Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-05-05
By
Tom Gallon
CHAPTER vl.-(continued.)

IKE LnOSe haven't 1 SuHered enough
in being cast out of my tribe for we'd
ding you, that you should forget gypsy
laws and gypsy ways? An Ormany
may do it-but | won't, though | bear
your name. These people are wei
come" she added, with a majestic
GESTURE, as though she were welcoming
them to a palace. "Will"-she turned
to the young man quickly-"you at
least know what to do; attend to these
people"
So the professor. highly delighted
at the prospect of new experiences,
disappeared with his Sol into the
darkness and was swallowed up in a
tent-an abode which he found so ex-
tremely warm on such a night that he
might have been seen, a little later
on, lying on his back within Ii, but
with his great head outside exposed
to the air, the better to enable him to
breathe. And SO. watching the stars
for a little, he presently fell asleep,
happily enough.
Not every one In the gypsy camp
slept soundly that night. The brother
and sister did not, at least; for the
brother restlessly walked Unnecessary
rounds about it, as If he feared anoth-
er invasion.
Presently, in his restless wander
ings, he came to the tent wherein
Grace lay, and found at the door of 1t
his sister sitting with her arms on
hAr Hnnnc onJ har ahfp vACtinn ON hnr
hands.
"Is that you, WHIP" she asked,
raising her eyes to the figure in the
darkness.
Eyes. LYDIA he whispered in reply.
Then, after moving about restlessly
for a moment or two, he came back.
His voice sounded harsh and unnatur-
al.
"why Ices she come here?" he
asked.
There must have been some strange
and subtle understanding between the
brother and sister, for the girl seemed
quite I o understand the extraordinary
question. She glanced for a moment
into the tent, and then, looking up at
the boy spoke in a hushed voice.
why does anyone come here?" she
said. "Out of the great world that
lies all about us, and into which we
only go in our dreams, all sorts of peo-
Pile must come into our lives and dis
appear again. / see hat you under
stand, Will, what | have felt myself
to-night-that this girl does not come
TO us to fit away again and leave US
untouched: she comes for some other
purpose we don't understand-doesn't
she?"
The boy did not answer for a mo-
ment; he stood moodily looking out
over the trees, and evidently think
ing deeply. At last he turned to the
girl.
Lydia, you are wise. like our moth
er. in all that the best of our race ever
knew" he said, solemnly. "You can
read what another would 0 under
stand; look into my eyes, little sister.
and tell me what she is to be to me-"
He had dropped on his knees before
her, and the two young faces were
very close. The girl looked calmly
into his eyes for a long minute. and
then slowly shook her head.
II can't read that, Will" she re-
piled, slowly. Il told o long ago
that it is written clearly in your hand.
and in the cards. and in the stars.
that a woman-not of our race-shall
come into your life. But she means
harm. Will, when she comes. am
praying, dear, that she may not have
come tonight"
"why, what harm could she bring
to me?" asked the boy. with a little,
short laugh. 1T is a good face; what
wrong could there be in it?"
IL don't know don't know" said
the girl, hurriedly. IL try to believe,
sometimes, Will, that all l have been
taught is wrong and means nothing;
and yet so much of it comes true. To-
night, too, I feel that something has
happened-something has come out of
the darkness, as 1t were. to disturb
our lives"
But why should you think that this
woman has anything to do with us?"
asked the boy. "A stranger-fainting
by the side OF the road-and coming
to us for shelter: what Is there in
that?"
Twill, listen to me q moment" sho
whispered. catching him by the arm.
and at the same time looking round
towards the tent In the doorway OF
which she sat. When she fell asleep
Just now she lay quite calmly. with
n hand stretched out beside her.
The palm was uppermost; by the light
Of the lamp I read 1t; you know 1t
would be like an open book to me"
Il know. Go on" said the boy,
gently.
"She has come q long. long journey
from far across the other side Of the
world. That Is nothing; It Is the otn-
or part that puzzles me. She IL very.
very rich. according to ono thing in
her palm; according to another, she
hasn't . penny. According to 10
thing in her hand she Is as safe a. any
one q be from disaster: according
to another, she Il In peril OF death.
What does It all meant"
~You have not read The signs care