Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-09-11
The GypSy'S
Daughter ~
By paALLEY YALE CURTIS.


~
~ wish it,
But am so tired, mamma"
Eyes. yes! But see all the pennies.
Once more and I will get thee a red
scarf"
And so, inspired by that promise, the
little gypsy again broke into the strange
fantastic dance, her tiny feet in perfect
step, and time to the thrum, thrum Of
the mothers old guitar. Light as this
tie down, she glided to and fro over
the rough ground, the gypsies in their
ragged, yet artistic, garb forming pic
turesque background for the beautifully
gowned women and their rich escorts,
who crowded about the little dancer.
To the casual observer the child was
an enigma, seeming to possess two ma
lures in one, while. to the keener mind.
the solution was found as one turned
from the sweet, pure face of the mother
to the father, handsome, yet crafty.
The eldn child was in fact the fitting
issue OF SO strange union.
AS the visitors left the camp, the ia
Their, in reply to a sign from one of the
gentlemen, followed to turn Of the
road, where, the dingy tents, no longer
visible, the gentleman. bidding the rest
of the party drive on, called the man
to him"
1.-THE child is yours?" he inquired.
mime"
"How old is she?'
"Six years."
"Who taught her to dance and sing?"
Like me she dance, the song come
from the mother"
"Ah! So thought And she resem-
bles you both?"
why you ask"
Because I desire to know. Come,
tell me all; you will not lose by It."
commanded the gentleman, using, as he
believed, the strongest persuasion.
Listen. Before Leah born the moth
er love me much. One day the queen
tell her something I want her not to
know. When I come home she turn
from me. DO not touch me, hate you.'
she said; the queen tell me ALL and
laugh and say: All, so the queen talk;
some day she talk no more-but do not
hate me or your child be like me- And
again laugh, and that night the queen
die and Leah born.
Half love, half hate is Leah; that
way she be till I die. The stars have
told it. When I die she be like the
mother always. Till then she be as you
see her now, part heaven, part hell"
AS the gypsy ceased speaking, the gen.
tleman turned towards him with an ex-
preston of decision: Would you like
to sell your daughter"
Sell herr" returned the man.
Eyes, sell her. You need money"
Eyes, much. But the mother need
~
well, don't tell her; steal her away.
She'll get over it in time"
mo, never, never" answered the
gypsy, shaking his head.
Look here!" commanded the gen.
tleman. tonight after all are asleep
bring Leah to me; you know the place.
l will have a paper for you to sign re-
linquishing all right to the child, and
in return I give you 81 .000."
Zone THOUSAND doliars?" echoed the
man in low. half-doubting tone.
Yes. 81 900; it's lot of money"
Eyes, lot" the man hesitated. With
IT he knew he could be chief of the tribe,
a position he had long coveted. And yet
he felt it would kill the mother.
'Well?" interrogatively.
eyes, bring her tonight It be as
you say. I promise And the gypsy
turned back to the little camp.
Shortly after midnight a man with a
child closely clasped In his arms walked
hurriedly along one Of the great boule-
wards of the city. AS he neared a hand
some residence. in the window of which
a soft light burned. he paused. then
creeping softly to side door. he gave
a low knock: the door opened and the
man with the child entered.
Lay her there" was the command
of the gentleman, pointing to q low
couch The man complied.
The door opened and the man was
gone, leaving his little one asleep In
the rich room: while on bleak hill
side a mother slept, her arm thrown
over the coverlet, seeming to hold with
In its clasp q little child
''You said. monsieur. the child could
sing?"
Like an angel. Come. Leah, the pro-
tsssor wishes to try your voice"