San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-30
Their tents like the Arab,
And as silently stole away"

4 L muSU lccIlllS 'Ol 'uiSdp
Pointment when / alighted from the
| London train at Severncester station.
i had so counted upon seeing the burly
form of Sir Gylbart Give on the plat
form, and / missed his bright genial
| face and the warm welcome he was
SIRE to give to his sons wife and child
the little laddie who was born in
India, whom he had never yet seen, and
| who was quietly sleeping in the arms of
the Bengali ayah who stood by my side,
a picturesque object in her national
dress, massive gold nose-jewel and neck
let, heavy seed-pearl earrings, and silver
bangles
When Jack got his ship, he had been
ordered to the Indian station, and / had
followed to be near him. Sir Gylbart
/, had missed us terribly, and soon got
| tired of being at Clivedene by himself.
| He was not so active as he used to be,
he said, and felt the need of his SONS
strong hand and clear head; so Jack
had to send in his papers, and Barty
and j were packed off home. We ar
rived during the autumn assizes. Sir
Gylbart as High Sheriff, was in attend
ance upon the Judges, and we were to
pick him up at the Shire Hall as we
drove past
There was most important trial 60
ing on which had caused an enormous
sensation. People had thronged from
all parts and the court was crowded
to Overlooking. The butler, who had
grown gray-headed in our service, in
formed me, with the freedom of an old
friend, that young gypsy was being
tried for the murder of girl He pro-
tested his innocence, but the evidence
of the two principal witnesses was SO
conclusive and overwhelming that there
could be no doubt as to the verdict of
the jury.
did not ask any questions-for one
reason, was busy giving some direc-
tions to my maid and Jacks man, who
had accompanied us, and were to fol-
low in the brake with some of the most
important luggage-for another reason,
L gathered from Morton's manner
that it was one of those sad cases the
painful details of which have such an
unaccountable charm for the general
public.
l took my seat beside the ayah and
her little charge in the open carriage.
1t was lovely autumn day, warm for
the time of year; but it was chilly to
me, coming from India. / thought at
first that / would have the carriage
closed; but, as the ayah seemed quite
comfortable and appeared rather in
terested in her surroundings, / let it
remain as it was, not knowing that a
mans life was trembling in the bal
ance.
We drove through the streets at
rapid rate-they were quite deserted;
but round the Shire Hall the crowd was
SO dense that it was almost impossibl
to proceed, notwithstanding that the
police and Sir Gylbart's men-old re-
| tainerS-came to our aid.
Thinking it easier and safer for Sir
Gylbart to come to me, | ordered the
| carriage to remain at the courtyard
gates, and sent a messenger to say
we were there. Then l drew my fur
| cloak closer round me and waited re-
| suits.
The ayah stood up in the carriage
| and gazed about her with apathetic in
terest. Suddenly the expression of her
| face changed. Pointing to something
| in the distance, she turned to me and,
| with more animation than l had ever
| seen her exhibit before, uttered few
words in her native tongue; but she
| spoke so rapidly, without raising her
voice, that only one or two reached me
| the rest were lost in the din of many
voices and confusion of sound.
sprang to my feet, wondering what
brought Indian gipsies there; l could
| understand the English mastering in
| full force while their brother the
| Romany lad was being tried for his life.
The first glance showed me that there
was a mixed gathering. There were
/ ori,,S I tn1 l,r1f
that recognized, and, tired out, was
about to resume my seat, when hearc
q shrill cry, and some one screamed al
the top of powerful but rather musical
| voice
"Our black lady-our black sister!"
The cry was taken up, and the words
J were repeated on every side. Then the
/ people shouted, some in Romany, some
in English
Rainbow Bill is saved!"
Before l knew where L was, way was
made for us, and we were hurried up
the steps and into the court itself,
followed by deafening cheers and pre-
coded by the triumphant announce
ment-
"The black lady has come to save
Rainbow Bill-the poor black lady who
was nearly killed, whose life Bill
saved!"
The business of the court had to be
suspended; the Judge laid down his
notes and looked across at us in wonder,
as well he might. AS for me, hardly
knew where was or what was expect
ed of me.
With an exclamation of intense sur
prise, the High Sheriff rose from his
seat. hurried across the court towards