The Washington times., 1904-07-10

the warning words of the old witch
woman came back TO her mird.
Perhaps il was true, as Zanosa had
said, that the curse was upon all those
Of the Romany blood who had aught
TO do with others than their own peo-
pie. She was OF the ROmany race ga
zanosa had told her. and as she nou
knew. Perhaps it was the VIII OF heav-
en- that she should live and die among
her own people-a wanderer. as were
they.
She would go 70 Zanosa. The witch
woman might be able TO help her; at
least she would give her shelter for a
few days. BY that time her mind might
be clearer
She would know better what to do: al
though, FOR that matter, 1t was Of little
Importance whe- she decided upon.
Life held nothing more for her.
Even as she was repeating this to her
self her hand touched the little locket.
which she still carried in the bosom OF
her gown. She drew it out AMI locked
at 1t long and earnestly. as she had
done many times before within the past
few days.
With knitted brow and compressed
lips she studied the face OF TIE portrait
AS she gazed It seemed as though a
ball Of soaring fire was pressing upon
her brain. Her heart swelled with the
hatred she felt for this woman whom
she had never seen. She could hays
ground the locket and the portrait be-
meath her heel had she not prS.erred 70
keep IL to feed her hate.
Her breath came and went more quick
~ with the rIlsE. OF blood which she fsla
through oil her veins end which turned
her hot on the instant
1t was SO whenever she thought OF 4his
woman, whom she believed TO have
robbed her Of her lover. The passion
which had made her ell tenderness In
the old. happy days now turned back
upon itself and made her equally strpng
to hate.
It was a feeling such as onl-. the
women OF her southern race are capabie
Of experiencing.
Yesi there was one thing left In liza
for her, she told herself bitterly. That
was her hatred for this other woman
She would pray that her own anger
might not lose its strength until she
could find her. could make her feel all
the anguish that oppressed her own
heart.
go to Zanosa until she could find some
way TO travel 20 the north. Then she
would search out this Paula She would
make her suffer as she herself SUFFERED
That should be her revenge.
| Having decided upon this plan Of ac-
ton the girl promptly set out for the
cave Of the witch woman
She was transformed by the violence
|
ture was again predominant, and there
was scarcely a trace OF her former agi-
tation upon her face as she approached
the home OF the witch.
Zanosa was within. Without hesita-
ton and without explanations Anita
asked If she might come and live with
her in the cavern for a time Zanosa's
eyes sparkled with delight as she lis
tened. It was the thing for which she
had worked and hoped. At last the Ro-
many blood WIS about to claim It's own.
! She wished - esk what had brought
the girl to her decision, hut she decided
that 1t would be unwise TO do so, at
least for the present. She contented
herself with answering in her kindest
tones:
at will be my greatest delight, my
child, If you will come TO me. Ny old
limbs are growing weak with age, and
my heart is lonely II viii be q comfort
TO have you with me-
i shall be glad TO help you II l can, -
replied Anita. but 1t viii not be for
long. am going away"
For a few moments there was silence
between them. Anita busted herself
about the dim chamber. Tie witch fol-
lowed her movements with glowing
eyes.
She was thinking rapidly. The prize
she had planned TO win she could see
almost in her hands.
Anita had come to her voluntarily
But II was possible that she might
change her mind. 1t would be well TO
put It beyond her power TO reconsider
her action. If Zanosa could see her mar
ried to Brulo she would feel secure.
She turned these thoughts over in. her
mind as she watched the girl. Presently
she addressed her once more:
Listen, child" she said. ST have
lived long years upon this Rock. I have
seen many changes come over It and !
have called It home. But now II Is get
ting late IN the day of my own life. Age
is making me his prisoner. Upon the
Rock shall be no longer free. I would
return to mine own people.
why do you not come with me?
The Romany blood flows in your veins
as IL does IN mine. I am an old woman
and I have lived long enough to know
and the only freedom is in the life OF
our own kind"
Anita listened 6ttentively,
WHITTIER would you go7" she asked
when Zanosa had finished.
The witch woman appeared to reflect
for few moments. At length she said,
looking steadily at Anita:
There is a large company OF our
people whom We can find some four or
five days journey TO the north. Their
chief camp Is near Cordova, where the
land is very pleasant and whittier the
gitanos come from all parts of the cOun-
try. There we shall meet friends, and
we can consider where next TO GO"
As soon as Anita heard the word Cor
dova her mind was made up. She IN
derstood that Zanosa's anxiety 10 go to
this particular camp was probably
caused by the fact that she expected to
End Brulo there, but to Anita that was
q matter of no consequence
Cordova was the place where lived
the woman she had determined to seek
cut. zanosa's suggestion agreed ex-
actly with her own plan. AS soon as
Zsnosa ceased speaking she said quick
ly:
II will go with you-to Cordova-"