The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-07-26
Ths 9ailg Arsas.
Saturday, July 2s, 1873.
Rnmanca Of the Forest.

t;nge of standard old-time romance thus
ventures TO contrast itself with the dingy
hues of everyday reality by literal demon
stration the first impulse of the pratical
Jacksonvillagers was TO scout all the mag
NATIVE associations Of gypsy story, and re-
gard the neighbOring children Of the forest
as but 80 many uncomely Migrants, intent
upon the spoliation of poultry yards So
for a day or two the talk was all for extra
constabulary vigilance and judicial severl-
ty; but as the sylvan strangers did not IN
that time give any detected proof OF their
eligibility for such prosaic judgement there
was a natural reaction of popular feeling
toward their more romantic legendary
character, aud small parties OF adventur-
Gus spirits from the town began TO make
excursions TO the encampment IN search ol
the mysterious and picturesque. The
band was found 10 consist OF about twenty /
olive-colored, black-eyed genuine Llngari'
of both sexas. travelling in covered wagons
and camping in numerous weather beaten
tents, the men passing their time chlehy
in card. playing and cigarette smoking
while the women practised the fortune,
telling and healing arts OF their stored
race. 1t was not long before the young
folks Of the town and village became Gus
TONERS OI the NtutFbDlt anu ldNANA et"sSSsJ
"dueen" of the tribe. calling herself Ma
dame Isaro. who assumed 10 foretell to
them their futures by the revelations OF
nalmastry and through this tribute of
youthful superstition was evolved an epis-
ode of sentimental adventure which has
often had its prophecy in novels. One OF
the Younger masculine gypsies, a handsome
fellow known as the queens son, was 50
deeply impressed by the beauty and unso-
phistication of young lady coming with
her companions to test the iateful skill OF
the sorceress, that he fell in love ct first
sight, and rapidly matured a scheme at
once daring and ingenious for the attain
ment Of an acquaintance with the fair oh
iect of his admiration Catching sight of
her through the intervening bushes,as she
and her laughing friends entered his moth
ers tent 10 have their fortunes told he
sent a child of the band 10 the old woman
with a message that she was 10 devise some
meansof bringing that particular young lady
10 a second consultation Always ready
Ia obey his wishes, Madame lsaro took &C.
casion TO whisper privately to the rather
startled girl that If she would visit the en-.
campmeut again on the following Monday
she should behold the face OF her future
husband in "a pail of water and then
without allowing time for the explanation
or questions, abruptly dismissed the party
From past experience, ii seems, the for
tune teller had little doubt of the efhcac!
OF the temptation which she had Offered
10 girlish romance and creduilty, and he
son, When she told him about it, was quit,
as sanguine Of success. The next step o
Antouio-as the gypsy called himself
was ~ ascertain by adroit questioning Of
Jacksonville visitors the name of his in
tended prize and the situation of tn,
church To which she resorted on Sundays
Tie thus elected, little by little, that sh,
was an orphan Of some means residing
with an aunt and that she attended tn
Second Advent Church. Accordingly
on the Sunday following the tor
tune telling scene, he appeared at tn
church in question as a wOrshipper, an
being respectfully dressed for the occSsiot
and having a countenance much lighter tina
the average tint of his people, was take
by the congregation for some temporar
soiourner from hotel in the city. Durin
the services ne managed 10 discover th
object of his presence there, and catch he
eye several times and when the peOpI
finally dispersed he walked close benin
her and her aunt for some distance on he
way home. All this was in arttul prepal
alton for the appointed Monday, when
true 10 the feminine curiosity which ha
been so confidently counted upon by bot
mother and sOu--the girl did indeed con
shyly and nervOusly 10 a second interyie
with the Gypsy queen who after son
mutterinp over pail apparently contain
ing only clear spring water, frightened h,
visitor almost into swoon by showing h,
the pictured face of her unknown admire
at church on the day before in the botto
of the vessel One glance at the appar
ton was enough % alarm the silly beholdt
beyond all power of further inspection an
sent her on her hOmeward way as terrific
n though she had seen ghost. The
came the master stroke Of Antonios real
brilliant strategy in the matter Repairin
~ the nighborhood of the SIMPLE maiden
home, and concealing himself from a poir
from whence he could watch the latter /
remained PATIENTLY in ambush until he sa
the guardian aunt leave the binding ON
call upon a neighbor The moveme
luckily assured, he boldly presented hu
self at the door of the house, asked for Il
young lady by name when a servant an
wered his summons and marched into Il
parlor like any friend of the family.
course there ensued an interview of d
cidedly dramatic character The girl W
astonished greatly to recognize in her call
the mysterious stranger OF the church. al
still more amazed at his hurled introdu
tion and explanation Of himself Beggi
her to believe ali he said he told her tn
he had come 10 expose 10 her a tri
which had been imposed upon her inn
cence by the old gypsy woman. by mea
OF a miniature portrait OF himself viii
had been abstacted from his possession I
the purpose. Though temporarily trav,
ling with the band he was no gypsy hir
seli'-only Cuban, who, having been su
pected OF active completely with his reyol
tionary compatriots in Cuba, had found
necessary to take refuge in the Unit
States for a time and in the evasion
Spanish spies sent tO dog his tOOtsteL
was driven ~ conceal himself for VIII
amongst yarants On his way southwa
tp Key West he had fallen in with Z
band, and resolved to cast his forum
with II until he might re'embark secret
Tor Cuba again with patriotic expedite
In which he was interested Lettering
the forest with the gypsies he had ov,
seen Nine. lsaro imposition with &
pail of water and miniature upon {
crcdulity and purse of Il young lady who
he had greatly admired unknown ia d
church on preceding Sunday, aud NJ
took the liberty of waiting upon that YOU
lady tor the purpose of denouncing the Il
to which pilfered ivory miniatureo Of hin
self had been put at her expense, al
warning her 10 refrain from any furth
visits 10 the encampment The little goo
for whose benefit this amazing fable h
been devised never doubted the truth of
word Of it, and showed such gratitu
therefor TO the spurious Cuban that Z
latter found little difficulty in persuade
her to grant him the privilege Of Gland,
tine acquaintance while the Gypsies shou
remain in their present camp. She dar
not allow her aunt to become aware Of {
fortune telling folly through which she h
found her new admirer, and the artful A
tonic was averse to having it known tn
he meditated an infraction of information
law for the benefit of his brother rebels
the Antilles Several stolen interviews