San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-07-05


tamination In tho air. Nothing but the T.
ccnso Of the immortal Fourth could mitigate
90 wide a departure from decorum. But
Liberty looscs her stays on that historic day
and breathes with case, and everybody tao
lily agrees that sho has right TO comport
herself Enthusiastically II she chooses to do 80
Some Of tho matrons of Lafayette said that
II Harper Clollands mother was alive this
balloon escapade Of his would never take
place But no had had his own way alwaya
His father was travelling In Europe, and was
tho kind of man anyway who novor cared a
ravcling for tho opinion Of Others, II he
was In the right And wasn't Harper Just
like hint Fearless TO tho point OF reckless
moss no never counted The cost, never oven
thought Of what "they" would say. But
was he not, with all his recklcssness, the
manifest, most noble hearted young man In
the whole stated So gentle and courteous 10
the humble Us we'll IA to tho rich, yet always
90 bravo and strong. The most polished and
best informed Of all the beaux known to La
fayette, too. Tho younger youths looked up
to him In envy and admiration, for ho was
graduate of ono of the best colleges and had
Travelled abroad, two glorious achievements
not common In Lafayette In that early day
And no certainly had taste for science As
| a civil engineer he had already made fair
start Tho 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 day 1t would cost him ever 30 much
money, too, they said; for he and Mr.. Lar
kell, of The Record, were paying for 1t all.
So the excellent people of Lafayette talked
it over, lamented It, hoped he would change
bis mind and 80 on; but he was too great a
social figure for any one Of them to snuh,
even II he went up In balloon every day.
The Custis homestead stood on hill over
looking the town. That evening as Harper
| Clelland was walking toward 1t he came sud-
denly upon a man and woman resting under
a tree at the foot of the long hill. Their fig.
ures wore but dimly outlined In the twilight
shadows, bnt no saw that they were not Of
his town. They were gypsies.
Three or four stars glimmered in the
heavens, and the disc Of tho full moon roso
slowly over the edgo of the horizon, like the
sunny face of chubby child peeping over q
wall. A night bird shrieked and flew from
the tree as the young man approached.
The woman leaned against tho tree, bare.
headed. The moonlight shone upon her dark
face, In which blazed pair Of eyes like stars.
A bright shawl was wound about her
shoulders and waist. her arms were half
bare and her short skirt revealed a pair of
shapely ankles and trim but dusty shoes.
Tho man, all fringe and color. lay upon the
ground at hcr feet.
A magnificent stage picture, thought
Clelland, as he approached. The man sprang
| to his feet with q noiseless, cat like move
ment, and In very bad English asked Clel-
land to tell him the parne of the best doctor
In town. AS he spoke he pointed up tho hill,
where a train Of gorgeous wagons containing
the gypsys people was slowly descending.
ClelIand was Of the order of men who are at
home anywhere, and make everybody else at
| ease In their presence. At once he became q
figure In the scene quite In interior and ex.
terror harmony with the Others Who 90
we'll as he knew how to avoid showing any
astonishment at sight Of the unexpected
strangersi Who had so much delicacy In all
relations with othersi Who so entirely with.
| out that curiosity of manner which ia tho
| expression Of ineradicable wIlgaritys
The gypsy asked about tho 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 tho left Clelland
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 bis tribe In his case, how
they wanted the best physician that could
be had as speedily IN possible, and they
had the gold to pay his price, too.
The wagons rolled near. The man went TO
the roadside and directed them to the site Of
the camp, and repeated tho 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:
tYou are 30 kind May l not show you
that we are thankful Let me take your
hand and tell your fortune-something good,
hope You deserve it."
She was young and comely. Her voice was
low, her words very sweet.
"If 1t pleases you," he said, extending bis
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 IL had climbed
above the horizon fenco and was looking
down at them with n 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
Tho dark eyed palmist bent her head over
the young mans hand anil looked at 1t in
tently for several minutes Then suddenly
gazing into his frank eyes, she said:
al am sorry that 50 brave and gentle q
heart has not fairer fortune. Your star Of
luck is even now clouding. Tonight you will
lose your love She will meet you with anger
and will part from you with bitter words.
which will never be sweetened In this life"
The prophecy of evil always moves US, I'm
spite of our skepticism. Who shall say that
words are not potent for good and I'M
"Not now, but IN the future" continued the
palmist, "you will bless her anger A better
love will yet be yours-lndeed. Is yours now,
though you know II not Before you lies q
valley Of Pnin, into which the hand Of Folly