The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-05-12
PROPHECY
By POMONA C. WOODBURY.
eMcClure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

Nun.
People were always telling things
to Oscar.
Perhaps, in the wordless language
of souls, they recognized in him a
father confessor.
His genial, kindly face, with broad
tolerant mouth and eyes of under
standing and compassion encour-
aged confidence, and his long, aris-
tocratic nose assured secrecy.
Several prospective "clients" wait
ed outside the palmist's booth; a
nervous, representative woman,
two giggling girls out for a lark, an
elderly gray haired woman whose
face was heavy with despair and
bitterness.
An idea popped into Oscars brain
and he looked about for some one to
share it.
At the further end of the bench sat
solitary figure, a man of about his
own age, well groomed, of lean,
rangy figure and unsmiling face
There was about him an air of ap-
pdlllng loneliness.
A line from "The Ancient Mari
ner" came to Oscars mind: ''By
the long gray beard and glittering
eye" only this fellow had a short,
gray vandyke and his eyes were,
without exception, the saddest Oscar
had ever seen.
Hes got a story in him." thought
Oscar, land he's just dyin' to tell
it,"
Presently, Oscar cleared his
throat, and with his most magnetic
smile caught the others attention.
did you ever stop to think how
much hard earned money goes into
one of those fortune-telling places?"
nodding at the palmist's booth.
YES" the other agreed, lacon-
ically, with no great show OF
warmth
They look as if they needed all
their money, too" continued Oscar
What in Sam Hill they believe such
stuff for! Did you ever hear of any
thing they prophesied coming true?"
"Once," came the quiet answer.
You don't say!" exclaimed o.
car, genuinely surprised.
He waited.
"Are you in a hurry?" The sad
eyes. measured him.
mot at ALL" Oscar chuckled. "I'm
here with my grandson, doing the
sights, and the boy so tuckered me
out / gave him a handful of bills
and permiss ion to clean sweep ev.
erything, so long as he let me SIT
down. Guess I'm here for the rest
of the afternoon"
I'm waiting for my boy-my
ward. He's having a great time OF
it, too, expect. Smoker"
Thanks" They lighted cigars
solemnly. "You were saying
''Oh, yes. 1t happened some years
ago, the beginning of the story
There were three of US who grew
up, like brothers and sister, in the
same town, Bert, III call him, and
Mary will do for her. Both Bert
and I were crazy about Mary, kid
fashion. But the sea was tugging
away at my heart and when I fin.
ished school / shipped away from
our home port, vowing never to re.
turn until I had a masters license
/ kept my VOW. 1t took 10 years.
When / came back Well, lots
of things can happen in 10 years
Bert and Mary had married, folks
said, had q son, and gone to New
York to live. I looked them up,
next time ] got to New York.
Folks had said Bert was doing
real wei with his law practice, so
was surprised when / found their
apartment, mean little walk-ur
place m an untidy street. felt sure
/ was wrong, but / knocked on the
door and a hollow-eyed woman
opened it. i was just about to apol
ogize and 60 away when her face
lighted up and she seized my hands
Jim, Jim, Jim,' she cried, and
burst into tears. She made me
COiiiC ultO Tic dPdi tlilCiil dIlQ dpOlO-
gized for the tears. Said it was her
nerves. There was not thing about
her that resembled the old Mary
Her hair that had been a beautiful
bronze was lusterless, dark
streaked with gray. Deep shadow.
gave gaunt, hollow look to hei
eyes. Lines and creases about heI
forehead and mouth were scars OF
the agony she had suffered. Ever
her figure had changed there
had been several babies, found out
but only one OF them lived. Lnevel
knew that life could wreck q cir
so. Girls in our home town mar
ried and grew Fat and happy. You
know"
Oscar nodded.
II finally got 1t out Of her, though
it was hard because she had q ID
Of pride. that Bert had bled her 70,
every cent Of the good bit Of money
her father had left, and then wantet
to get rid 4of her. He tried petit,
torture in its various forms
nagged her, tainted her with hel
L~~ - "a