Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-10-24

0laNlOu StTuck OH lfOln the WOOu
path he had been following to the main
road. He had chosen the end Of Sep
TENDER for his vacation. Already sum-
mer was mellowing into autumn, the
naples were tipped with yellow, and
In the dark recesses of the woods su-
mac glowed with a color that was al
most fiamelike. As he walked on ell
ther hand stretched fields OF alternate
stubble and green grass, starred here
and there by patches Of goldenrod or
slender purple asters. Fall sounds
were In the air. Late crickets chirped.
of thistledown HoAted lastly In the
morning sunlight. Except for occa-
sional farmhouses standing By the
way or a passing team. the road was
deserted. and Clayton was musing
pleasantly OH its solitude when an un-
expected turn past a cfuup of trees
brought him upon a camp Of gypsies.
He went forward with quickened In
terest.
rChey had pitched their tents In q lit
tie hollow through which . stream ran.
In the background stood a canvas Gov
cred wagon and half dozen lean,
tethered horses. In the foreground
smoldered the ashes of a fire. Round
this clustered a few half naked chill
dren and some wrinkled crones with
huge gilt earrings In their ears.
1.-THE men OF the camp had evidently
hn m
slow TO turn a penny, for one of them
called out TO Clayton that she would
tell his fortune. Clayton shook his
head impatientiy and went on. II he
had IL told at all, II must be by some
young, black eyed girl. such a one as
he saw approaching half mile be-
yond the camp, a tall, 1.-the creature,
who walked with the grace of those
accustomed to the open. She wore
red skirt, q white blouse falling away
from her throat and caught with bit
Of dull yellow that matched her girdle.
One sleeve was torn, and her arm
showed through, dusky and rounded.
Her dark hair was twisted with what
looked to be scarlet beads, but which
upon nearer inspection proved to be
rose fruit strung on grass.
1.-THE princess of her tribe" thought
Clayton.
She was playing with a curious dag
ger that she held and did not see him
till he accosted her. Then she looked
up, startled.
"WfM you tell my fortuneT' he que
ried, smiling. and held out his hand.
"When It has been crossed with sill
YER" she answered, her black eyes
cleaning.
THE life line is deep" she went on
quickly. You have made your way
so far, for you are ambitious and
Woodworking. You do not come from
Brierley village nor from the country
round here. You are from the city.
You are nearly thirty and unmarried.
DO / read true" she asked, with q
swift upward glance.
"Quite true" said Clayton amusedly.
mo woman has touched your heart,
but there is one who soon will"
Ozark or fair?'
"Dark-and very wealthy. You will
see her this afternoon at 4 o'clock"
"Well, I'm glad I'm warned" said
Clayton, with laugh. How long
have you been hereT' nodding in the
direction of the camp.
She shrugged her shoulders.
How can / tell? A few days-a
week maybe. We gypsies do not meas
ure time. ~ ----..O.
"And what is your nameT
"Jan," she answered, turning on her
heel with the Indifference Of queen.
Now that she had told his fortune she
seemed anxious to be gone.
"a mercenary young wretch, like the
rest of them" murmured Clayton.
looking after her.
the village. The season was over, and
most Of the large hotels were closed.
So were the handsome private cottages,
save few whose owners preferred the
luxury of solitude.
Arden, the summer home OF Alyard,
the copper king, was still open. Miss
Alyard, IL was said. caring more for
her stables and kennels than for So
ciety.
AS Clayton passed 1t, admiring Its
green lawn aud well kept flower beds,
a smart trap came down thefdrfveway.
Ia II sat girl dressed In white. Clay
ton could not see her face. for she held
a lace parasol to screen her eyes, but
he liked the patrician poise OF her head.
As they ratified past him with gay
clankiag OF silver harness the coach
man turned in answer to some ques-
ton.
Its exactly o'clock, Miss Alyard.
he said deferentially.
Clayton started and then laughed at
himself for being foolish enough to
mind gypsy's prophecy. And yet
the prospect was alluring--a rich wife
and money TO pursue his studies in
Paris untrammeled. for though Clay
toms name was beginning to be known
I'm the world OF architecture. IL had
been hard fighting every step of the
way. Even now lie was not free from
financial difficulties. and instead Of put
ting up ut the luxurious country club
which was still open to visitors he