Griggs courier., 1896-10-23
A GYPSY DANCER.

At the date this story commences,
about the year 1743, there resided in
the West Riding Of Yorkshire, England,
a family of ancient pedigree and great
wealth. This was the family of Sir
George Pasely, a gentleman of the old
English school.
Sir George was married, though not
until he was already an old bachelor.
but his wife was a young and lovely
being, of tender age, compared with
his own, for when she became Lady
pasely she was but 10 years of age.
Sir George dotted on her, and, indeed,
she was worthy his fondest regard, be-
ing everything in person and mind that
the heart could wish. But, alas! the:
destroyer, Death, came. and the same
hour that made him father took the
gentle mother and fond wife to her
long home. Time rolled on, and the
sweet child grew daily more like what
her mother was, while Sir George loved
her with a deep and absorbing affection.
There was q young man, a wild and
reckless spirit, that claimed to be next
of kin to the Pasely family with Sir
George, and would doubtless, from
some peculiar cause known to law, be
able to establish his right to the es-
tates now holden by Sir George, pro-
vided he should die without issue.
Therefore the birth and growth Of lit
tie Louise Pasely was watched with
Jealous care by Ernest Renwood, who
hoped one day to possess the broad
Pasely estates for his own.
Four years had passed since the birth
of Louise, who proved to be q sturdy
and beautiful child, when Renwood saw
that he must bring his designs to an
issue, and not leave any longer his
hopes to chance. He therefore formed
the resolution of adopting some expedi-
ent to rid himself of her, for, as we
have seen, she stood between him and
the rich lands he so much coveted. He
was not naturally a hardened villain,
but that most powerful incentive to
evil, that most thriving agent of the
Evil Spirit, avarice, was goading him
on to the brink of perdition; and he
was an orphan and had been reared
lacking the fostering care and godly
counsel that forwarns and fore
arms youth against the temptations of
manhood.
It was late one mild summers night
when he came to this conclusion; he
recalled to his mind that at wild and
secluded spot some two miles from the
immediate neighborhod of Sir Georges
estate, there were encamped at that
very hour band of gypsies, who he cit
once conjectured might be of service
to him in the plan he proposed to
execute, viz, to rid himself of the little
Louise Pasely, heiress to the estates
that he was determined to possess.
Louise disappeared on the subse-
quent night and on the following MORN
ing, when her absence was discovered,
CONSERVATION filled the hearts of ALL
Twelve years, with all the changes
that SO long period of time brings,
have passed since the loss that had so
wrung the heart of Sir George. He had
grown gray and many wrinkle crossed
his manly brow.
A gypsy band were in the West Rid
ing of Yorkshire, England, and the
beautiful danseuse AIinitti, with her
handsome companion, was perform
ing to the delighted villagers of the
country. It did not escape the inquisi-
tive eyes of the spectators that her
companion, Fernando, watched with
loving eye each motion of Minitt.
The little town in the environs of
which the gypsy band were encamped
was one day thrown into commotion by
one of the Inhabitants declaring that
an article of considerable value had
been stolen from his house. One of the
Inhabitants even remembered to have
seen female of the tribe near the door
of the house whence the jewel was
missing, and was ready to make oath
that it was none other than Nlanitti, the
danseuse of the tribe.
This was quite sufficient, and upon
such strong circumstantial evidence the
beautiful girl was seized and rudcly
carried before the justice of the county
for examination. In vain was all proof
offered by the tribe as to her innocence; {;
no court would heed a gypsy's evidence,
and the justice was forced, though COM
passion was in his heart, aye, and it
beamed broadly from his countenance,
too, to commit the girl.
Immediately after the justice had
pronounced the sentence, and the weep
ing girl was about to be borne away by
the officers of the court, a young man
stepped suddenly forward from the
crowd end said, while he thrust aside
the rough hands that were extended to
seize Minitti:
Stand back, if you would not have
me take your lives. The, girl is inno-
cent? stole the jewel. Why should you
charge this upon that gentle being, in
nocent and pure, aye, purer than the
best Of ye! It is who am guilty"
'Thou!" cried the gypsy girl, "im-
possible, Fernandez" for it was her
companion of the dance. And the gen.
tie girl, rejoicing to find one friend so
near her in this fearful moment, threw
her arms about his neck and wept upon
his breast.