Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25

- AAAZ AVA ~ - AVA
sistinE until utterly exhausted. long. long
Into the hours OF the star-lt. happy night
Then with Grinder Lljah and Waif
for tent-fellows, the Professor gratefully
sank upon q couch OF fresh pine-straws
and endc1vored 10 drive the face and
form Of f.orctta from his mind and col
lect his scattered senses; but dazedly he
saw the fiaring camp-fres grow dim and
DINNER, was conscious OF the peaceful
quiet and hush that fell upon the happy
spot. and in trice was pilgriming In
the land OF pleasant dreams.
III.
Loretta, racklie, the songstress Of the
camp and the Professor became insepa-
rable companions upon the road or I'm
camp. With the melodies which some
how grew more and more tender. they
were soon together the loved MINISTRIES
OF the band. The passion which had over
whelmed poor Poppett since he had first
heard those grand pine woods filled with
the echoes OF Lorettas song had been
wordiess. but the old violin had told his
love; told II pleadingly. eloquently: and.
truth as truth. love unspoken by tongue
or pen will reach into the object OF It's
alteration and make It's message known.
Inns 0tUuD llDidtTN was nitllul. It's re-
sponse was plying and dumb. II there
had been no wandering nawken, the old
violin had not told its tender prayers In
vain.
The extreme mildness OF the winter
season few years ago. together with
the fact that another tribe was on Its
way to spend Christmas with them. In
duoed Loretta's band to linger on their
Journey towards winter quarters. until.
when Christmas-day came, the tribe
was encamped no further south than the
battery in Chesterfield county. over
against old Richmond Poppett and
Loretta were sitting together In camp
among the pine-trees, when Loretta stop
ped suddenly In her song.
"Poppett which way Is England?" she
asked. solemnly.
"Over there. Loretta" the Professor
replied, pointing with his bow, ito the
eastward. thousands OF miles beyond the
Richmond lights"
She laid her fair head in the palms OF
her hands. and sat there. silently waving
herself TO and fro for little time Per-
haps the gypsy girl heard again the
Yorkshire robins sweetly singing in the
hedge, and listened to the murmurs OF
the Wharfe. as II softly flowed to the
sea. She finally turned TO the musician.
and said. as II her heart could hold It
no longer:
"Poppett, 7 wants TO go were there's
books an music, an all sech bright
thingsv'
with me, Loretta?"
IT came In a trembling whisper from
the musicians lips. 1t was the most
daring thing the Professor had ever said.
mo. Poppett. with-with Matthew?
Something came into the Professors
NH chnt
all the world. and left everything blank
so him. He had heard the story OF
Matthew from kindly old Lijah. The vio-
lin moaned a little for its master. and
Waif grew restless, but finally the mus-
clan faltered-
And II Matthew never comes?"
"Then, Poppett with you; sure. sure"
The dogs sympathetic and expressive
tail never wagged so boisteriously be-
fore, and II dog ever did such thing,
like the "old man. of the plays, h,
surely said:
"God bless you, my Children
An hour later there was a pleasant
commotion at the outskirts Of the camp.
The gypsy friends had arrived. Among
the vans was one OF beautiful design
and decoration, drawn by handsome
pair of horses These are delights 10
gypsy eyes. and horses and van were In
stantly surrounded by garrulous men, so
occupied I'm their interest and admiration
that its driver for time escaped OBJ
servation.
The latter. a young gypsy of perhaps
% years Of age. needless OF the crowd
about him. sprang from his seat and dis
appeared with q bound In the direction
OF the tents.
"Is yon fellow one OF your kin?' asked
the leader OF the arriving party OF the
chief.
mo. brother. not as hus knows.
Thought he was kith O. yourn. Do any
ere know him."
There was no answer but a general air
of concern settled upon the gypsles as
they turned and watched the tawny
fellow who was running headlong In the
open spaces between the tents.
He fell in WI hus Jess arter noon.
Said he was comm ere. an we logged
on together. He's tatchi Romany, sure;
but a trfe daft hus IL thinkin'. He talk
ed o. nothin' but Loretta racklie, a IN
afternoon"
At that moment there was a hustle and
confusion among the women OF the band.
The flying gypsy had aroused them.
Shrin ordinations were heard on every
hand. with Save u.s." and ITS tn
nawkens gbost!'
But the ear or love IL true anu Ho'
affrighted
Loretta. leaping from her tent door,
sped like the wind towards the daring
stranger. AS he clasped her in his arms
and pointed with unutterable pride to his
matchless gypsy-van home. the girl cried
out exultantly:
Hes come at last! God 'elp hus,-its
Matthew
over beside little tent among the
shadows Professor Poppett was standing
white and silent. He had seen the raptu-
rous meeting He knew all that II
meant to them and TO him. With one
hand he grasped the tent bow for a
moments support. The other he raised as
II in benediction. Finally, he placed the
old violin in it's worn and ragged sack
Come. waif." he said quietly: don't you
see the curtains down again? It's time
to gol''
And pilgrims STILL out into the night
they again took the road together.
HERBERT c, DUCE.