The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-18
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 1894

to know hin12'' at last asked Melinda with
a little show of spirit.
"Of course. They're neighbors. The
funniest part of il is another pair that
acts just like them moved into one of
papa's houses a few months ago. 1 told
Payle Gray yesterday
Yesterday l blurted in astonishment.
Certainly; yesterday. We all saw him
yesterday at work finishing his pretty
picture of Still Life in the Fens. ord
they should both be here at the same
time. Isn't it, now"
Here the little rogue tainted Fashion
and Melinda with another cunning look
Of accusation.
Mr.. Gray probably came because the
professor came" said Fashion with
slight elevation Of her eyebrows
"Or perhaps the professor found the
Breads by fearing where Mr.. Gray passed
his vacation retorted Melinda with
pretty pout
'Or they We're both drawn here by their
mutual affection and geniality"' insisted
little Bess; at which they all laughed so
heartily that l found myself laughing
with them, despite my bitter reflection
upon how the most lofty human disinter-
estedness could be instantly transformed
into an almost groveling self-interest and
rivalry.
I could not think Of no two more I'M
pleasant people in all the world than this
simpeTing professor and this Oily-tOngued
artist.
But the awakening from my idyllic
dreams and fancies was fated to be ruder
still
The very next morning Fashion was
found to have disappeared
1 had dreamed or really heard during
the previous night the soft humping of
wherry against our boat house; a low
whispering as of some light form spring
ing into the wherry; and finally the gen
tie dip of oars pulsing fainter and far
Their into the silence of the night
But 1 could secure no responsive look or
word of concern from the family at break
fast. Melinda and Bess with conscious
and averted looks gave me no sign. The
Chauvies ate raVenouslY as usual. The
mothers thin lips may have been a little
tighter drawn; but that was all. The
father, calm and stOlid. ate contentedly
and in silence. Only old Grandfather
Wharton, fidgeting and Tuning on his
bench, dare at last find relief to his sturdy
Romany contempt for the perils of en-
lightenment in the brief outburst:
Hits wat cooms from book-larnin'.
Cuss hit all, Hi say!'
Then Uriah Wharton brought his huge
fist down crashingIy upon the table with,
Then, book-larnin's good enough for
me an my gals, gran fayther Wharton.
Wen emmy female creetur gifts ready L go.
she goes! That's my knowledge. An
wen airy daughter o mine gifts ready Z go,
go she may, be it night or day; fur she's
gypsy enough. Teddy enough. an lovin'
enough t. let kith an kin know, wen she's
ready, Were 'er tent be pitched, an
w'eresumCeVer she bides!'
Here Melinda and Bess sprang to the
shaggy. hearted father; nearly suffo-
Gated him with loving caresses; and left
him for their tasks with glowing, grateful
eyes; while l knew only to well that
this h1a la w an
the subject in the gypsy house-boat on
reed-fringed Kicking Broad.
Two days only had interviewed when Me
linda, after rowing away with a parcel of
baskets and a little brother as companion,
had sent boat baskets and brother, only,
back to the house-boat among the reeds.
I knew that not even old Grandfather
Wharton dare whimper now. But the
stoldity of the gipsies and to me the mys-
terry and heartaChe of this swift fading
out from my life of these radiant pres
ences, were more than 1 could sear.
/ saw, too, now that Melinda had gone,
there We're evident preparations for aban-
doning the house-hoat l determined to re-
turn at once to London. I could not break
away from the good and sweet home had
know without the fondest and most affec-
tionate leave-taklngs. Even then it was
as though L were parting forever from&ny
own
thougbtfIIness, u,o,,Id VII, III -
HickIing railway station How rro,,d 7 80
of her as she anneared resd,, fo,. 49,
partine iournevf' IIov, 7 fonJ1,. fa,lioi
her some Great srrana IadI orf,, fo,. L.
sweeter. more Innocent was All tbet
lovely Ioitarino afte,.,,C,,,, iC, -,
when we b9d come 70 the aJge Of tbo 80,
lage and had taken heI. two nrettl l,a,,ds
in mine to saw pood-bve What :, ta,,,ig,
ptiruI tremulolsness ,rent INFO l5o, Il,,-ll,
face ana evesl 0-'
But the parting words had been said and
she was turning to ~ tIIrDirI 70
thought then Overwhelmed me and ioaI,l
ing me. me who had been so lae,,I,, .,l,Ii,,i
tous for the future Of three gins, r1aida,,s
drifting hack into that .dyrl,,,o..,. ~ -.
look which knows no LIGHT nor. b,ri.,l,,,
"Bess.-Bess?" | faltered.
Back came the little hands info mine
the uplifted eyes appealfngIv filled win
haIf-answered inquiry. -
"Why 20 back at all Ress 90,
There was no need for ansv,a-. e,,.
after a moment Of silence we ,,o,,ai
insensillv. as to the fbrob of sinoIo -
pulse and viii ON toward tbe dro,,t,,.-
Hickling hamlet and tba,cc o,t+ 80
the nov, Iife to.r.+ra,.