Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-05-08
THE GYPSY WOMAN.
low Aunt Rachel Tested the Curiosity of
Her Little Niece.


Oh, mammal cried Fanny Marsh, as
Ihe rushed into the kitchen, her face all
aglow. There is gypsy camp down
IN the woods, and every body is going to
see it,
Fanny's mother had just put the top
crust on pie, and was cutting off the
superf1uous dough with q knife. She
lid not reply at once, for she knew that
her daught er's excitement had not ex-
pended itself.
They cook under the trees and do
| their washing in the brook" continued
| Fanny. THE children are brown as
| berries, have sparkling black eyes, and
are dressed in the funniest manner |
San see their tent and their covered
wagons from my bedroom. Mamma,
where do gypsies come from?''
Fanny was q bright-faced, vivacious
little girl of twelve, quick in her move
nents, and of an inquiring turn of
| mind.
| ''There are gypsies in almost every
country" replied Mrs. Marsh, as she
! placed the pie with others that were
| .eady for the oven. Those from Spain
and Hungary have been most frequent
! y ucSCI1Deu. MY are IeLlCtuJ Nuou
questioned. A gypsy will never give a
| history of himself or of his race My
father is a crow and my mother mag
| pie, is frequently the only answer OBJ
! 5ained."
Can they really tell fortunes?' asked
! Fanny.
. NO one can foretell," replied her
mother. SAT least, nothing that is ex-
| traordinary. The future is unknown to
as. and it is well for us that it is.
is it wrong to have ones fortune
/ told?" was Fanny's next question.
Yes. dear. 1t is provoking provi-
| 1ence, as some one has said. 1t is en-
;ouraging impostors. They swindle us
out of our money. Now, dear, will you
not bring me in an armful of wood? The
oven is not as hot as / would like it to
be-
1t was a beautiful summer day: the
kitchen windows were open; Aunt
Rachel, lively and miscellaneous young
lady, was seated in rocking chair on
the porch; though seeming to be read
ing, she had overheard the conversation
between Fanny and her mother. Fanny
brought in the wood, lounged awhile in
lettering way. toward the gypsy camp.
She seated herself upon the fence, just
at the edge of a field of wheat which
was almost ripe enough to be cut.
Without being observed herself she
had tolerable fair view of the
camp. She Saw the men grooming
their horses, the women fitting to and
fro, the children romping on the grass.
Once an ugly, shaggy-haired dog came
quite close to her. He had sore eyes
and torn ears; he looked viciously at
her, growled and showed his teeth.
Satisfied with what she had seen,
Fanny sprang from the fence and turned
toward home. just then a young wom
an came out of the wheat-field. She
wore a quaint straw hat, a plaid shawl
and a string of tawdry beads. Her
cheeks were olive-colored, and her eyes
had bright sparkle in them.
''Ah, my pretty little dear she said,
facing Fanny. and smiling insinuating-
ly, you must let me tell you your fort
Nne."
Il don't want my fortune told" pro-
tested Fanny. ut is wicked"
IF you only knew how bright your
future is to be!'' cried the woman, with
a meaning glance. Just put piece of
money in my hand" and she extended
her palm.
mo" replied Fanny, resolutely.
ssThe merest trifle," suggested the
woman.
Il have no money" declared Fanny
''Why do you say that?" sharply
asked the woman. You have half a
dollar in your pocket now. You thought
of giving it toward the new library for
the Sundayschool."
Fanny's face widened with surprise.
She drew little away from the strange
woman. How did she know about the
money. or the purpose to which Fanny
had intended to apply it?'
81 meant that had no money to give
you,'' explained Fanny. Mother says
that you are an imposter. She says that
your father was a crow and your mother
a magpie."
Fanny was not quoting her mother
with precision, though she fancied that
she was The gypsy woman laughed
softly.
at wasn't kind in your mother to talk
in that way of one whom she has never
Hicb. Suc LOU kptCItu W 20
on journey TO :forrow. Well-you are
to be disappointed.
An incredulous smile came to Fanuy's
lips You fo-tune-tellers always have
something to say about a letter, jour
ney, a disappointment, or man or a
woman with dark or light hair" she
fearlessly replied. 1T is your stock in
trade. Pray, can you tell me where l
was going?''
''Why not, I should like to know?"
asked the woman, with a toss of her
head. What would my art be worth to
ME, or to the world, if ! couldn't? You
were going to visit your grandmother at
Wildermar. Your mother viii geta let
ter, or a dispatch. telling you not to
come. Scarlet fever has appeared in
the family occupying the ten ant house,
and 1t WI not be safe for yo. to go"
The woman had replied with remark
able directness; she had promptly
responded to the challenge. Where did
she get the information? Was she more
than an ordinary woman? Would ouch
letter or dispatch be sent? Fanny was