The woman stood and looked at him for a few moments.

"My nose may be short," she replied, "but shorter will be the course of
your happiness."

"Well, Mary," he said, "I think as regards my happiness that you know as
little of it as I do myself. If you tell me any thing that has passed, I
may give you some credit for the future, but not otherwise."

"Do you wish to have your fortune tould, then," she asked, "upon them
terms?"

"Come, then, I don't care if I do. What has happened me, for instance,
within the last forty-eight hours?"

"That has happened you within the last forty-eight hours that will make
her you love the pity of the world before her time. I see how it will
happen, for the complaint I speak of is in the family. A living death
she will have, and you yourself during the same time will have little
less."

"But what has happened me, Mary?"

"I needn't tell you--you know--it. A proud heart, and a joyful heart,
and a lovin' heart, you carry now, but it will be a broken heart before
long."

"Why, Mary, this is an evil prophecy; have you nothing good to
foretell?"