The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-08-18
hi, head to tho littls lady and awaited

aIIacehat. ma'Amr' staunOrod
Poppett, twirling his hat confusedly.
"A Pilgrim" This rather stoltdly
ayes, lady; IL rather think you
might call Us pIlRrims-Mose and L"
"Where be your-your frieuds7"
swell, lndy6-the professor was got.
ting into deep water-''well. Nose, there
is my friend; and I'm Moses friondl"
"lIasn't 70 others?"
"No, lady"
"Sot on yearthT
mot on earth"
"No friend on yearth Ian you
a.makin' that 'eavenlY music? Wy,
an you're In sorry luck, sure"
Sorry luck, lady? All broke up!
Eli, Mose7"
could.
She walked straight to tho woebegono
musician, took his ragged hat from bis
hand, placed 1t kindly upon his head,
"Might-might 1 beg 20 boldly to
make that music agin"
ayes, yos; a thousand times, ladyw
Then the professor put his very soul
into tho work; played the melody from
beginningto end, never missing note;
and lingerod lovingly over the impro-
vised rofrain.
When he had finished he saw that
her hands were clasped tightly across
her bosom and that she was weeping
bitterly.
rough but kindly voice from Just over
the cato. "0h, Lorettal Ha' ye ma
better come long VII Liio2 Bring tho
fiddler feller, II ye likes."
"Ay, ny, Liiah Boswell. TIL music
was a-pu!tin' me back in Of Yorkshire
liken Thon turning TO Poppett sue
said: "Como long wi your fiddle an
dog, stranger. Anyhows yo'll sure find
sup an q bite wi hus "
Tho girl had been to tho stream for
bucket OF vRter. Lijah Boswell took 1t
up, and chatting merrily enough, led
tho party over the old road through
dense woods for short distance, when,
on rounding heavy clump OF oaks,
thoy came suddenly upon n large Gypsy
camp.
Liah Roswell, with broad grins and
much gesture, In q few Romany words
told his Gypsy companions all he knew
Of the wandering musician and his Won
derful dog; and then these simple poo
pie crowded around Poppett In scores,
while he gave them the best melodies
his weary fingers could invoke, urged
on by delighted applause and greattul
incense Of steaming pots swinging
above cracking fires; while Nose, In
his happiest vein, did his finest tricks
aud passed. the hat SO wisely that, amid
roars Of laughter, it was fairly filled
with copper coin.
Then came q smoking hot supper for
tho pilgrims from these ever-hospitable
Gypsy pilgrim bands. How that hungry,
foot-sore wanderer ate; how Nose atei
and how they both felt and looked
gratitude unuttorablo, brought both
smiles and mists to tho Dyes Of member
after member OF the band, rs thoy
caught stoalthy glimpaes OF their beam
lug faces and then as silently stole
away-t0- join thoir companions and
indulge in grotesque pastime and
hilarious laughter.
After the professor and Nose had
finished, nothing would satisfy the
Gfpsies but moro muslc-music wild
and heroic, music registering and baccha-
nalian; and then dance; ay, o dance
such as they had not had since they left
old Yorkshirel Old and young joined,
and mover in all Poppetts theatric ex-
perienco. oven in. grandest spectacular,
had he soon or imagined anything equal
ing tho wild abandon Of these tawny
people, from hagglsh spae-tOife to rosy
faced chaurie, as they sped by him in
fantastic groupings, never deslsting
until utterly exhausted, long, long into
the hours OF tho starlit, happy night
Thon with grinder LIjah and Nose for
tent-follows, tho professor gratefully
sank upon couch OF fresh leaves and
aromatic cedar boughs, and endeayored
10 drive the face and form Of Loretta
from his mind and collect his scattered
senses; but dazedIy he saw the tlaring
camp ires grow dim and DINNER, was
conscious OF tho peaceful quiet and hush
that fell upon tho happy spot and in
trice was piigrimihg Ia the land OF
pleasant dreams.
III.
Loretta, rdckiic, the songstrcss OF tho
camp, and tho Professor became insep-
arabic companions upon tho road or in
camp, with tho melodies which some-
how grew moro and moro tender, they
werc soon together tho loved min
streis Of the bnnd. The passion which
had overwhelmed poor Poppett since
he had first heard those grand Maine
woods filled with tho echoes OF Loretta's
song had been wordless, but the old
violin had told his love; told II plead
ingly, eloquently; and true rs truth,
love unspoken by tongue or pen will
reach unto tho object OF Its alteration
and make its message known. This
dumb idolatry was pititul. 1ts response
was pitying and dumb. II there had
been no wandering ndWken, tho old vlo-
lin had not told It's masters tendon
prayers in vain.
One evening the two were sitting to-
gGther in camp among tho elms OF the
Mystic Lake, over against old Arlington,
not far from still moro ancient Boston
town-tho winter was approaching, and
the band was fast iournOying south to-
ward winter quarters now-when 10.
retta stopped suddenly in hcr song. .
"Poppett, which way 10 EnClandT
sho asked, solemnly
"Over thcre, Loretta" tho professor
replied, pointing with his bow, ito tho
eastward, thousands Of miles beyond
tho Boston lights"
She laid hcr fair head in tho palms OF
hcr hands and sat thore, silently weav-
ing herself to and fro for little time.