The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-07


Dear Aunt and Uncle" wrote the high
spirited girls, Edna being the scribe I'VE
know you are angry with us. We take
that for granted, and therefore make
haste to apologize once for all, for our
shortcomings, and to keep you informed of
our doings. On Monday morning. when
you gave us leave to go out walking to-
gether, we jumped into Il cab and drove to
Putney, where our gypsy cart was in read
mess. 1t is the most charming cart i'm
aginable. Originally 1t was built for a
family of basketmakers, who could not
afford to pay for it, so Glare and / became
the purchasers.
'Of course we are a little cramped for
room, but, fortunately, we made SOL
emn compact with each other before we
came away to limit ourselves to two gowns.
Our attire is most picturesque and, we
f1atter ourselves, highly becoming. It
consists of a short serge petticoat a
bright-colored shawl pinned round the
shoulders, and flaming red handkerchief
tied over our heads. We bought a bottle
of walnut juice, and have stained our faces.
We look the gypsy to perfection-at least,
so we are vain enough to imagine; besides,
when water is scarce, which fortunately
has not yet proved the case, the walnut
juice may come in very convenient
our cart possesses two dear little turn
up bedsteads, which are converted in
chairs. Our washing stands Joined to-
gether form the dining table-that is to
say, when we use one. AS for our patent
stove it is quite too perfect, being so
easy to cook with and to keep in order.
Indeed, we may consider ourselves very
lucky, for so far not single drawback
has attended our expedition.
I'VE have agreed to divide the work
One week Clare will look after the horse,
hobble him, fetch water from the nearest
stream or pump, and go out foragng
whilst attend to the domestic and cult
nary department; the neXt-we intend to
exchange duties. Thus we shall avoid
monotony, and hope to develop into really
useful, capable young women. l fancy l
can see Aunt smiling sarcastically, but
both Clare and | are thoroughly in earn
est. We long since came to the conclu-
sion that the great bane of a ady's life
is doing nothing, and we resolved to try
a little wholesome work by way of a
change.
Il can't tell you how delightful this free,
nomadic existence is. We go where we
like; wegstop where we like. People are
mostly very civil, for we pay our way
honestly, and they seem to take us for
superior specimens of the genus gypsy.
The worst of it is, it quite spoils one for
the stiffness and conventionality of ev-
eryday life. We don't believe we shall
ever care for dressing up and going to
parties again. Viewed from our cart, po-
lite society appears very frivolous and ar
tificial. Never was there a better way of
seeing the country than this.
Glare had a veritable inspiration when
she first suggested the plan, more in
fun than in earnest. For the first time
we are beginning to thoroughly appre-
ciate the beauties of our native land At
night We pull up in some quiet lane, where
there is plenty of grass for old JACKIE to
eat, and sleep the sleep of the just.
I'VE never feel the least lonely. To be-
gin with, the nights are heavenly, and little
Dodo is as good as dozen policemen. She
barks furiously every time she hears a
footstep and invariably gives warning of
any strangers approach.
Talking of strangers, we were accosted
by two such nice ones this afternoon.
must tell you that our tent is now pitched
about mile and a half from the town of
Guildford. We were very audacious, for
we camped just outside the gates of a
most lovely park Clare, being of an in
quisitive turn of mind, at once made in
quiries regarding the owner and learnt
that 1t belonged to one Sir Arthur Coch-
rane, who lives there great part of the
year with his cousin, Mr.. Lionel Treherne
You have heard of the latter, of course
He is the young artist who painted that
exquisite picture, "Birches in a breeze
which made such a sensation in this years
academy. and which was bought by the
queen Well, we had turned JACKIE out
to grass, lighted our fire by the roadside
and were just brewing ourselves a cup of
tea, when 10 and behold. two very smart
good-looking young men issued from the
park gates. One was fair, the other dark
l thought the former the handsomest,
Glare admired the latter.
you know already how plainly we are
dressed. Nothing is further from our de-
reason or other, these strange gentlemen
stared at us in the most disconcerting
fashion"
Just what might be expected" snorted
Mrs. Ferguson, in parenthesis.
after they had passed." continued the
writer, I'VE overheard the dark one say to
his companion, by Jove, Arthur, what
remarkably pretty girls. wonder If they
are going to stay here any time. I would
give the world TO get them to sit as mod
els for my picture Of the 'Romany Encamp-
ment.'
why don't YOU ask them?' returned
the other, whom we at once concluded
was Sir Arthur Cochrane.
"They walked on little way, and Clare
and ! entered into consultation
Clare, | said, what answer shall
we give If Mr.. Treherne actually asks
us to sit for him.?
1t would only be in the cause of Art
Sne Responded showing DOln nef ulmpleS.
Wen say yes" then. / rejoined
lust for the fun Of the thing. One need
not be conventional when one goes for a
jaunt I'm a gypsy cart and we are quite
old enough to take care OF ourselves. Only
mind, Clare, don't let them know who
we are. for that would spoil all and
introduce an element of constraint at
once
Five minutes had hardly gone by when
the two gentlemen retraced their foot
steps, and, coming to a dead halt before
our bonfire, began TO enter into CONVEX
sation. No doubt Il was very improper,
but then that was just what made 1t so
nice Here was am experience quite OUT
slice the ordinary groove Clare and
kept up our parts splendidly by Insisting
on telling the strangers their fortunes.
Needless to say, we married them both
off, We told Mr. Treherno, who Is dark.
that there was a fair girl. with laugh
ing blue eyes and dimpled cheeks, await
ing for him, whilst to the auburn-haired
Sit Arthur we assigned a black-browed
beauty. To make a long story short we
promised to sit for Mr.. Treherne. lie is
coming to paint us tomorrow exactly as
we Qre--Walnut Juice. and all He saws We