Daily Republican., 1884-07-07
Captured BY the Gyp'lss'

Captured BY the Gypsiiss,
A STORY OF the BLACK FOREST.
J." Therei dance 1t again and better
MIND you next time, or 1t may be the
worse for you, "shrisked Q mans hoarse
voice.
The scene presented to view was a
curious one, and in some respects also =
brilliant one. At least it presented at
traction for those who had never before
witnessed such q scene, and admired
wildness In the cOuntenanoss, and also
dress, Of thoee around them.
In the center ofthe Bohemian jungle.
or forest, fire burned brilliantly.
The dry logs cracklsd pleasantly In the
bright blaze; the sparks few msrrily.
The gypsy women drew their cloaks
yet more closely around them - they
ranged themselves In . circle around It.
The men lay idly, and many of them
sleepily, not far distant. Two, how
ever, seemed ~ II they kept an eager
watch, Tor what special reason wss
best known 10 themselves.
One of the two whistled skillfully
upon some sort Of . musical instrument
and the other appeared to be master Of
the entire scene. And in the midst Of
Is 1t may be said, the
two circles, thus formed-stiil danced
lightly, but oh, how timidly the little
gypsy girl.
Her feet, how weary and how
roughly shod too Her hair o tangled
mass. Her dark brown gypsy covering,
how coarse
How could she dance more lightly
1t seemed impossible.
But the man had already advanced
towards her. Oh, why did she look 90
frightened ut his approach, and actual
~ tremble And still she danced on
breathlessly, although, almost power
less to do 80 at all. The next moment
che must fall, abe was quite sure. He
had already caught her by the arms
and beaten her.
"There take that and that and
that! You think perhaps you're here
only to lead an idle life, but you are
mistaken.
The poor little gypsy child had fallen
fainting to the ground.
= u =
Quite late that night the angel OF
death was busy In the gypsy camp.
Old Mother Thekla," rs she was
called by her comprehensive ancient
head OF the tribe-lay dying, as It
seemed to every one.
None loved her In the camp-how
could they with her withered, cruel,
pinched-up faoe.
Her son alone watched by her side,
beneath the tent In which she lay.
Mother !" he whispered.
She stretched out her arms an in
instant, then let them fall again. She
was evidently too far gone to answer
him.
Ride for the nearest DOCTOR" he
petitioned, to some one standing by.
" She may last little longer yet"
There was a basty consultation.
eyes, of COURSE" some one said, "ii
the chief would allow it,"
The chief, Bernhardt by name, nodded
sullenly.
Two hours later, . simple village
doctor was standing by Thekla's side.
He felt her pulse.
"There is no hope" he said.
Iub Rypsy Woiutu stOOu CdToieebly
around. They had never liked their old
companion, Mother Thekla. Why
should they now pretend to love her?
"She has, for the most part, led III
all nice kind of life," exclaimed more
than one voice, mockingly. "Why
there fore, now pretend to make a fus,
over herr Not bit -
Only one little figure knelt gently, Al
II. too, regretfully-supposing his coulc
just be possible-by "Mother Thekla'i
side.
"She once spoke kindly to me, whis
perei the child to herself. "She's the
on ly one of them that ever did, l wa,
only once-but-but-"
Again her arms were seized--only
this time not roughly.
Again dark eyes were gazing earnest
ly into her face. The doctor nad evil
ton had come TO the heart broken littl,
gypsy girl. She had sprung up lik,
some one aroused from q long ant
dreadful dream, and the next instan
the doctor had silenced her as If in an
ger. But this was only until the othe
women had for short time left tn,
tent.
They were now alone-the child ant
himself. The dying woman was tn
same as nobody to them at that mo
ment.