The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-10-01

all the camp S Ill OuOf.
Her palm received the money, and she
dropped it into her pocket as if that
were part of the process, not with the
greedy and satisfied scrutiny the fat
woman had given his silver. And then
she bent her head, turning her inner
hand toward the light.
"You were born to be lucky" muir
INJURED the young queen.
81 believe it" said Harrison, regard
ing the fleece of black ringlcts not far
from his own face.
$50 far you have lived a happy life
with very little care. You had plenty OF
money, but all your care was to nave
money to have a good time with"
"Truc as gospel -,
"Iour lifeline shows that YOU will
live long, and enjoy great happiness
Here are some crosses"
Yes, I've had my crosses" con-
fesscd the Young man, with a sigh OF
which he knew rot the source.
s'Thev were caused by a young lady"
81 hope it'll! never happen again. said
Harrison.
''Bc quiet, and listen while I read your
fate" said the scdatc queen. do you
or do YOU not believe my words!'
81 believe you, certainly"
'You are about to have a great piece
of good fortune. There are two young
ladies who love you. One is fair and one
is dark.
"Yes, that's what the other one told
me-"
"You have not yet decided which you
will give your heart to."
''0h, yes, I have" said Harrison, I'M
prcssiyely. He felt borne along in spite
of himself, and ready to commit any alb
surdity.
you have enemies who wish you
ill, but they will not be able to work
YOU much harm if you mind what | say.
You were born to be lucky, and will
never die in debt or in poverty. To keep
out of the clutches of enemies You must
be careful what YOU say. Within three
wears you will be married to the young
, lady you love-"
Harrison smiled down at his supple
palm. Under her low monotone he was
CARRYING on a separate train of thought
without losing a word. lie broke through
| the fortune.telling to say at this point.
ats pleasant to live in wagons in the
open air, isn't it,"
Queen Emcrctta threw her glance up
at his face, and replied, as a matter OF
course, Eyes"
''White-I mean outsiders have some
times married among your people, haven't
thew"
"Oh, yes. There was an Irishman,"
she said, married one of the Jcffrcys.
But he turned out a bad traveller"
81 heard of another such marriage in
New jersey" said Harrison, hardly
knowing what impcllcd him to talk
so, and it was very happy. Seems to
Inc it ought to be the ideal life, living
close to nature, and so on, with 4 beau
tilul face always before one. Don't you
feel the changes in the weather very
much?"
eve 90 south in winter" replied the
queen, dropping his hand.
"!And return north with the birds"
If he was about to utter a lengthy po-
etc sentiment, the sight of a dog alb
sorbed to the shoulders in a dinner pot
sealed his mouth. lie wondered if the
! the gypsies did eat pigs found dead, and
in the same thought-sheath he wondered
if there was a l%oyelier creature OF earth
than this queen.
:.But was that all?n exclaimed IIarri-
son, offering his hand to be held again.
"Havc you told me my whole fo%rtune"
NO" the gypsy queen replied, with
out taking his hand. "Now. fold your
arms across your breast, and wish.
Whatever you wish will he granted.
Have you wished?"
Yes" said the young man.
''Thcn your wish shall be granted.
And that is ALL"
"What | wish for more than anything
else in the world is a kiss from you.
Remember, you said it would be grant
ed"
While he was speaking the last words
Harrison knew the tawny young maj
had risen up from the fence corner, and
Queen Emeretta had rcceded from him
in q backward slope of her body from
feet to head. Still, he knew he would
have said it if it involved him with the
whole camp, and if she flashed lightning
at him. lie knew he was going at Il
tremendous pace upon Il foolish track,
but he was already under way, and could
not RESTRAIN himself. And she bewitched
him evcn more by her rccoil than by her
touch against his hands. This Young
man, quite a f~avorite among his social
equals, and considered not bad, was for
the instant ready to wade among gypsy
clubs and dogs and all the artillery Of
the camp to realize his sincerely express
ed wish.
1t surprised him when the tawny young
man came near without distinct indi-
cations of intending to try to thrash
him.
The queen did not disappear with Il
dramatic bound, or utter any cXclama-
ton to spur on the tawny young man.
AS he approached she walked away from
Harrison, and stopped at the first camp
fire to talk with the old women who had
watched her fortune. telling.
Two or three sticks only were burning
under their kettle hook, making scarcely
a CLEAN of flame, but considerable smoke,
which kept the mosquitoes at bay.
Within this film of blue dimness which
nothing but smoldering wood produces
Harrison saw his last glimpse of Queen
Emcrctta. For afterward, if she did not
ascend to some lcat-curtaincd couch at
the top of the trees, where the night air
cauld fan her and the dew impcarl her
perfect cheeks, she must have crcpt into
one of the squatty, dirt-staincd tents;
and the bare thought made him shuddcr.
The young gypsy man again began to
urge horse-trading, and so relieved was
Harrison to escape quarrcling with these
tawny Capulets that he plunged head
long into the subject. lie went after his
horse and his gun, the young man still
beside him, and brought them into the
midst Of the camp. \ dozen dark.cyed
fellows with shining teeth gathered
around him, and others just returned
from town or country foraging, with two
or three horses led by one halter, or bags
in which suspicious chicken squawks
seemed sOifocated, added themselves to
the examining committee, which seized
upon his horse. They felt its limbs,
looked in its mouth, pulled cut bits of
its hair, made it prancc, and sprung
upon it, one after another, to try its
mettlc by a dash into the woods.
Dusk had given place to evening. In
the gypsy camp, as in the best regulated
dwelling, children will utter vcsper
walls. And odors not rank by day were
dampcncd and rendered almost palpablc
by the humid night air:
Harrison wanted to get away. Through
all the wranglc and jargon Of horse talk
he had kept Il watchful eye upon every
quar- or of the camp, and Queen Emcr-
eta appeared noahcre. lie had Il fitting
wish to see her seated above the herd
playing upon a guitar. She had i'm
pressed him us a sincere creature, free
from the gypsy's cunning reservations
with every man. woman. or child of