The record-union., 1894-04-07

Iey!' almost Snrleked the L all woman 10
the tinker
''Lucetta's my darter. Mistress Fall.
She'll not bide wiz other"
she's nay dead sisters child, an 1
warn ye she'll bide T. th' end o. her days
VII her own blood, Bob Stanley"
"Cetta-Cetta!' shouted the tinker
sternly. "'Ere quick! am VII yer own
tongue say whether yell go or bide"'
There was no response to his oCtcry
save the taunts of the women before him.
He started towards the tent where she
slept at night with the other women, but
score of gypsy men instantly confronted
him.
Not so fast, Bob; not so fast" said
Chief Reynolds, who was at their head.
Go ye back to yer tent"
No gypsy ever Gisobeys the leader of a
band in the most trItling particular; and
Bob was at bay, his daughter restrained
In her tent and himself confronted by
overwhelming numbers, which gypsy
instinct and tradition told him meant far
deadlier outcome than ostraclsm, should
he attempt single handed to dispute it.
Hi asks yer pard'n, Chief" said Bob,
humbly, but an whatever does it all
mean?"
Jess this, Bob" replied the chief
kindly enough. "You hasn't any wife
no more"
mo, no, no." sighed the poor fellow
with quaver OF real grief in his tone.
God knows war CeItas mother livin',
no sech sorrer as this u comer'
AN yOu," continued Reynolds Qui-
city, 'areu't th' nat'ral carer fur young
gal. Mrs. Fall, her aunt. is. Things has
been goin' on wrong, Bob, fur years.
'Twus you as brought that writer teller
first t camp. Ee ups an falls in love wiz
Cetta, an you, Komany, STAINS by an
sees it. | warned ye long ago, Bob. Yer
dead wife's sister warned ye. Hus all
warned Cetta. Then Cetta, spite O. all,
ups am falls in love wiz ee. Yer Gorgio
friend, Ted Northup's good enuff in his
place, but his place aren't VII gypsies,
Bob. Wen Hi forbid 'im th' camp, ee
KEEP follerin'. Hus moved camp nigh a
dozen times on count o. jess this ERE
trouble. There's been bloodshed al
ready, an your friend almost killed
though huS doan't know who done it
an Cetta's been slippin' out O. camp, am
leavin' paIterans (trailS; preconcerted in
dications 10 one following as to the direc-
ton a gypsy band has taken) am sich; an
last night nus found that writin' nigh
Cetta's tent. Now, Bob. hus doan't want
no trouble, but you must take yer cart
an tent an wheel an 60. Besides,
Cetta's bespoke"
"Hi must go? An'-an' Cetta's be-
spoke?' gasped the bewildered tinker
imploringly.
'Yes, Bob; bespoke to Jem.'
"Jem Boswellv' The old fellow stood
there the embodiment Of scornful hate.
He leaned far forward as though he would
spring through the group Of men and his
trem bling finger pointed menacingly to-
ward d swarthy, hulking. gypsy who
skulked grinningly behind. 'Not-not
that dog, tor my poor, poor CettaI'
sAs Hi was a sayin', hus wants no
trouble, an ye better be a goin', Bob,''
returned Reynolds kindly. What hus
'as decided is gypsy law, an as good as
done, ye Knows"
LET me see Cetta-jess once, Chief?'
begged the tinker. ''Let me know WIZ
my own eyes am ears as Cetta wants t.
bide?"
There was whispered consultation be-
tween the women and the Chief, where
upon the former disappeared.
''No 'arm in that, Bob. Hus can let
YOU see for yourself" replied the Chief
soothingly.
The women shortly returned dragging
with them . shalf-clad gypsy girl, hlling
her ears as they came with the direst
threats and commands.
Still holding her by her arms they
brought her between the CHIEF and the
tinker, but kept her carefully at a little
distance from the latter Her long black
hair fell in unkempt ringlets about her
shoulders and shapely neck; her lustrous
black eyes were dlmned with tears, and
her round, fine face was ashen from ter
ror and grief.
Bob Stanley's tones were enough to
havemelted their unylelding hearts as he
hesitatlngly began:
''Cetta, child. look up in yer fathers
face.'
III
fingers tightened upon her wrists.
"Cetta, darter, did yer father ever speak
aucht but kind am lovin' words t ye in
all YER lIvin' days."
"Neverw This, with sob, from the
"Didn't Bob Stanley nuss ye like
babby, an keer fur ye like yer own dead
mother that's gomez"
"Oh, yes, yes, yes-alwaysw
s'D've know, Cetta, that Pm t. go
away"
1t seemed, for moment, that the girl
vould break from those who held her,
and. despite them all, leap to her fathers
outstretched arms. But the women about
her clamored and whispered and she
dared not move:
s.Yes, father, Ive been told"
"An' We still wish Z bide VII th' band?"
"Irs lest; it's best! Oh. father, it's
bestw
IAN ye're bespoke T. Jem Boswell, he
as nearly murdered my friend-yOltr
friend. as loves ye, Ted y Northup?''
She cried out at this as though from
some deadly hurt, and would have fallen
had not the old hags at her side supported
her.
and knew his own, something dimmed
his ewes. perhaps The wind tossing his
craving locks before them for moment.
90 Ihat he could not see. He turned to
his little hooded tent, leaned upon its
hickory bow and sobbed convulsively.
When he had recovered Lucetta and the
wonnen were gone. Half bewildered, he
cazad around upon all the dear and ia
miliar things of the roadside camp.
tHus'n 'elp ye Bit" said the Chief
compassionately.
The old tinker offered his hand to the
Chief VINO took it heartily.
"Cbief." said Bob huskily, gypsy law
is 0vpsy law. Hill abide it. Hive
nuthin' agin ye. But Whenever hus meets
agin.u pointing TO Jem Boswell, who was
hastily disappearing among the trees and
wagons, "thar'n be one less Romany
a-Iravelin' th' summer roads,"
''Be We satisfied o. Cetta?" asked the
Chief anxiously-
"Oh, aye, satisfied; satisfied, but not as
ye means it.
Under the direction of the Chief the
gypsy men began gathering the tlnker's
belongings together. They did this ST.
lently, but with now and then plying
look upon their dazed comrade, who
istlessly saw what was being done with
out apparent power to hinder or to aid.