The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-09

Wnon 6n0 was ABOUT ten years OF age,
these "reminiscences gathered such force
in her mind that she induced a portion
OF the tribe with whom she was situated
20 allow her to dance every May-day, in
the towns through which they were pass
ing, and while she carried out the ideas
of the Romany people in such perform
ances, she always infused something
into the sports which at least suggested
the one event of her childhood which
she remembered most clearly. This idea
dominating her, gave her certain
power at the season, and before she
was fifteen years of age she was recog-
nized as queen of the May day sports.
The man and woman who had alb
Quoted her died, and Edith, of course,
remained with the tribe, few of whom
knew her origin or story, yet all were
conscious of a certain difference be-
tween themselves and her. In the year
1877, the Kent hop fields we're very -four
ishing and pickers were needed suddenly.
The Romany people, who usually come
into that part every summer, were glad
enough to earn the good wages offered,
and Edith, known as Guiella, was with
them. 1t was the first time that she was
in the country of her birth. Her men,
ory served her but slightly. She had
scarcely ever been beyond the bounda-
ries Of her fathers grounds, and yet
something in the general aspect of the
place awakened the old restless feelings
within her mind, and although it was not
May time, she said often to her fellow
workers that she wished they could erect
| a May-pole and dance around it; sit
would make her feel like old times" So
strongly was this impressed upon the
girls mind that, although she could not
account for it in any way, she insisted
the following season upon the gypsies,
with whom she was living, going back to
that portion of Kent, and going through
a pantomime which was then regarded
as old-fashioned and foolish. The pub
lie green was selected for the May-dsy
| sports, but on the evening Of April 30,
Edith, or Guiella, walked out and de-
clared herself dissatisfied with the spot
chosen. She could not explain her rea-
SONS, could not make her aversion to it
seem reasonable, but with the persist
ence OF child, insisted upon searching
the country for a more proper place.
| Some recollection must have been work
ing in her mind, unconsciously to her.
self, and which led her to go up the
high-road, down the bridle-psth and the
| gateway in the lower orchard which led
to thu. tennis court, where years before
she witnessed the May-day players. A
company Of young people were there en-
gagged throwing the ball over well-estab-
lished nets, and although they were her
own kinspeople. neither they nor Edith
recognized each other. But the place
seemed to have a certain fascination for
the girl who considered herself a thor
ough-bred gypsy, and approaching one
whom she supposed to be taking lead
in the sport, she inquired whether they
might erect Msy-pole there the next
day. The request was instantly acceded
to, and before night had fallen the Ryp-
sizes, with Guiells as their leader, had
made every preparation for genuine,
old-fashioned exhibition of May. day life.
Years afterward the girl declared she
could not understand why she had been
led on in her own mind to do this thing.
1t was question worth y of deep psyche
logical study; some lingering remem
brance Of her babyhood must have actu-
ated her, since she reproduced, with d
csrtain degree of accuracy, the very
sports she had witnessed as a tiny child,
and at the same time had but faint
consciousness that she was initiating
anything which she had seen. Naturally
enough the family at Park came
down to witness the gypsy performance.
Among the spectators was the elder sis
ter of Guiella, her two consins and an
uncle, and as she advanced, tossing flow
ers from a sort Of basket which she held,
her eyes suddenly encountered a pair
like her own, fixed almost painfully upon
her. Without word of explanation
she darted forward, exclaiming, "Turn
over the soonest" scarcely knowing what
she said. When che was child in the
nursery of Park, scones-a kind of
hot cake-used to be placed upon the
fire previous to tea time, and it was the
delight of her elder sister and herself to
watch these cakes and turn them over
as they Drowned, Edith generally being
the most alert, and calling out the very
words she now used, almost, one might
say, indifferently.
You can readily imagine the scene
which ensued. The gypsy girl, as she was
supposed to be, had to be taken into the
house, questioned, CROSS examined and
talked to, but her memory, long SO DOR
mant awoke brilliantly as one thing after
another was shown to her, and it was an
easy matter TO establish her identity, the
event of her childhood proving to have
been more indelib.y impressed upon her
mind than anything which had hap
pened since the period of her abduction.
The gypsies with whom she was then
travelling, were of course acquitted of all
blame in the matter. The family were
only too happy to once more possess
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