Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-02-13

was accompanied by young man, whom
he now introduced as his son, Henry
Thornton, who had been studying the
past eight years in Europe, and had now
returned-changed from q noisy boy of
| fourteen to O polished man of the world.
He had known Gussie Hamilton only
as romping schoolgirl before he left
home, and she appeared all the more
lovely to him from contrast when his
father introduced him.
Together they returned to the house,
where they found Florence helping to set
the table for supper. After Henry had
been duly presented to Miss Lincoln,
| they seated themselves to splendid sup
per, their appetites whctted by their ride
of two miles from the railroad station.
Henry Thornton decided to remain a
week at -, and the next morning
found the trio en- route for the gipsies'
camp.
The camp, which had been struck at
the fork of two roads, known as "the
CROSSING" presented the usual appear
ance of such encanpment. There was
the complement of savage-looking men,
haggard women, squahd children and
dirt.
Upon their arrival they were immedi-
ately assailed by several old hags, who
offered to tell their fortunes for fifty cents.
1n0y 0acn SURRENDERED themselves, ana
were borne off in triumph.
To Florence and Henry they recited
the usual rigmarole about Eght-com-
plected gentlemen and dark-eyed ladies
strangers and marriages and
journeys-riches and deaths - but
Gussie Jared differently.
She had dropped her money trem-
blingly into the hand of villainous-
looking beldame, who drew her aside to
clump of bushes, out of sight of the
camp and then, looking her straight in
the eye, till it seemed as if she would
pierce her through and through, she re-
peated three times, in hollow voice:
&c Fair lady, beware of the water ~
Frightened at the strange manner of
the gypsy, Gussie fed from her to her
friends.
"Why, what's the matter, Gussie !?
you look scared to death - exclaimed
Florence, on seeing her pale face and
frightened look.
80, that horrid woman l'' was all that
she could articulate.
''Has she hurt you ?" inquired Harry,
tenderly, at the same time casting an in
seen approaching.
"No, no take me away take me
away
Henry helped her into the carriage,
and they started on their way home.
Gussie recounted to her friends the
strange proceedings of the gypsy woman.
They affected to laugh at her fears and
the warning, and so much reassured her
that she was in her usual spirits on
their arrival at the house.
For three weeks Henry Thornton
fingered at l.. Was it the joyous
laugh and sparkling eyes of Gussie
Hamilton, or the quiet smile and liquid
eyes of Florence Lincoln, that attracted
him, and prolonged his stay? We're he
questioned, he could hardly have told.
His father came up Saturday night and
returned Monday morning, but Henry
still tarried.
But one day he was obliged to go to
the city on business, which required
several days absence.
How lonely it was at l.. Florence
began to talk of returning to Boston,
and Gussie, failing to obtain her friends
company, was fain to amuse herself out
of doors.
About half mile from the house was
q pond, in which there was a quantity
of water lilies. During her wander
ings through the woods, Gussie had dis
covered this pond, and was struck with
its romantic situation, surrounded by
trees as it was.
At one end of it she found an old
boat, fashioned out of log, and which
was still sound. This she bailed out and
rugged seat and paddle, so that she
could go out and get pond lilies. Here
she brought her work and books, and
would sit for hours at q time in her
little boat on the placid water of the
pond-sometimes working or reading,
but oftener dreaming away the time.
J. Il foh of
l. from Henry, saying that he had
finished his business and should be
there the next day, and for them to send
a carriage to the depot for him. Accord
ingly it was agreed that Gussie should
take the pony pheton and drive to town
to receive him.
The time arrived for her to start, but
she was nowhere to be found. The
| house and grounds were searched, but
no traces of her could be had. The SER
wants were questioned, but none of them
could give any information of her where
| abouts.
While the search was going on the
cars arrived, and Henry found no one at
the depot to receive him. Thinking
that something must be wrong, he has
tened to the house, only to find the ser
wants talking excitedly about something.
| ~
the coachman:
"What is the trouble, Mike ?"
''Plaze yer honor, sur, shure it's nc
fault O. mine. haven't laid eyes on
the young lady since I saw her swate
face at the dinner-table as I passed the
dure. Ant now she's gone entirely, an
she can't be found at all, at all -
What is it, Mike? Who is gone p
"Shure it's the young Missus Ham.
ilton as hasn't been seen sence dinner
tonne"
Where was she seen last % asked
Henry, excitedly.
"Faith, twas with my own blessed
eyes I seen her sittin' on the piazy artel
dinner; and sez she: 1 guess I'll go,
sez she, and got some lilies, and thir
she went into the house afther her hat
and hain't laid eyes on her blessed face
sence."
Upon mention of lilies, the words o.
the gipsy's warning REQUIRED to Henry
with great force, and, without waiting tC
hear the last of Mixes harangue, h'
started off with long strides toward thu
pond, the only place where lilies wer'
to be obtained.
On he fastened, picturing in his mint