Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-09-04
FROM BELLE TO GYPSY

A special correspondent of tho NJ
York Press from Birmingham, N Wv
says that in a party of gypsies o. -
camped near that city is tall, w;I
lowy, dark complexioned woman
parently thirty-four years old, whp
though attired in gypsy costume ana
adapting herself to the nomadio lifa
apparently does not belong to the race
Squatted in one corner of her tent she
unfolded to the Press correspondent,
tale sounding like chapter from tbs
latest novel.
During the seasons of 1874 Marcia
de Paula was leader in New York
society. Her peculiar beauty soon
won for her train of admirers, which
was nearly doubled during winter
she spent in Washington. At social
function in the latter city she met
Signor Marqueeza, Brazilian gentle.
man. Both were infatuated. Mar.
queeza was wealthy, owning a large
plantation in Brazil, and exhibited
proofs of his descent from an old and
respected family. No obstacles were
placed in the way of the happy couple,
and on December 23, 1874, they were
married.
The Brazilian plantation was a long
way from any town of importance.
and the young bride, shut off from all
associates, pined for companionship.
Meantime rumors of instructions in
jUred business on the plantation. Her
husband became morose. Then he
went to drinking, and as matters went
from bad to worse sought consolation
with handsome half breed girl, the
daughter of one of his overseers. Pre-
vious to his northern marriage he had
paid the girl considerable attention,
and she painted in glowing colors her.
self as mistress of "the great white
house." When Marqueeza returned
with his wife her jealousy, rage and
disappointment were at white heat,
but she bided her time. When Mar
queeza again turned to her she con-
cocted scheme for Kidding herself of
the obnoxious white mistress and TAX
ing her place in the mansion.
One night Marcia was awakened by
rustling sound among the vines cover
ing the window of her boudoir. She
arose to strike light. and as the match
f1ickered in her hand there was a scream
of mortal agony and her husband
bounded from his couch. Dangling
from his arm was viper of the moe
casin species, which had fastened its
fangs in his flesh. The reptile was
speedily killed, but in half an hour the
man died in awful agony. Then it
came out that the girl, thinking Mar
queeza was spending the night at
distant village, had dropped this snake
(Which she had long cherished in hopes
of vengeance) upon the couch Marcia
occupied. thus hoping to remove her
without casting suspicion upon herself.
After Marqueeza's death the estate
was found to be hopelessly in debt.
Creditors swarmed down and claimed
everything, turning the unfortunate
Marcia out friendless, penniless and
alone in strange country. At this
juncture Spanish gypsy. one of the
few human beings that had called at
the lonely mansion. and whom she
had once befriended when i'll, appeared
and offered her refuge with his people
and their escort toward her former
home in the United States. Together
they travelled overland for two weary
years. always moving north. At last
they reached Washington, the scene Of
her former social triumphs. Now,
however, she was without money or
social position, and SO accustomed had
she become to the wandering life that
she decided to remain with the camp
and journey further northward. She
is now the wife of the gypsy who be-
friended her and seems perfectly con-
tent with her nomadic exit tence.