The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-17
TALES OF TEN TRAY PLIERS.
Continued from Third Fage.J

him yesterday at work finishing his pretty picture of Still Life In The Fens' Odd they should both be here at the same time. Isn't 1t now?" | Here the little rogue taunted Fash look of accusation.
 MT. Gray probably came because the Professor came;" said Fashion with a slight elevation of her eye brows. Y Or perhaps the Professor found the Broads by learning where MT. Gray passed his vacation" retorted Melin- da with pretty pout
 "Or they were both drawn here by their mutual affection and geniality" insisted little Bess; at which they all laughed so heartily that found my self laughing with them, despite my bitter reflection upon how the most lofty human disinterestedness could be instantly transformed into an almost groveling self-interest and rivalry. | I could think of no two more un- pleasant people in all the world than this simpering professor and this oily topgued 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.
 | I had dreamed or really had heard during the previous night the soft pumping of a wherry against our boat house; low whispering as or some light form springing into the wherry; and finally the gentle dip of oars puls- ing fainter and farther into the silences of the night. | But I could secure no responsive look or word of concern from the family at breakfast. Melinda and Bess with con- scious 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 contently and in silence. On- ly old grandfather Wharton, fidgeting and fuming on his bench, dare at last find relief to his sturdy Romany con- tempt for the perils of enlightenment in the brief outburst: | "Hrt's wat cooms from book-larnin'. Cuss hit all, HI say!'
 Then Uriah Wharton brought his huge fist down upon the table with,
 "Then, book-larnin's good enough for me an my gals, granfayther Wharton. Wen enny female creetur gets ready t go, she goes! That's. my knowledge. An wen ary daughter O mine gifts ready t go, go she may, be it night or l day; fur she's gipsy enough, teddy enough, an lovin' enough t let kith an kin know, wen she's ready, were 'er tent be pitched, an 'eresumdever | she bidesv' Here Melinda and Bess sprang to the shaggy, big-hearted father; nearly suf- located him with loving caressss; and \ left him; for their tasks with glowing, grateful feyesssswhtie I knew 6hiy too I we'll that this was irrevocable law and fnalityt upon the subject in the gipsy house-boat on reed-fringed Hickling Broad. <. r < sfNs 7 <, K$3rfsE.5, r"".f
 Two days only had intervened when Melinda, after rowing away with a par eel 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 stolidity of the gipsies and to me the mystery and heartache of this swift fading out from my life of these radiant presences, were more than could bear. I saw, too, now that Melinda had gone, there were evident preparations for abandoning the house-boat. de- termined to return at once to London. I could not break away from the good and sweet home had known without the fondest and most effectionate leave takings. Even then, it was though I were parting forever from my own.
 Little Bess, bless her for her tender thoughtfulness would walk with me to, Hickling railway station. How proud was of her as she appeared, ready for that parting journey! How I fondly fancied her some great, grand lady, only for her sweeter, more innocent ways, all that lovely. lettering after noon journey! And when we had come to the edge of the village and had taken her two pretty hands in mine to say goodbye, what a tender, pitiful tremulousness crept into her lovely face and eyes.
 But the parting words had been said, and she was turning to go; turning to go, the thought then overwhelmed me, and leaving me, me who had been so deeply solicitous for the future, Of three I gipsy maidens, drifting back into that darkness of outlook which knows no light nor horizon.
 ss!-Bess?" I faltered.
 Back came the little hands into mine, the uplifted eyes pleadingly filled with | half.answered inquiry ~-
 "Why go back at all, Bess?" ,
 There was no need for answer; for after a moment of silence we moved insensibly, as to the throb of single heart-pulse and will, on toward the, droning Hickling hamlet, and thence out into the new life together. the happy silence which followed, re- member to have wondered If some keen 1 and swift intelligence of what was past l recall had already touched the brave old heart beneath the shaggy breast, in the fouse-boat beside the whispering reeds; but I only asked, still anxiously, of the little one besidem ,@
 "Bess, what of.-of Fashion and Melin- da? ssr "Dear, dear! But couldn't you under stand if all the time? Why. the pfo- |