Part 20 (1/2)

A lady was already in Mrs. Warne's room, but she was easily dismissed with instructions to return next day. When she retired, Mrs. Thayer was admitted, and Miss Seaton wished to follow, but this could not be allowed, as only one could have an audience at a time. Mrs. Thayer entered the room with her veil down; and, what with her nervousness and the superst.i.tious terror inspired by the weird appearance of the room, she was hardly able to walk to the visitor's chair. When she became somewhat accustomed to the peculiar light, she saw Madam Lucille standing beside the table. Her tall, commanding figure struck Mrs.

Thayer with awe, and Mrs. Warne already felt sure of drawing out everything that she knew.

”Come hither, my daughter,” said Lucille, in a clear, sweet voice.

Mrs. Thayer advanced falteringly, and sank into the large chair which the sibyl pointed out.

”What would you know, my child?” continued Lucille. ”State your errand quickly; as my time is short, to unfold the mysteries of the future.

Like the Wandering Jew, I must forever advance upon my mission. What do you seek to know?”

Lucille's powerful mind, aided by her fantastic surroundings, had gained a complete ascendency over Mrs. Thayer's superst.i.tious nature; in a voice trembling with emotion, she replied:

”I have come to learn my future.”

”Then you must unveil; I can tell you nothing until I see your face,”

said Lucille.

Mrs. Thayer slowly removed her veil and sat motionless, regarding the fortune-teller as a frightened bird watches a snake.

”You wish to know your destiny, do you?” asked Lucille, gently. ”Well, I can tell it, if the stars are propitious; but I must first look at your hand.”

She paused and waved her wand with several mysterious gestures over Mrs.

Thayer's head; then she swept forward and took her hand.

”Tell me the day and hour of your birth,” continued Lucille.

”I was born about daybreak on the eighteenth of October, 1816,” replied Mrs. Thayer; ”I cannot tell you the exact hour.”

”That will be sufficiently accurate for the present,” said Lucille; ”though it may cause me much trouble in casting your horoscope.”

Lucille continued to examine the lines of the hand, and presently commenced speaking in a low, but clear voice:

”Your parents are dead, and also one brother; your father pa.s.sed through great dangers safely--ah! I see, he was a sailor. You have been surrounded by other sea-faring people; still, I cannot certainly tell what relations.h.i.+p they bore to you. I shall learn all when I cast your horoscope. Your father acquired moderate wealth, of which you have received your share; but you desire more, and you are not too scrupulous as to how you get it. Why, what means this?” she exclaimed, starting back and fixing a piercing glance on the cowering woman before her. ”You are in danger! Yes; there is danger all about you, but it is impossible to tell now how it will end. There is a man in your trouble, who claims to love you; and there is a woman who comes between you. Ah! what is she doing!” she suddenly demanded in tragical tones, starting back with a look of terror in her eyes.

Mrs. Thayer fell back as if stabbed to the heart, and her whole att.i.tude denoted guilty fear. Lucille, fearing that she would faint, handed her a gla.s.s of water, which soon revived her strength.

As soon as Mrs. Thayer had sufficiently recovered, Lucille again took her hand and carefully examined it; she then continued:

”I cannot do much now, but you must come again, when I have more time; then I will cast your horoscope, and will be able to tell you all you can wish to know----” Breaking off suddenly, she changed her tone and demanded imperiously: ”Who is this woman? Is she his enemy, or yours?

_Are you sure that man loves you?_”

”Oh, yes; I am sure he does,” Mrs. Thayer replied, hastily.

”Then what is the trouble between you and this woman?” asked Lucille.

”She is older than you, yet she constantly crosses your path.” Then, closing her eyes, Lucille broke out pa.s.sionately and rapidly, like a person in a trance: ”Why does she act so? What is the matter with her?

She is often interfering with you, but is always followed by that man; he must be her enemy. See! a shadow falls over her! What does it mean!

She fades away and vanishes--_it must be death_!”