The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-05-02
THE GIPSY'S WARNING.
A Romantic Story of Spain.

The little village Of San Pablo, which
lies three leagues distant from Madrid
was ounce the residence of many proud
and opulent families who have long since
passed away from earth. Among mule
teers, shepherds and water carriers, one
would scarcely look for old Spanish gran
does, and San Pablo is now only popula
ted by an ignoble race.
At this period of which We write there
lived in San Pablo one Count Rodrigo dc
Bivas, who claimed to be descended from
that Bivas who was called the Thunder
bolt of Spain, on account of his military
exploits.
The count was in the thirty-second year
of his age, had been educated abroad,
and only returned to his country at the
deach Of his father, who bequeathed tc
him vast estates in the southern part of
Spain, which made him one of the veal.
thiest mobiles in the kingdom He wa:
tall, we'll formed, with 4 pl.a Ing coun-
tenance, with which Was blend,d great
resolution. 1t was said of him that he
was never known to evince the least ire
pidation under any circumstance that
ever occurred. just as he was quitting
Germany for his home, he CHANGED to
meet Senior Ruiz, who was abroad with
his family, and he almost instantly be-
came enamored with his beautiful daugh-
ter j ulia. For months the count had
impatienuY awaited the return of SenoI
Ruiz to Spain, and at length was delight
ed when he heard of the arrival of the
lovely girl whose image was indelibly
impressed upon his heart.
The sun was shining cheerily. and the
birds were singing blitely along the road
side. as the count rode forward to Madrid
on his trusty mule, richly adorned with
silver trappings. AS he came to turn
in the road, there staIked out of clump
of bushes the figure of a woman in a
strange attire. Her dress was so fantas
tic that the count reined up his mule sud
denly, and gazed at her with surprise
Her face was swarthy, and upon her
head she wore yellow and red turban,
while her skirt, which was green and
short, was rent in many places. She dis
played pair OF bright blue stockings,
and her feet were encased in red morocco
slippers.
upon my word calculated the
count, this is certainly a strange be
ing"
Before, however, he could reflect fur.
Their, the woman approached him and
craved permission to tell his fortune.
"A gypsy y he cried.
"Let me see your hand, said the wo-
man, without appearing to notice his re-
mark.
The count regarded her attentively,
and then laughed.
"Nay, nay, my woman, am no be-
lever in these matters; but you, like al
your race, are poor, | suppose; therefore,
which she quickly picked out of the dust.
Turning to him she said, .fRqt
would see the palm of your hand, noble
sir, even though you may ridicule my
calling"
There it is, them" replied the count,
as he ungloved his hand and extended il
towards the gypsy,
The dark eyed bag gazed intently al
the counts hand for some moments, and
then looked up in his face ard. laughing
said: cts ever the same with handsome
and gay men. Love, love, always love
will tell you that you cannot believe
! but | warn you, beware Of the Raven,
and before the count could question, she
| darted among the trees, and he saw hel
tattered tineFy disappearing in the for
| est.
Beware Of the raven" quoth the
count. "What raven? What can the
! creature mean All 'tis cue of theil
| tricks; It has no significance at all, and
he pricked his mule with one spur anC
rode forward, huming a ballad, all the
while thinking of the beautiful Julia.
The sun was sinking behind the hori
zon as he gained the suburbs of the city
Suddenly his mule made plunge, and
losing her footing, came to the grounC
with her rider.
GA bad omen" muttered the count a!
he rose uDhurt and gazed at the mule
which was almost Instantly on her fee
again. She had always been a remark
ably sure-footed beast, and the count
who was not without certain tinge 0
superstition, appeared uncertain whethe
to proceed or retrace his way.
As he stood dangling the bride in hi,
hand, his eyes caught sight of an Ole
public house by the wayside.
well tarry here for the night" he
said, and, leading the animal, he walked
towards the building.
The house in question was of rather
large dimensions, the windows few anC
small, and were set deep within tn
thickness of the wall Immediately owe
the portal hung a weather beaten sign
announcing the house as the Raven Inn
For moment the court hesitated, a
the gypsy's warning came to his mind
but the feeling passed off Instantly, anC
pulling the bell, he awaited the opening
of the heavy court yard door. The coun
was tired and required rest, and as h.
had determined not to enter the city tina
night, one place was as good as anothe
to tarry in. Had he known the reputa
ton of the Raven, he doubtless would
have sought0ther lodgings. So long haC
he been absent from this country, tina
many local events had tEanspired o
which he knew nothing, and one of thu
most noted occurrences had been tn
trial of Antonio Hernandez (the proprie
tor of the Raven) for murder, and hi
acquittal of the same. But, notwith
standing Hernandexsaved his life through
the exertions of his advocate, his charac
ter was entirely lost, and the business o
his house almost destroyed, for few peoPl
believed in his innocence. and mother