Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-04-28
CHAPTER VI.
Lydia Tells Fortunes.

yS'N hS'S e'fN
Grace opened her eyes upon a GU
rious scene-curious, that is, after the
first moment or two. For it happened
that the first thing she saw was the
professor squatting upon his launches
with his huge head on one side gazing
at her with much concern. Her head
lay upon the ample, kindly bosom of
Mrs. Tapney, and the arms of that
lady were about her. Standing up
right, in the light of a fire upon the
ground, was Enoch Flame, with arms
folded, looking from under his shaggy
eyebrows down at her.
The curious scene upon which
Grace's eyes were fixed when she
came to consciousness was behind
the professor. First, a fire made upon
the bare ground, with a great pot
slung over it on a tripod of three
sticks; beyond that the dark outline
of some rudely fashioned tents; and
beyond those again a caravan OF two
and some carts. The Pickering fire
lighted up a circle in the heart of the
night, and beyond that circle were to
be seen the shadowy forms of trees,
gradually merging into the darkness.
"Ah,!" exclaimed the professor, with
a sigh OF satisfaction, as Grace opened
her eyes. Never have | seen a lady
smile upon me-if Mrs. Tapney will
excuse the expression-with so much
pleasure as at this moment. Do not
move; the breast against which o
lean has ever been a refuge for those
in sorrow or in need. Let me assure
you further that you are with friends;
and that you are, furthermore, in the
great and splendid Republic of Bo-
hemia."
at might be better, Daniel, If you
didn't exercise your brain so much
when anybody is in a weak state Of
health" suggested Mrs. Tapney.
Your words always seen 20 want a
lot Of digesting, somehow, my dear.
It's all right" she added to Grace;
hes not anything like so wicked as
he looks in this light; he's the mildest
OF men. Rather lucky we found you,
wasn't it,"
II must have tainted" said Grace.
1T has been a long, long way, and the
road seemed endless. Where are
we?'
"In the most romantic fashion, my
dear young lady" broke in the pro-
fessor, I'VE have dropped into the
heart, as 1t were, of a gypsy encamp-
ment. l was on the point of observ-
ing to Mrs. Tapney-that Is Mrs. Tap
ney against whom you are leaning; a
woman in a thousand was just OBJ
serving. or about to observe, to Mrs.
Tapney that we must be prepared to
lie down, locked in each others arms.
by the roadside. to wait with a child
like faith until those birds which re-
fuse to be stuffed should cover us
with leaves, in a sudden accession of
very unbirdlike remorse, when we
found you. and found this place. Here
are people," he added, who have ap-
parently taken a short lease OF the
establishment, for a day or two, who
will explain more fully where you are
and who they are. and all about it."
Out from the shawods q group of
figures was ADVANCING picturesque
enough group. in the Pickering light
OF the fire. First came a tall, elderly
woman, clad in black. and with a
bright-colored handkerchief draped
about her throat, and with her fine
gray head bare to the night. Walk
ing beside her was a tall man-elderly
like herself, and with a face that
would have been handsome but that
the eyes were deep set and were rath-
or too close to = long, thin nose.
which came down too far g q
straight mouth. with thin, bIoodless
lips, The face itself ended in a weak.
undetermined chin. For the rest, the
man was tall and strongly built. and
Of that swarthy complexion which
showed cle,lrly enough the race to
which he belonged.
Out Of the rest OF the group might
be singled two other figures: that Of 4
young girl with dark hair. massed
about allow, broad, white forehead. and
with dark eyes shining out from q
face which. in that uncertain light
might have been the face OF Z tabled
vcod-nymph, 90 Wild and strange. and
yet 20 delicate was II. The other a.
ure VA that Of : young man-scarce-
" more thon q boY-Vhoao Harn ovoe