The Bowbells tribune., 1905-01-13


had an arm about her shoulders as
they came forward into the light
We'll, what's this?" asked the elder
| man, as he stopped before the way
farers. Cant honest gypsy folk set
tie down anywhere these days without
| intruders comm along-folks that
'aven't no right"
BE quiet, Neal" broke in the WON.
an. sharply. You'd turn your own
flesh and blood out into storm if it
served you"
Aye, an why not?" rctorted the
man. ITS precious little I've ever got
out of my own flesh an blood, that
should be so mighty particular about
them. What's to do ere?"
AS Prof. Tapney stood up, with a
bow. to explain the circumstances, the
young girl released herself from her
brothers. arm and came forward quick
~ toward Grace stopped. shyly for a
moment, and IL .. ben, down towards
her.
"My dear low-Bohcmians. said
the professor, taking Off his hat. and
revealing the startling effect OF his
Uranium. lin the name OF Mother Ma
turc this is not an intrusion The
fields wherein. had not been born in
London. I should have sported my
youth-they belong to us all. who
choose as have done, to embrace Ma
ture. We are wanderers. AID VIC have
no money"
"Thcn you're no good to u.s." said
the man, with a surly laugh. as he
turned away.
Meanwhile the girl had assisted
Grace to rise, and had been whisper
ing encouraging words to her. Rapid
ly and earnestly. and yet. it seemed,
without any hurry, the gypsy girl had
darted to her mother. had whispered
something to her, and had gone swift
ly back to Grace. In a few minutes
Mrs. Tapney and Grace and the girl
had disappeared in the direction OF
the tents. But it has to be recorded
that. as Grace moved slowly and pain
fully away. she came for moment.
in the full light of the fire, face to face
with the young gypsy. who was ev:-
IDENTIFY the brother OF the girl. Only a
mcment-just sufficient to allow him
to pause before her and then move
aside: but sufficient. also, for the
quick blood to spring into his face
and die it crimson. Then she was
gone, and the boy stood il the fire.
light gazing after her. 1t may be said
that the idea is wild and impossible:
but. just as surely as the lad stood
there gazing after her. so surely did
he know that something had entered
into his being. never to be taken from
it while life lasted: just as surely did
he k::ow that this tall. fair. blue-eyed
girl held his life, and was to mold Il
as she would.
The professor. meanwhile. was in
nocently enough plunged into the
midst of an alteration. Strength
ened by the fact that Mrs. Tapuey
had, in sense been taken to shelter
the professor determined that he
would not be ousted; and in this de-
termination. curiousiy enough. he was
supported by the woman who had
come out with the man to meet them
Il tell YOU" said the man. looking
at him with an evil face over hurch-
ed shou!der-'T tell you we want none
of you ere. What's the likes OF you
doin' wanderin' about the country?
Tell me that
students of Nature. my good man.
merely students of Nature. and birds
OF passage. Worn and spent with i
long day upon extremely unintcresting
roads, we see. as in the story books.
camp fires cleaning in the distance:
necessarily We come to the camp
fires. Pardon me-" he added quick
ly, Ibid introduce my son? My only
son--Absalom."
Il don't want you or your son,
said the man. with an oath. Leave
us to ourselves and go your ways"
ITO BE continued.)