to
the fence. The girl leaned over the
l,p rail ouH fha cfra uOar from balfud Il