The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-23
LIsI&U VI.
The story of II Gypsy Girl.
BY Emma A. Upper.

1t would not have happened IL Harriet
had not hurt her foot at the beginning
of the summer. She rode down a stiff
hill on her bicycle, and fell off and sprain-
ed her ankle; and if she had not she
would never have known Liskum.
1t was a settled thing that Harriet and
her younger brother, Eugene, who was
two years younger and generally consid-
cred to be a limb" should spend part of
every summer with their Uncle Thadd, a
well-off bachelor with a large country
place at Durham. He liked Harriet and
Eugene, and meant to leave them his
property.
He doesn't pay much attention to us,
you know Harriet reported to her moth
er after their first visit for he's always
buying horses and selling them, and haV-
ing the barns fixed up and driving around
in sullSies And we don't see very much
of Mrs Dyer, the housekeeper. for she's
always busy. But Uncle Thad likes hav-
ing us there. And there's Mrs. Pomeroy.
Mrs. Pomeroy lives in the next house 10
Uncle Thad's, and she's splendid
Eugene was really sorry for Harriet
when she sprained her ankle, and he stay
ed at home 10 amuse her during the entire
half day. Then he grew adgety and that
afternoon he was off again.
He came back at supper time. SAY
he announced, there's a band of Gyp-
sizes camped down by the bend. I've been
down there"
10" said Harriet, IT never saw any real
Gypsies. What are they like?"
They're jolly. A lot of men and wo-
men, and some kids and horses and dogs.
| got acquainted with one girl. and she's
smart, tell you"
Il wish l could go and see them.
can't; l can't do anything. Oh, dear!'
said Harriet doefuly.
Eugene compassloned her; and his COM
passion bore fruit. The next afternoon,
when Harriet had limped out OF doors,
with Uncle Thads help, and was sitting
under the great maple with Mrs Pomeroy
who had come over with a good story to
read to her-the next afternoon, Eugene
who had disappeared after dinner, came
clamberng over the back fence, And
somebody climbed over after him, with
quite as much agility.
Here's Liskum," Eugene called out;
there's the girl / got acquainted with at
the gypsy camp. Liskum, this Is Mrs.
Pomeroy and my sister Harriet"
20. goodw said Harriet, with unmixed
delight.
my dear child" said Mrs. Pomeroy, in
motherly welcome. Mrs. Pomeroy, in
spite of the fact that she had no children
of her own, was very motherly
"Liskum-is that your name?' said
Harriet "Liskum whatP
Just Liskum," said the girl.
"And you are gypsy?" said Harriet
with increasing wonderment
Il guess / am" said Liskum. She
dropped herself lightly on the grass at
Mrs Pomeroys feet and lifted a gaze of
liveliest interest.
aren't you sure?" said Harriet. What
a nice looking girl for a gypsy was her
thought and she knew Mrs. Pomeroy was
thinking the same thing. The girl. who
might have been 10 years old, was a
graceful child, with a pretty sunburned
face, thick, dark hair, and blue eyes,
which could change swiftly from sober
scrutiny to smiling brightness.
"Well, l wasn't a gypsy always" she
answered.
What were your" said Harriet.
"Why Just a girl" said Liskum, and
they all laughed together.
"She had a grandmother once" said
Eugene, land she lived with her"
you do not mean" said Mrs. Pomeroy
anxiously, that you were stolen by the
gypsies?"
I.iskum shook her head mo, but we
were poor, and my grandmother died. and
then / was all alone, and there wasn't
any body that wanted me. and the gyp-
sizes were there, and when they went away
they took me, and after that / was a
gypsy" said the girl. ITS been good
while four years or five"
Poor child" Mrs. Pomeroy murmured.
poor homeless child. DO you like living
with the gypsies?"
I.iskum looked off at the sky. Pretty
good" she said, rather feebly.
"DO you have plenty TO eat?" Harriet
asked.
aREoeft,y aatd ialyup1
an bet It amt clean, though" said
Eugene. II saw 'em cooking their din
ner yesterday"
mot clean" Mrs Pomeroy sighed. She
bent down to slip a kind hand under the
girls chin and to lift her face and to look
into her eyes. Are they good to your"
she questioned her.
Liskum opened her mouth 10 speak.
and she closed IT, Her eyes dropped, and
her lips trembled
Poor child! said Mrs. Pomeroy again.
Uncle Thad came riding out of the sta
Bile on Humbert, the handsome riding horse
he had bought lately. And Eugene cast
at him a puckery look. Eugene was ex-
ceedingly DESTROYS OF having a ride on
Humbert. but his uncle had forbidden him.
for Humbert was young and mettlesome.
Uncle Thad refined up oposlte the group
and looked down quizzically at Liskum.
Hello" he said, whats this?'
IA young lady from the Gypsy
camp" Eugene explained, and Uncle Thad
looked and laughed. His laughter was not
unkind. but Liskum looked awed and
startled. and when Humbert had pranced
off, she rose
Mrs Pomeroy patted her brown cheek
Come again, my child" she said.
DO come again" said Harriet, and Lis
KUN promised And Eugene went back
part way to the camp with her, CALAMITY.
Harriet remembered the Ggypsy girl. She
sat under the maple, the next afternoon,
and wondered II Liskum would come again
and when Eugene came past she asked
him whether he thought she would.
40" said Eugene, they went off. this
morning, the whole lot of them. That's
how Gypsies always do-go Off sudden"
30. dear! And she won't come again )"
Harriet mourned, in a misery of genuine
disappointment. She was so greatly taken
aback by the news that she failed to no
tice how fast and with what a furtive
manner. Eugene was hurrying toward the
stable
OF sudden he reappeared. "Eugenew
Harriet gasped for Eugene was mounted