Wichita eagle., 1888-07-01


the kind of man anyway who never cared
travelling for the opinion of others. if b
was in the right. And VIZ Sn't Harper jus
like hima Fearless to the ps Nnt OF reckless
ness he never counted the &C vt, never eve
thought of what ''they" wo 0ld say. Blu
was he not, with all his reel uessnesa tn
manifest, most noble hearted young ms n i
the whole statei So gentle and c.Vurtea IS t
the humble as well as to the rich. yet alN ay
SO brave and strong. The most polished. IN
best informed of all the beaux known to "a
fayette, too. The younger youths looked 1
to him in envy and admiration, for he was
graduate of one of the best colleges and hts
Travelled abroad, two glorious achievement
not common in Lafayette in that early day.
And he certainly had a taste for science. As
civil engineer he had already made a fair
start. The few who knew him best said that
his promised balloon ascension was not in
spired by any vulgar love Of notoriety. He
wanted to make the trip because OF the ex-
perience, and because he was anxious to
treat Lafayette to a novelty on the patriots:
own Gay. 1t would cost him ever 50 much
money. too, they said: for he and Mr. Lar
kell, of The Record, were paying for it ali
So the excellent people of Lafayette talked
it over, lamented it, hoped he would change
his mind and so on; hut he was too great a
social figure for any one OF them to snub,
even f he went up in balloon every day.
The Cnstis homestead stood on a hill over.
looking the town. That evening Harper
Cielland was walking toward it he came sud.
denly upon a man and woman resting under
a tree az the foot of the long hill Their fig.
ures were but dimly outlined in the twilight
shadows, but he sew that they were not OF
his town. They were gypsies.
Three or four stars giiunered in tne
heavens. and the disc of the full moon rose
slowly over the edge of the horizon. like the
sunny face Of a chubby child peeping over a
wall A night bird shriel;ed and few from
the tree as the young man approached.
The woman leaned against the tree, bare
headed. The moonlight shone upon her darl
face, i'll which blazed a pair of eyes like stars
A bright shawl was wound about her
shoulders and waigt. her arms were halt
bare, and her short skirt revealed a pair Of
shapelT ankles and trim but dusty shoes
The man, all fringe and color, lay upon TIE
ground at her feet.
A magnificent stage picture thought
Clelland, as he approached. The man sprang
TO his feet with a noiseleSs, cat like move
ment, and in very bad English asked Clel
land to tell him the name Of the best doctor
III town. As he spoke he pointed up the hill
where train of gorgeous wagons containing
the gypsys people was slowly descending.
Cleiland was of the order of men who are at
home anywhere, and make everybody else al
ease in their presence. At once he became
figure in the scene quite in interior and ex
terror harmony with the others. Who SC
well AS he knew how to avoid showing any
astonishment at sight of the unexpected
strangers? Who had so much deiicecy in all
relations with others? Who 50 entirely with,
out that curiosity Of manner which is the
expression Of ineradlcable vulgarityl
The gypsy asked about the town, the roads,
the country, and wondered if there could be
any objection to his people camping for a
few days in the grove to the left. Cleland
was the owner OF the land, and he at once
gave the necessary permission. Then the
gypsy told him of the sick man in the first
wagon, and how vain had been all the medi-
cal knowledge Of his tribe in his case, how
they wanted the best physician that could
be had as speedily as possible, and they
had the gold TO pay his price, too
The wagons rolled near. The men went TO
the roadside and directed them to the site of
the camp and repeated the information he
had just obtained about the doctor.
Hitherto the woman had leaned against the
tree in silence Now she stepped forward,
saying in good English:
You are 50 kind. May I not show you
that we are thankfull Let me take your
hand and tell your Misunderstanding good,
hope. You deserve it"
She was young and comely. Her voice was
low, her words very sweet.
''lf it pleaSes you,' he said, extending his /
hand.
She took it and led him out of the shadow
of the tree, where the moon shone over them |
in its full glory, for already it had climbed /
above the horizon fence and was looking |
down at them with big half comic, half |
sad smile. The wagons rumbled into the |
grove and the gypsy man returned and |
threw himself on the ground under the tree. |
The dark eyed palInist bent her head over
the young mans hand and looked at it in |
tently for several minutes. Then suddenly
gazing into his frank eyes, she said:
Il am sorry that SO brave and gentle a
heart has not fairer fortune. Your star of |
luckis even now clouding. Tonight you will !
lose your love- She will meet you with anger
and viii part from you with bitter words,
which will never be sweetened in this life"
The prophecy of evil always moves us, in
spite of our skepticisn. Who shall say that
words are not potent for good and illf
Not now, but in the future" continued the
palnnst, you viii bless her anger. A better
love viii yet be yours-indeed, is yours now,
though You know it net. Before you lies a
valley OF Pain, into which the hand of Folly
~ (A
S5ef e,~~ ~