The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-09-08

l could see nothing but single strand
 or light. which. pierced the blackness
 through the curtaining from the dim
 lamps of Leather Lane. l I waited for a time and heard no
 sound. With my closed penknife l
 softly tapped against the wall and list
 ened. I thought heard slight rus | He. but was perplexed at securing no
 other manner of response: when whis.
 pered impatiently down to Ikey to
 sound his coster call.
 Cherry ripe, you 'as 1t. guvenor!
 Ere she goesg'
 "Ta-ta-tal ta-ta; ta-ta-ta" It seemed an unearthly blast in the
 silences of the walled and deserted
 yard; but l had scarcely time to reach
 the top of the ladder when little head
 popped through the wall opening.
 It was instantly withdrawn; but in n
 flash little foot, then another then a dainty pair of legs, and finally their substantial upper belongings swung through the aperture; and the girl hung there from her finger-ends without out cry or apparent fear.
 I reached around her, getting q firm grip on her little body. and brought her to my own. Her splendid pluck, si- lence and faith stirred me deeply: and T kissed her squarely upon her lips in impassioned admiration.
 Easy does 1t. guvernorm came hoarsely and tremulously from Ikey below.
 But before the coster's protest had reached either her ears or mine the girl savagely squirmed like a cat in my arms, and but for my best efforts would nave fallen headlong to the earth be. low. while she hissed:
 Mi dearie Dubblesky! (For the dear Lords sake) Hits tn pings (devilsl lips. stead O Ike'sw
 IL was the only gipsy's kiss I ever Knew. this one snatched in the dark rom Phrony Plunketts lips under the "lllest Of false pretences, and I hope TOT never another: for was so startled and overcome by her vicious strup. glings that swift consciousness of whose form held, of the real mart ,iao been taking, and above all of my | loyalty to one lowly friend working such treachery and havoc to another, that ] know not how-for Ikey had | desperately run up the ladder to aid in | our descent-we all came to the ground together
 But there was brief whirlwind of Joy In which l presume I became en- veiopeo; quick and quiet replacing of the ladder In the shed; stealthy leav- ng or the weird locality; a hurried "hlrl Of carriages to place of safety. ma, in good time, penny wedding" n the shoreditch quarter, where I gave , ae happy pride away, and the ecstatic Key murmured, Strike me lucky!-but llt's tn rummest go O me life Cor bli ne, so hit is!'
 And this is how 1t came about" con- luded the gipsy traveller, that before ne Christmas bells had rung I he. anne further involved in the affairs of ny humble friends, to the degree that. s the Co., of Pushbarrow, Plunkett. & ;o., saw with no little pride our far hg slgn go up above the door of A ham, y"home and prosperous coster-einsv hop, where Ikey and Phrony exist 'lth tner greens and donkeys in unal- I 'yed domestic bliss; where old Zeke , attles and clatters merrily among pots 7, nd Kettles, donkey harness and broken osters' carts, which are increasing in , umber with prophetic clamor of opu- 'nce; and whence, when the nomadic lt unger becomes too powerful for re- + Eralnt, a certain old gipsy tinker whom I love sallies forth with me into the c leasant pilgrim ways.