might have
been the proud mother of a son or daughter at least five years old by
this time, if it had not been for your own obduracy--excuse me."

Up went the skeleton fan again with a wonderfully modest if not an
offended simper at the notion of such an insinuation; but, said she
in her heart, this is the most gentlemanly conjurer that ever told a
fortune; quite a delightful old gentleman; he is really charming; I wish
I had met him twenty years ago."

"Well, sir," she replied, "I see there is no use in denying--especially
to you, who seem to know everything--the truth of the facts you have
stated. There was one gentleman in particular whom I rejected--that
is, conditionally--rather harshly; and do you know, he took the
scarlet-fever soon afterwards and died of a broken-heart."

"Go on, madam," said he; "make a clean breast of it--so shall you enable
me to compare the future with the past, and state your coming fortunes
more distinctly."

"Another gentleman, sir--a country squire--owes, I fear, his death to my
severity; he was a hard drinker, but I gave him a month to reform--which
sentence he took so much to heart that he broke his neck in a fox-chase
from mere despair. A third individual--a very handsome young man--of
whom I must confess I was a little jealous about his flirting with
another young lady--felt such remorse that he absolutely ran away with
and married her. I know, of course, I am accountable for all these
calamities; but it cannot be helped now--my conscience must bear it."

"You should not look back upon these things with too much remorse,"
replied the conjurer; "forget them--bear a more relenting heart; make
some man happy, and marry. Have you no person at present in your eye
with whom you could share your charms and your fortune?"

"O, sir, you are complimentary."

"Not at all, madam; speak to me candidly, as you perceive I do to you."

"Well, then," she replied, "there is a young gentleman with whom
I should wish to enter into a--a domestic--that is--a matrimonial
connection."

"Pray what age is he?"

"Indeed, he is but young, scarce nineteen; but then he is very wild, and
I--I--have--indeed I am of too kind a heart, sir. I have supplied his
extravagance--for so I must call it--poor boy--but cannot exactly
get him to accept a legitimate right over me--I fear he is attached
elsewhere--but you know he is young, sir, and. not come to his ripe
judgment yet. I read your handbill, sir; and if