The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-10-15
THE GYPSY QUEEN.

you. Now, ! am hereditary prince,
and ought to be President of the United
States to-day. My grandfather was.
3iat nay rights don't come to me. This
pYernment multiplies hereditary princes
fhout giving any of them chance.
your tribes are particular to let
helr enjoy his title to the utmost.
ee, 7 replied the fat gypsy woman.
young gentleman, there is much
4Ie that you ought to know of your
.''yn future. You are rich and generous.
tnt silver in my hand again, and you
will be fully repaid by what tell YOU.
~Oh, said the young man, with lazy
satisfaction, balancing himself luxurious
iy upon the stump, Il love to think that
the contest is not yet decided between
the fair young lady and the dark one.
II you showed which was to be crowned
and blessed with me, | should feel as if
must reverse your prophecy from sheer
The woman cast shrewd and black
fEe look at him, half enjoying his i'm
|ence, but not the less determined on
fees.
Pc encampment of tents, wagons,
Aas children, men, women, and horses
dffched quite into the woods. Smoke
Ppm number Of fires, and several dirty
.Hole-cloths were spread in the long
NeESpective. Around these the children
4olled' with those woltish dogs which
|ae gypsy makes his brethren. 1t was
Nh{m summer sunset, and the mosquitoes
sfe abroad, twanging their instruments
" .pftlre, while on that very earthen
m the fortune teller had forsaken for
Npject, flies greedily covered the
r GIttk, or risked their lives in wait
etps Of coffee. A ruddy, swart
4'iug man, very sparkling in eyes and
snputh, when he opened his lips or
Nidely separated his eyelids, lounged Mt
Ms length on the wagon tongue, and
kicked at two dogs whenever they at
tempted to deliver the beefsteak from
the flies. He was too youthful to be the
woman's husband, and too old to be her
sou, for she had several small, dlrty
children knocking their heels among
the tea-cups. Yet he staid by, as if the
Kettle on the crooked iron was his own,
the table-cloth his individual board, and
the space about the woman his sky
foofed dwelling.
Young Harrison enjoyed his surround
lngs. He had passed season among
The Assiniboin Indians; was a good hun,
ter and canoeist; he had run on snow
shoes, and logged in the Assiniboin
carts; he had seen the barbarian of the
tropics, clothed only in flowers; he
thought he knew life, and he felt an
honest love for everything that dwelt
close TO the ground. The children of the
road were like grimy and Ishmaelitish
brethren to him. He had finer life. lived
quite over their heads, but he battered him
self Congreve Harrison could get down
to deep sea level with the monsters, and
enjoy the rude delights of simple exist
cnce. Especially was such fellowship a
delight when it let him look at the tent
-wagon-dwelling type of beautiful
woman.
''And she's the queen" he repeated,
scarcely taking his eyes off the distant
hgure. "By all that's handsome, she
ought to be- What's the extent of her
kingdom?n
The fortune teller cufTed dog which
was just in the act of gulping one piece
trom her beef p after. She then looked
at young Harrison, and used the same
hand to point eastward.
''We have farms over there ~ said she.
"Do you see that house on the hill2 And
we have other land in Ohio. And we
have land in the SOUTH
"You let it out to tenants, and live on
the road yourselvesw
Eyes" with a nod which made her
heavy earrings swing.
"But | mean over how large a tribe of
people does your Queen Emeretta rulc7''
''Are you making a book2n said the
swart young man from the wagon tongue.
There was a man made a book about
u.s." explained the fortune-teller, her
recollections kindling. II never see it.
You have much to do with studying.
ou are gentleman that meditates."
81 am only making a book of my own
experience" replied Harrison, to the
young man on the wagon tongue. "How
large did you tell me your tribe is l' he
asked the woman.
A stolid look covered her face. She
famed away fly with one ring-laden
hand, and said, with the air of a duchess
preserving court secrets 'There
are manv families. There are fami-
lies in England, and families in this
Yes. In short, the whole haman race
is one compact and prodigious family"
said Harrison, laughing. His laugh
shaded off through smiles to interest, to
and finally to an enthusiastic
of the eyes, for the young
queen was coming down toward this ta-
Bile cloth at his feet
Her own feet were in low shoes and
scarlet stockings. He did not remember
ever seeing such another pair of little in
nocent, unaggressiye feet. Her dress
was black. She had a scarlet silk hand
kerchief around her neck, and a scarlet
and blue one crossed on her head. Her
hair was a mighty fleece of shining black
nngs, frizzling to minute tendrils around
per ears and temples. The high cheek