The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-04

tired, fair to gaze upon-was, in phrase,
the young man who had met the White
Gypsy in Gale Wood, and had introduced
himself to her there
In front Of the cottagein which Salome
lived he came to standstill, and looked
at the lighted windows. While he look
ed he listened. After space OF indect-
sion he went onward for few dozen
yards, then turned buck, and for some
minutes continued to saunter TO and
fro, making the row OF humble dwoll-
ings the centre OF his peregrinRtions.
Presently dirty little lad OF nine or
ten came bounding through the twt-
light. He was brown,faced, 1.-THE OF
limb; and ragged. The stroller address
ed the village urchin in this manner
"Come hero, my lad"
IA rect, sir"
"Do you live about hereN
"Yessir. Ahliyei in that theer heawse,"
pointing to the middle cottage in the
row.
"Do you know salome Birmingham? ?"
The lad shook his curly head.
"They call her the White Gypsy, l
believe" the young man added, remem,
boring suddenly what the pit brow girl
had told him.
ooh, all know her thenV exclaimed
the Ind, his face lighting up at the men
ton OF Salome's nickname, "Hoo lives
theer!" and he pointed to the end cot
tage:
wishes to see her? Here's shilling
for you. Don't let anyone else hear You
tell her Do you understands"
The urchih nodded in an emphatic
manner, his dirty fingers closed tightly
upon the silver coin, and he darted
away, going to the back Of the cottage.
where he knew the kitchen door would
be open.
Acouple Of minutes afterwards salome
Birmingham came out OF the house by
the front door q shawl thrown over her
head and held closely about her face
with one hand, CHANGING about the
lane she perceived the waiting man, and
recognizing him through the gloom,
went in slow hesitating way to him.
"You didn't expect to zee me to-
night2" he began, fixing his keen grey
eyes on her half.copcealed face, as II
he were desirous OF reading whatever
expression there might be upon it.
mo, / didn't" she said, quietly, her
gaze bent on the opposite hedgerow.
"You never thought would have the
courage perhaps you will call it impu-
dence-to como here after you.
"No," was her immediate answer,
spoken as quietly as before.
"But why didn't you meet me? You
hardly know yet what would do-9nd
would not do, for your sake, Salome."
Perhaps you are right"
pBut you haven't told me yet why
you did not come to the place arranged
10 meet suppose we may as well
walk down the lane a little as stand
here2 And want to hear what excuse
you have to offer. was waiting beside
the wood for over half an hour"
She followed the gentle pressure OF
the hand he had placed on her arm, and
they walked slowly along the fast-dark-
ening high road.
"Well, did not meet you because
we'll, on account OF several things" she
murmured.
give me one valid reason-but man
ufacture no excuses. Tell me the truth,
salomep he cried, earnestly, his gaze
again seeking the charming, vaguely
defined silhouette her profile made.
swell, il l am TO tell you the truth"
she said, her voice hardening as i she
had come to some resolution. II did
not meet you because did not want"
"Nonsensel l don't believe you'll
won't believe that"
"You may"
''In face OF this?"
He suddenly paused in the white,
dust-coyered, unpaved footwalk, and
with dexterous FLIP Of his hand
threw aside the shawl she wore, That
act revealed somethingNof Importance,
Salome was attired in her newest irock
"Would you have dressed yourself in
your best unless you had intended to
meet me-but perhaps you were going
elsewhere"
~ wasn't. / dressed myself to meet
you, and changed my mtnd-that was
ALL" was her quiet reioinder.
"WhyT
opened to my own footishness. 1 have
met you too often already, and don't in
tend to meet you-see you any more"
The words came quickly, holly from
her lips and faint gasp marked their
close. His eyes flashed on hor, and he
remarked u triGe sneeringly and with
an undertone OF bitterness in his voice
$50 YOU can't trust me, then?"
at isn't that-f have trusted YOU"
Perhaps ! was mistaken in thinking
you cared for me, salome."
"That is not 1t either"
"What Is it them"
IT had come to the conclusion that 1t
was quite wrong to meet you at'all, and
made up my mind to do so no more"
'That seems strange now. You never
thought OF such thing first. You saw
me and we're neither afraid Of mo nor
suspicious. There ia something else
under this. Has eomeone been saying
something to you about met"
"No. do not know any person who
knows you'll am not aware that any
person knows about our meetings save
ours elves"
"Then what is wrong?"
"Its allwrongl" she burst out, losing
her composure at last, II may be
foolish girl but am not wicked one.
II was silly Of me to ever consent to
meeting you--it was worse than silll.
ness to continue to do so, and now II
would be positively wicked on my part
to 20 onl You must sec that even more
clearly than can. "
"But do not. l suppose you think
that am only amusing myself at your
expensel Is that what troubles you"
'Perhaps it is. know that you never
ask me to meet You only in quiet, I'm.
froquented places; and ! have noticed
that you shun even the villagers round
here. What do / know about your
Nothingl You have given mo q namc,