Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-12-04
THE BOHEMIAN OR HUNGAR.
Ian Gypsy.
BY W. g.
Written for the Independent.
(ooNT1NUED.)

The following is related by an
officer of rank and family, who serv-
ed against the Turks in the army
under the command of the celebrat-
ed Prince Of Coburg ::
"Great skill have they in palmistry."-
CowPER.
In the spring of the year 1888, ]
departed from Miclosvar, in Tran.
sylvania, with some recruits for my
regiment, the hussars of Czekler
then stationed in the vicinity Of Or.
sova, in Hungary. In village near
the army Gypsy had taken up her
temporary abode. She was a woman
of singular and imposing appearance
who ostensibly conducted the trade
of victualler, but was much con,
suited in private as fortune teller.
Ny raw soldiers, q superstitious set,
made habit of consulting her as to
their future destinies; and while |
ridiculed their motives, / gayly pre-
sented my hand to the prophecies.
"Tbe goth day of the month OF
August said she to me, withsa
very Insignificant air, without add
ing another syllable.
pressed her for an explanation,
but she only repeated the same
words, with the same marked GEES
ture and when / went away she
called after me, @The Goth of Au-
gust" 1t may be easily conceived
that this date remained fixed in my
memory.
We joined the army and partook
OF its dangers and fatigues. In this
war the Turks made no prisoners.
Their commanders put the price of a
ducat on our heads, and janizaries
and saphis were equally emulous to
merit the reward. This measure
was particularly fatal to our out
posts. Scarcely a night passed
without the Turks coming in search
of ducats.
Their expeditions were conducted
with so much secrecy, 5promptitude
and intelligence, that they seldom
failed and often, at break of day,
a part of our camp was guarded only
by headless trunks.
The Prince imagined, that by
sending strong pickets of cavalry
beyond the chain of sentinels, be
might protect them. These night
guards consisted of from one to two
hundred troopers bu. the Turkish
generals, irritated that their men
should be disturbed at their lucra.
tive traffic, despatched more numer-
GUS bodies against our detachments
by which means still greater profit
was reared and this service on our
part, became so fatal, that when an
officer was appointed to the COM
nand, he arranged his affairs pre-
vious to setting out, fearing he
might lose his head that night.
Things continued thus until the
month of August. Some skirmish-
ing occurred, but there was no pros
pect of a general engagement.
About week before the twenti
eth, the Gypsy, from whom l had
occasionally purchased supplies, ap-
peared before me. She entered my
tent and requested l would bequeath
her a legacy, in the event OF my
death happening on the day which
she had SO mysteriously designated
as the completion of my destiny.
She even offered to make me pres
eut of a hamper of Tokay il her pre-
diction failed. This wine was very
rare and precious.
The fortune-teller seemed TO nc
to be bereft of understanding. Ia
the situation | was placed, proxi.
mate death was not improbable, but
! had no reason to apprehend IL pre-
cisely on the twentieth.
| agreed, however, to pledge two
chargers and fifty ducats against the
Tokay, and the paymaster of the
regiment, not without hearty laugh
reduced The wager into writing.
The twentieth of August arrived,
and 1t happened to be our turn to
provide the picket. Two of my
comrades, however, had to take the
command before it fell to me. The
evening advanced and The hussars
were mounted and ready to march,
when the surgeon arrived to an
nounce the sudden and dangerous