Evening journal., 1905-04-04

wagons OF the eypsles there were four
OF them. as red and beautiful as those
Of circus caravan halted about sun
down while HE men came over a mo-
ment to scan the held. Presently they
went back and turned their wagons into
the siding and began to unhitch. Then
a lot of barcfooted children and women
under gay shawls overran the field
gathering wood and making ready for
night Meanwhile swarthy drivers
took the horses to water and tethered
them with long ropes so they could crop
the grass OF the roadside.
One tall, bony man, with a face al
most as black as that Of an Indian.
brought a big iron pot and set It up
near the water. A big stew Of beef
bone, leeks and potatoes began to cook
shortly, and / remember IL II such
goodly smell ] was minded TO ask them
for a toste Of IL. A little city of strange
people had surrounded us Of a sudden.
Uncle Eb thought OF going on but the
night was coming fast, and there would
be no moon, and we We're fo0tsore and
hungry. Women and children came
over to our hre after supper and made
more Of me than l liked
l remember taking refuge between
the knees Of Uncle Eb. and Fred sat
close in front Of us, growing fiercely
when they came too near. They stood
about looking down at US. and whis-
pered together, and one young miss Of
the tribe came mp and tried TO kiss
me In spite Of Freds warnings. She
had flashing black eyes and hair as
dark as the night that fell IN curling
mass upon her shoulders; but some
how, ! had a mighty fear OF her and
fought with desperation to keep my
face from the touch Of her red lips
Uncle Eb laughed and held Fred by the
collar, and l began to cry out in terror
presently, when, TO my great relief, she
let go and ran away to her own people
They all went away to their wagons,
save one young man, who was tall
with light hair and fair skin, and
who looked like none Of The other gyp.
sizes
"rake care Of yourself he whis.
pered as soon as the rest had gone,
"These are bad people You'd potter be
or"
The young man left u.s. and Uncle Eb
began to pack up at once They were
going TO bed IN their wagons when we
came away. | stool In the'basket and
Fred drew the wagon that had in It
only few bundles. A mile or more
| farther on we came 10 a lonely, desert
ed cabin close to the road. II had be
gun TO thunder in the distance, and the
wind was blowing damp.
Guess nobody lives here" said Uncle
Eb as he turned in at the sagglng gate
and began TO cross the little patch OF
weeds and hollyhocks behind it. Doors
half down, but l guess itll de better n
no house. Coin { rain sartin."
/ was nodding a little about then,
remember. but I was wide awake when
he took me out Of the basket The old
house stood on n high hill, and we
could see the stars Of heaven through
the ruined door and one OF the bach
windows. Unch Eb lifted the leaning
door a little and showed it aside. w,
heard then a quick stir in the old hous,
"a loud and ghostly rustic Il seem'
now MS / think Of it-like that made by
linen shaking on the line Uncle El
took n step backward as If 1t had star
tied him.
Guess it's nuthin' to be fraid Of" h
said, feeling In the pocket Of his coat
He had struck a match in a moment
BY it's hickering light / could see onl!
a bit OF rubbish on the floor.
"Full o. white OWLS said he, step
ping inside, where the rustling wa
now continuouss They'll do us n
harm"
could see them now flying about un
der the low ceiling. Uncle Eb gathere,
an armfu Of grass and clover in tn
near field and spread itin a corner wei
away from the ruined door and win
dows. Covered with our blanket, I
made a fairly comfortable bed. Soon a
, we had lain down the rain began to rat
) tie on the shhlxy roof and flashes Q
lightning nc every corner OF the oil
room.
have had ever n curious love o
! storms. and from the time when mem
ory began its record in my brain Il ha
! delighted me to hear at night the roa
Of thunder and see the swift play o
the lightning. / lay between Uncl
Eb ana the old dog who both wen
, asleep shortly. Less wearied, pre-
! sumo, than either Of them, FOR l ha
Z done none Of the carrying and ha
3 slept a long time that day in the shad
Of a tree. l was awake an hour g
! more after they were snoring. Ever
r flash lit the old room like the full glar
n of the MONDAY sun. l remember
4 showed me an old cradle piled full {
: rubbish, a rusty scythe hung In th
rottlng sash of a window, few length
OF stovepipe and plow in one cornC
and three staring white owls that 81
on beam above the doorway. IN
i rains roared on the old roof shortly an
: came whipping down through the ban
boards above us. A big drop struc
Q in my face and l moved a little. The
!, saw what made me hold my breat
d a moment and cover my head with Il
u shawl A fash Of lightning revealed
'e tall, ragged man looking In at the doc
5 way. lay close to Uncle Eb, imaginiu
% much evil OF that vision, but made L
Ie outcry.
II Shrugged in between my two con
panions felt reasonably secure an
y soon fell asleep. The sun, streaming