San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-26
THE
GYPSYS WARNING.

There was trouble in the household.
trouble that seems to fall, more or less, upon
most families nowadays. The cook lad de
parted, Off-hand, in fit OF passion.
And it was at snguiarly incOnyenent
seasOn-aS is pretty sure to be the case, and
the cooks know it. A cousin of Mrs. Chal-
lOner George Arson, was expected to arrive
that day from his home in Cheshire, to make
a short stay. On the morrow Mrs. ChallOner
was to give a small dinner, and a carpet
dance afterward. She and her husband both
wished to make George Anson's visit agree
able to him. and now this catastrophe had
happened
Can do nothing to help you, Mrs. Chal-
lOner" |, the governeSs, said, wavlaying her
in her room, where she was hastily putting
on her bonnet to go out to see what aid she
could obtain in the emergency. Nurse will
take care of Nina, and assure you know
good deal about cooking"
And know nothing about it," lamented
pretty, frivolous Mrs. ChallOner, nothing
upon earth. | could not make plum-cake
if you paid me to do it."
81 can" said.
"And so can l." put in kind, sunny-heart-
ed Mary ChallOner Mamma, we will go
into the kitchen, all three of US, and Miss
Lane too, and you'll see what wonders we
accomplish
I'm not sure that plum-cakes will be
wanted" said Mrs. ChallOner, in perpexity.
"If l can get Eliza Mitchell to come in, she'll
know, for she's the best cook in the neigh
bOrhOOd Look here, girls, it can do no harm
TO wash some cUrrantS, and stone some raj
sins, and cut up some candied peel; and then
they'll be ready If they are wanted. Yes,
please help them, Miss Lane, if you don't
mind"
As Mrs. ChallOner FASTENED out went to
the kitchen with the three girls; Mary and
Emma ChallOmer, and Adelaide Arson. The
two hOusemaids, who both ayOwed intense
ignorance of cooks work, proceeded up
stairs to their vOcatiOns, after showing us
where the dried fruits We're kept, and we be-
gan our work upon the raisinS, and the cur
rants, and the candied peel. l. who was
good hand at custards, said 1 would make
some for the supper-table.
The kitchen was at the end of the house;
detached and handsome house. standing in
its own grounds, just outside the manufact-
uring town of N; the kitchen faced the
side furthest from the town, and looked on
the productive fruit and vegetable garden.
A large crOquet lawn and flower beds were
on the other side of the house. A narrow
path ran under the kitchen window, leading
TO the back door, from the little gate that
opened to the high road. Mrs. ChallOneI
would sometimes say, when a fit Of prudence
came upon her, that she would have that
little gate fastened up, the servant maids got
so many visitors in by it.
We threw up the wide kitchen window to
the warm fresh air. The buds and bloom
and brightness of spring lay round, the lilac
and laburnum trees were in full flower, the
sweet syringa was soon about to open Its
fragrant petals to the rejoicing world. A
few minutes, and we were all busy. / was
beating away at the eggs in basin, and
Emma was decidedly eating as many raisins
as she stoned, when something suddenly
darkened the window. Adelaide Arson had
put herself in the old armchair with the
candied peel in her lap, and was relating
something which had recently happened at
her amt's house in Cheshire, when she stop
ped with faint cry. Looking up, we saw
woman standing outside silently gazing in
upon us.
BUY some of my pretty baskets, ladiesr
she said quickly, seeing we had observed
her; and she lifted into view dozen or so of
small ornamental baskets, fastened together
by string.
1--WE don't want any, thank you" Emma
called out Miss Lane" turning to me and
dropping her voice, shes gypsy, think;
one of those fOrtune-tellersr
See how tasty it isr' cried the woman,
holding up one of the baskets to view. It'll
hold all your cOttOns and thimbles, and the
dainty love notes from"
Adelaide dashed the packet of candied peel
upon the table, rose from her chair, and shut
down the window in the woman's face. go
away" she called out through the glass; I'VE
have no time to buy your rubbish to-day"
The woman suddenly bent her head low
over her wares, which hid her from view, for
the window was rather high one; and AIDE
laide sat down again to the candied peel.
There was no need TO be so cross with the
poor thing" said Mary 10 Adelaide "She
looked very thin. half starved. l wouldn't
have minded buying the basket; it was really
pretty"
ITO hold your love-letters?" returned AIDE
laide, laughingly.
Let me tell your fortunes, my sweet
young ladies! can tell them sure and true"
Instead of departing, the woman had come
in at the back door and opened the kitchen
door quietly. 1t took us all slightly aback.
81 see much in your faces that you know
not of, young ladies'" she continued; "much
that has not come to you in your dreams,
much that you have not read in the stars.
Let me read itp
She spoke in a persuasive. gentle tone. not
DOlu one. 6.iC tIdu uic DlaCk SKIN ana uaIk
eyes Of her race, but was not dressed in the