The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-08-24
IN THE FOG.
BY Franz Won Couring.

we had been many day9 out. l had met q
few sympathetic people, with whom ]
spent most Of my time while going across
Two of these were American ladies, OF
whom especially one before long told me
everything about herself. though ] had
never tried to win her confidence. she
felt in need of a friend on board the oiH
steamer travelling alone, and so she tolo
me that she had been engaged Tor nVe
years to a countryman whom she was now
on her way to meet and marry at Naples,
Her intended husband was a scientist ana
had formerly been too poor to think or
marriage. but now he had received a posi-
ton In the famous aquarium which en-
abled him to support a family, II not III
luxury, at least comfortably. For fve lons
years she had not seen NH oniy
heard from him through letters when
came with unerring pu~nctuallty every
week-and now she was SO happy hat she
could harly realize that the whole thinS
was not a dream.
She was far from beautiful. pale and
thin, with an expression which tolu OF
many sufferings; but when she spoke of
him her face became SO radlaht1! hanpy
that one could not help considering her
pretty; and in my thoughts I often con-
graduated the man who was to pc tnd
husband of such an affectionate and loV-
ing wife.
The other American girl was very much
different. Serious, intelligent, we'll read
and evidently unusually energetic. ohd
was a socialist and had devoted much OF
her time to the improving of the condl-
tons of the poor Of Chicago. She was the
author OF several books on the social ques-
ton which had brought her not a little
fame, and was a delightfully."- conversation
alist.
These two American ladies, one OF the
ships surgeons, a Frenchnan who was re-
turning to France after having made Ma
fortune in the States and myself 5000
formed a little exclusive clique which was
watched with jealousy by the other pas,
sengers. Our seats were close together az
the table; on deck we moved our easy
chairs together In a little nook at the enc
Of the promenade deck, and the evenings
we generally spent in the salon playing
cards or chatting.
One evening, when we were ~ploughing
our way through a heavy fog and the roar
of the whistle made the whole ship trenl-
BILE every minute, the F~renchman, who
had until then been very silent, began to
speak Of ghosts, spiritism and cialrVoy-
ance. The sturgeon felt In duty bound to
declare that he only believed In science
and denied the existence of spirits OF any
kind. Much to my surprise. he was notify
contradicted by the socialist lady, while
the other lady and myself did not take any
part in the discussion.
It am willing to let you decide for your
SELF the socialist lady said. maybe you
will believe mo when I tell you all about
your own thoughts, your plans and your
past"
"And what about your future"
1.-The future neither 1 nor any other hu-
man being can say anything about
"Oh, then, I do not see much In IT,
laughed the Frenchman. 81 know my own
past; 1t is only the future which interests
me"
But I can tell you not only your past.
but also what any of your relatives are
doing at this moment
No, thank you; 1 do not care a CONT
mental for my relatives
Miss May Somers. the bride, looked up
and eagerly said: IF you do not mind.
Miss Burton, 1 should like to know what
my tiance at Maple has been doing today,
or is doing now. Then I will ask him II t
Is correct when we arrive?"
with pleasure" replied Miss Burton.
and seized her right hand, whose lines She
began to scan carefully. Suddenly she
turned very pale and became greatly agi-
tated, though Miss Somers, who was BASH
fully looking down, did not notice it. We
looked at one another in urprise, but soon
the color came back to her face, and in a
most natural and unconstrained tone she
told the bride-to-be a few commonplace
things. which she evidently invented on
the spot.
Miss Somers was rather disappointed,
but said nothing, and soon after retired.
When she had left us we sat for a few
moments in deep silence, which was
broken only by the hparse roars of the
whistle. All OF us felt a suspicion, a fore
warning Of something, but nobody dared
ask Miss Burton what she had read in
Miss Somers' palm.
Finally I took courage and asked:
please tell me, Miss Burton, what dark
secret you kept away from Miss Somers?'
'Oh, something terrible something
which filled my heart with the greatest
sorrow and pity
SIS he dead?" asked he renchman.
MOI! Much worse thar that"
What, then"
s o'clock this afternoon he wrote a.
letter to her, in which he breaks the en-
gagement because he loves another-an
Italian girl-and Immediately after he de-
posted the money for her return ticket
with the American consul at Naples. She
will get the letter the moment we arrive
The earnest way in which she said these
words made a strong impression upon US.
but with an effort the surgeon tried to
make light Of 1t, and said with a smile:
you are not as smart as I thought, Miss
Burton. We shall easily be able to find
out whether you are right
"You doubt? Well, we shall see when
we get to Naples. Good night and with
out another word she left US.
-Four days later, when the pilot came on
board, the first officer distributed the mail
among the passengers. Miss Somers was
standing leaning over the side of the ship
so as to be sure to catch sight of her lover
as soon as he came near the dock.
Now we shall see whether you were
right. Miss Burton" whispered the sur
geon.
Yes. we shall see." she replied. almos,
inaudibly.
Suddenly we heard the officer call out:
Miss Somers! Miss Somers! A letter
for Miss Somers!'
The young lady ran toward him, while
we eagerly watched her every movement
She looked at the envelope with a smile
and tore it open. We began to breathe
freer.
Apiercing cry, and we saw her faint ant
drop as il dead.
Everything which Miss Burton had fore
told came true.
Miss Somers never returned to America
She is still in an insane asylum at Naples
H. EeHE-Ig+ -LEEtt - Er%1 4s1