THE CONJURIN' LADY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 538, 1 February 1913, Page 2

THE CONJURIN' LADY.

"BEEN AND 'AD ME PORCHI-. TOLE." "It's this way," said the barmaid, "old Teddy Beden's been married once, and 'e's got engaged again, and at 'is time o* life, 'is friends don't approve." » "Describe him—-or give me some article of clothing belonging to him, or a piece of his hairY" said Zeliita. " 'Bout sixty, side-whiskers, white, rayther bald in front, rsd face, no top front teeth, and stoops," said the barmaid, fluently. Zelika holding up her hand to enforce silence, closed her eyes. I»see a man, elderly, about sixty / with side-whiskers, he is walking with a lady. No —yes —it is a lady ! She lias taken his arm, and his face is close to hers." "That's Teddy !" roared Bill, triumph antly. • Zelika swept round and looked at him reproachfully. "You have broken the picture. You should have kept silence," she said, "and I could have , told you exactly what was going to happen !" Bill was breathing hard. Drawing an extra deep breath, and squeezing his cap very hard between his hands, he said — , "It's this' way, mum. If we wafa to send Teddy to you, , and you was to say to him. 'Teddy Boden,' says you, 'you'll die a month after you're married,' it'll only be saving of 'im, mum !" Madame Zelika stared, snl straightened herself proudly. "Man—l cannot tell you what I 'do not sea ! Truth is the star of my life. I live for my Art, and to. deal dishonestly with it would bs to alienate the spirits from my side." Bill scarcely understood the words, but he guessed that he had made a false step, and mumbled apologetically that it would be "'the saving of pore ole Teddy." Miss Carruthers smiled knowingly. "You can oblige us if you like, Madame," she said, nodding pertly. "I should be unworthy," began Madame, loftily, when the barmaid interrupted. "Bosh," she said, "you can oblige us if you like, for I've sent you a many and a many young mugs ; and I may as well tell you as my sister Annie is engaged to a police-ser-geant." The subtle hint took effect. Madam looked angry, and then alajrmed, arid then she smiled with exceeding amiability. "The police are my friends," she said suavely, "because they know I speak the truth. Still, in the cause of humanity " "'That's it !" exclaimed Bill, !y"What is it that you wish me to do ?" inquired Madame, proudly. "Tell ole Teddy as 'e'll die » month arter 'e marries agen." burst out Bill. • . Madame Zelika, after considering* the matter deeply, murmured that she would do what she could ; and, with compliments on either side, the party broke up, and Bill went hotfoot to seek out Teddy. "Been and 'ad me forchin tole, Teddy," he announced as a preliminary. ... "Forchin tole ! You ain't got no forchin." said Teddy, coldly, '"a man as can argey with 'is good missus 'as lost 'is self-respeck, an' 'is claim to any forchin." Bill clenched his teeth, and took a minute to recover his self-control. "'The lady shut 'er heys and she see you, and your young lady a-waik-ing arm-in-arm in it, and she says as she can tell you what's going to 'appen." he went on. - Teddy blushed and scratched his head. "Was it good luck. ?" he inquired. "She wouldn't tell up, and she'll only tell you and the young lady, she says," Bill answered. "I don't believe none of it," said Teddy, weakening \isibly. "NO more did I. till I went, Teddy,""said Bill, gravely, "but don't you go —although I 'ave 'eard 'ow people 'ave to be told where to go and find a forchin." "I might look in if I wur a-passin'; What's the address, Bill ?" Bilk gave it, and went away chuckling. Two days later Teddy announced that he'd been to see the "conjuriri' lady." He was all smiles, and Bill's heart was heavy at the sight of them. , "What then ?" gasped Bill, confident that some disastrous mistake had been made. "She tole me a lot of things —a fair lot. Knew as 'ow I'd been married afore. Took quite si fancy to me, and my young lady." "Di'd she?" said Bill, despondentently. "Seed us with 'er heyes shut, asetting by our own fireside, me and 'er, cosy and comf'table as an/think. Seed us " "Did she say you was to fce 'appy for long, Teddy?" interrupted Bill, unable to wait for the information. "She said," Teddy explained, "that I should die in a month if I didn't get married. So we shall 'urry it along !" —The "English Illustrated Magazine."