The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-07-20

me. and said that was guilty of COM
hitting crime that l had fought hard to
overcome and escape. Business got bad,
and all my money was either lost or
stolen from the wagon. Il
"One night last summer determined
to leave. I mounted a fast-running
horse, but before l got three miles to-
ward Cumberland, Md, I was over
taken by one of the young men. Then
they wanted me to get married. Right
or wrong, I must become the wife OF
the oldest son of a gypsy horse doctor.
They thought that would keep me with
them. They told me of my oath, and
at last l promised not to run away if
they would not make me marry that
man. They consented, and last winter
we went down to Georgia and wintered
there. But I firmly made up my mind
to get away this spring just as soon as
they came North. was tired of being
held in bondage. All my life seemed
to be fraud. We did nothing but lie,
cheat, deceive, and lead astray. Dur
ing my first two years saw two young
women taken into gypsy life. Where
they are now l can't say, for their bands
separated from ours last season. l
pitied them, but said not word. The
men are as bad as the women. They
buy up old horses, and then fix and doc
tor them to sell or trade. Farmers are
their victims. They are swindled and
plundered in many ways. But gypsies
never burn barus. They think too
much of horses, etc., to burn down
barns. 1 don't think they'd set fire to
any thing. That is one of the few of
81 made fAany dollar in dishonest
way, and it Is no wonder that / lost ev-
cry penny 81 had. travelled as far
north as &ne, down through Canada,
through xEWest as far as Minnesota,
down th Hugh the Indian country to
Mexico, aA thence through the Gulf
States, as they call 'em, to Georgia and
northern Alabama, where we spent the
winter. A good many Irish, English,
and Welsh people travel by wagon
through the country in the summer, but
live in I've larger cities through the
LUKB's ANCESTORS.
"TheAeople that Luke Murell says
are his acestors he calls the great
North on England Herne family. He
said his grandmother was a Spanish
woman and his grandfather Bohemi-
an. He came to this country ten years
ago. He claims to be a gypsy, but l
don't bel Re him. If he is, or is not, it
don't nj e any difference. I'm no
gypsy, n6 never will be, yet passed
for one nearly four years, and l never
was mistrdsted. l would have ran off
with a Southern storekeeper that l met
at gypsy dance, but l thought it might
be jumping out of the pan into the fire.
I did not trust him. I trust nobody.
Gypsies ale liars, and I sometimes think
that people generally think so. am de-
termined TO tell clean story about
them; nothing but what is the truth.
"When we got as far as Warren Coun-
ty we were camped about three miles
out of 81 all town. The night was fear
fully darkY and the rain poured down
in torrents That night made up my
mind to leave. had been down-heart-
ed for the past two months, for dear
girl in the camp, the same one that hug
ged me on the night was baptized,
took sick and died in the southern part
of Ohio. thought I could never get
! over that. She was beautiful girl, just
turning thirteen years. She had the
pneumonia, and she died in her father
wagon in the woods. Two days after
ward we got permission to bury her in
a farmers graveyard on his farm in
one corner of field. The funeral was
at night. / never shall forget it. An old
man took the part of q minister. He
was fearful thief, and I thought it
could not be possible that such a bad
man should say the funeral prayers for
that young, innocent, and beautiful girl.
Four old graves were within the stone
walls of the little cemetery. A big tree
ratified it's rotten branches in the night
air, and in that damp night the body was
lowered to its last resting place. 1t was
dressed in beautiful shroud and laid
in neat coffin.
RUNNING AWAY.
"After the funeral that night,
made up my mind to leave them. At
the time started, it was just such a
night as the funeral, only it rained.
slipped out of the camp and silently
got away from the woods. I told my
story to a hotel man, and got to Will
Transport. People have been kind to
me all along, and now am going to-
wards home on this train. I hope
they're alive and well; but my heart
sinks within me almost when I think
that have not heard from them for SO
long. No doubt they have long ago
thought I was dead"
The woman attracted considerable at
tention on the train. Her deep black
eyes fairly sparkled when she became
warm in her graphic descriptions Of