Year: 1877

Ezra Arden was in love with Clara Scud-
der and sometimes in moments of great ex-
ultation-for he was modest youth ,as every
true lover should be-he had dared to think
that she did not frown upon his passion.
But Clara was the squire's daughter and an
heiress while E2ra was but small farmer,
and so far from successful in that pursuit,
that it seemed absurd rs well rs impossible,
that he should aspire to the hand Of the
lovely Miss Scudder, who had been courted
in vain by fine city gentlemen. So he had
sighed and cast longing looks from his place
in the choir (where he sang in fine tenor
voice on Sundays into the 'squire's pew
and more than once he thought pretty Clara
blushed brightly and he knew well enough
that she always smiled sweetly and her
voice, when she spoke to him, had caress-
ing sound; and altogether her manner toward
him was not discouraging.


But Ezra would not be discouraged. He
felt that it was useless for him to ask the
squire for his daughter 5 hand unless he had
good pot of money in his own hand with
which to back his proposal. So, instead oi
trying to compass the desired end by in
creased industry he neglected his little farm
more than before, and spent his whole time
in wishing that he could find pot of money
somehow, in the manner of the old fashioned
stories-at the foot of tree, under the
foundation of the house. | believe he would
even have sought for it at the end of the
rainbow, like the boy in the nursery rhyme,
if be had been told there was good chance
of finding it there.


Suddenly rumor spread abroad that a
wonderful gypsy had appeared, who was tell
ing people fortunes that came true in the
most remarkable manner, and all the country
side was in a state Of excitement on the
subject. She was a somewhat exclusive
character, this madam gipsy, and could only
be consulted I'M a certain place,in the shadow
of wych-elm, in the open air, and during
certain hours-these hours being between
the last rays of the declining sun, and the
first shadows of the coming night


Ofcourse the rumor of the gipsy's marve
lous fortune telling reached Ezra Arden and
equally of course he was much exercised in
mind concerning it. He found out the
place where the fortune teller OWNED those
fair fortunes and one evening, after watch
irg the sun slowly disappear benin! the
western hills he repaired thither, stealthily
and little afraid of meeting Clara Scudder
somewhere in the vicinity, for the wych-elnl
was just on the further side of the 'squire's
farm. However, he met no one, except q
hurried squirrel, fast speeding to its home,
and it was even more scared at being met
than Ezra was; so be FASTENED the wych-elm
and there, sure enough, was madam gipsy
sitting curled up against the trunk, and
| looking precisely as if she was waiting fol
him. She was very old woman, bent al
most double her lined and wrinkled iace
was the color of butternut and the tangles
of her hair hung in elflike, grizzled lock-
about her brow and over her cheeks bu
her black eyes had 0 wonderful brillancy
and such keen look that they seemed t,
see right through him. She was wrapped il
a tattered old scarlet cloak, and a hood o
the same was drawn well over her head
She gave quick nod to Ezra, and motione'
him to take seat at her feet, which he did
with his heart humping as if he were be
fore the Delphic oracle And when sh
spoke he had to bend his head and lste


very attentiyely, for not only did she NUT
ter her words in very toothless fashion
but she spoke in SO low tone that he ha
some difficulty hearing her, But he mad
out what she said. .......I


81 was expecting you my son and / kno


what you come for" aud then she held OF


hand even more butternut than her fac
"a shaking and tremulous hand; and Ell


made haste to cross the palm with silve


that being, as he knew, the time-honore


custom. This happened before we had b
gun the return 10 speeie bash and ailv