Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-01-23
VOL. 36. NO. As.
THE GYPSY'S WARD.
RY W. II. W.

4 ~ \ IL.
The flushing OF the western sky, told
the near approach of an autumnal
sunset. In her cottage door stood
Mrs. Mawbry absorbed in admiration
of the beauty the foliage had put on,
when the clicking OF the gate latch
caused her to look in that direction.
Coming toward her was a weather
bronzed, middle-aged woman followed
by a fair-faced, slenderly formed girl
The woman was dressed in shoddy
gown, faded red cloak, and on her
head was steeple crowned beaver
hat, over the top of which streamed
all that was left Of what was once a
magnificent plume. In her right hand
she held long staff bent at the head
Ike shepherds crook; in her left a
bundle of clothes Her eyes were
piercing as the glance of an eagle.
and her hair IN blackness wed with
the ravens wing. Her ears were
decked with fantastically wrought
rings that tinkled like tiny bells at
every movement of her head. Her
strongly marked features were of the
Roman caste. The girl, foo,sore, and
worn out with tramping, limped along
behind her swarthy conductor with
downcast eyes, and a sweet expires
sion on her face. She was dressed in
a scanty, homespun garment, and
was wrapped IN faded shawl; a
coarse straw flat crowned her head,
and pair OF buskins encased her feet.
Tier broad, high forehead, beautiful,
regular features, brown eyes and hair,
indicated another type of blood than
that of her dark skinned escort. AS
they neared the house, the weird
looking woman waved her staff before
Mrs. Mawbry's face, and said:
Good evening. fair lady I; tie Queen
OF the Gypsies greets your Then
she courtesied with much ostentation,
and continued, "a Gypsy's blessing,
lady. to you and yours! Give me
some bread, and l will tell your for
tune
All this time Mrs. Mawbry was
watching the child with that deep
| 'ympathy, so peculiar to herself. Go
ing TO the little sufferer, and gently
placing her arm around that slender
form, she led the way into the house
where bright, cheerful fire was blaz
ing on the hearth A lunch of cold
meats, with bread and milk was nut
on the table, and the strangers fell to
eating as only the hungry can
Mrs. Mswbry. seated near the girl,
had kept her plying eyes constantly
| upon her, and when the child had sat
lsded her cravings, asked her name.
The answer came in a clear, sweet
voice, 'Genirva, thank you, lady
you must be very tired, child, for
you look so; lie down on the couch
awhile and she nearly lifted the
weary one to rest
The Gypsy now drew her chair
nearer the fire, took from her pocket
a small tin box, then motioned the
matron to he seated.
Reluctantly Mrs. Mawbry com
| piled F; and while the weird woman
was invoking her incantations, the
anxious eyes OF the matron were
watching the recumbent form of the
little pilgrim. After few moments
silence she addressed the queen with:
1T is impossible that this should be
your childn
With a has.y glance at the couch,
where the tired one had already fallen
asleep, the Gypsy raised her finger to
her lips, adjuring the hostess to be 81.
lent then leaning forward she whis
pered she is my child, because
have been as mother to her for
years Then taking from out the box
some charms, and trinkets, she pro-
ceeded with much mystical ceremony
to unravel and fore tell the unknown
future of Mrs Mawbry's life. After
passing her bony hands over the ma
irons face, and silently consulting the
oracles spread out on her lap, the
Gypsy exclaimed, What a fine for.
tune! there is much sunshine in store
tor you, ladyr Then peering eagerly
into the palm of her hand, the sibyl
traced the prophetic lines with exul.
tation. CHANGING into piece of COL
ored glass, she said Yes, it is true
the mirror of fate reveals it-you
are to be rich and happy! Nay,
start not at my words, hut remember
that I-Rachel-the queen of the
Gypsies told you SOP
Mrs. Mawbry, though unconvinced
of the truth OF this prophecy, thanked
the queen for the good fortune SIZE
had promised her.
| Rachel now stated she must 60, her
camp being several miles away, and
that her people would start the next
morning on journey into another
state.
| To this Mrs. Mawbry anxiously in.
| quired, 'How can that child walk so
tar tonight, when she is entirely ex
hausted now?'
Il The queen in silence rocked her
head as if mentally asking herself the
same question Together they went
| to look at the sleeping Genirva. A
high fever had set in and flushed the
face of the sleeper her limbs twitched
nervously, and low, plaintive means
betokened the throes OF exhausted
nature.
Il The tender heart of Mrs Mawbry
was touched at the sight, and she
said, The poor child is sick.-it would
be cruel in the extreme to compel her
! to go further tonight; leave her with
me till you come again,-I will take
, good care OF her.
sWhat!' exclaimed the Gypsy queen
) looking wildly at her hostess, 'leavs
her with you?'-then gazing on &C.
nirva once more, she seemed to sane
ton the justness of the proposition,
and continued-'you will take good
care of my darling till come again !?
and she fondly pressed the feverish
hand Of the girl to her lips with al
the love and fervency she possessed
/ Upon an assurance that all would
be we'll, the queen consented to leave
the half sick sufferer in the care and
; keeping Of her new found friend. AT
ter taking fond leave of the child,
the Gypsy took up her staff, thanked
Mrs. Mawbry for her hospitality, and
started for the door. Pausing on the