The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-08

and fries and stews had not their equal
in the range of all her gossiping ac-
quaintance.
An array of tempting edibles was dis
played upon.a long, narrow table in the
low, bright kitchen, consisting of just
such varieties of food as had been ar
ranged upon that same table twenty
seven years before, when Ellen's mother
made her grand debut.
'rYou see, honey" said the house
keeper to Ellen, 81 thought I'd make it
seem as home-like as possible to the old
people. They'd like to forget that the
other Ellen darcy is dead. I do hope
you've brighter future before than she
had, poor child"
f'Well, Aunty Harris, 1 want you to
tell me more about my mother. 1 just
slipped down here from the palors to see
how the table looked, and to get away
from the throng upstairs. sometimes
think Pm not myself at all, but only
some other person. I have such strange
fancies. You can't think how queer it
seems. Do tell me all about my moth
er."
''Not tonight, Miss Darcy. The
company will miss you in the parlors.
There'Il be some gipsies here after while
to tell fortunes. Killingsworth is going
to bring them to the kitchen, and then,
if you want to please your teacher, you
must ask them into the parlor."
''What? The band of gipsies that are
eamped down by the ereek?"
ayes, but don't let your grandfather
know we've been talking about them.
He hates gipsies."
"But what makes my ghOul want
them to come up here? Do you know"
"Of course I don't. But do hurry back
to the parlors, or Mrs. Brandon will be
after you"
Ellen returned to her guests and was
earnestly importuned to sing.
80, please don't ask mel can't sing
tonight. The moon sheds her pale glo-
~ over the earth and settles her beams
upon the landscape like a silent an
them. Music's memory floats through
my soul. 1 do not want its present real
ity."
'What an odd speech, Miss Darcy.
1 believe you are genius" said vap-
id-faced fellow, with sandy chin whis-
kers.
81 believe Pm not myself, at any
rate" was the earnest reply.
Mrs. Brandon whispered in her ear.
81 will sing. Sir, pardon me-" adj
dressing friend, 81 am so little aceus-
toned to entertaining company that !
| forgot that you were my guests"
The harp was stationed in the deep
bay window, and as her fingers swept
the chords, the melody welled forth
from her throat and mingled with the
tinkling harmony Of the instrument,
while the sweet, simple words of a
quaint ballad dropped in limpid accents
from her tongue. A breathless silence
pervaded the giddy throng; and when
the song was finished the young musi-
clan dropped her head upon her hands
and wept.
'fWoe! woe unto the day when there
shall come into this house a being who
shall snatch away its treasurer
: The words We're uttered in a strange
sepulchral voice, and startled the largt
company into eXclamations of terror.
''The mothers mantle falls upon the child,
The mother was, the daughter will be soon be
guiled.
Woe, woe the day, when from thy distant hom
Thy loved ones urged thee TO these halls 4
come"
'The gipsies! the gipsiesr' exclaime'
a voice.
And sure enough, standing there witt
her bent form and features half con
cealed in an old red hood, her dirt.
hands grasping a staff her scant dres
carelessly wrapped about her, and he
gray hair struggling over her strangel.
repulsive face, stood a gipsey, whom
many recognized by her apparel as on
of band who had recently appeared il
the neighborhood.
The gipsey advanced to where Ellie
stood and, confronting her, dropped {
, her knees.
strange and dark is the way before thee;
Iife's deepest woes shall all come o'er thee;
= The curse Of paternity rests ON thy head;
V The parents who gave thee existence are dea,
: But there cometh a time-yea, at hand 1t
near
When thou'lt long for the bearse and n
g shnoud and the bier;
o For the blood OF thy father runs warm I'm N
ri veins,
: And the fate OF thy mother, her sorrows an
4 pains,
g Thy heritage shall be, dear lady oflight,
Unless thou wilt heed this, my vision,
bright,
$ And become the glad bride Of the genilem:
4 true,
h Who would fain kneel before thee, his suit
n pursue"
Capital % shouted a bright-ey'
> girl. "Cross the old hag's hand wit
silver, do ~
Ellen was visibly agitated. As 81
stood there, trembling in every linn
! her proud eyes flashing with nati'
pride, her lips quivering and her breai
= laboring in short respirations, II
\ grandfather gazed fondly upon her al
: said, "blood will tell There's D'Ar
r