Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-10-10
Gypsy Jan
BY Constance Darcy Mackay
Copyright, 1903. by Ruby Douglas

"ei was meHoWlng into autumn, thl
NJ naples were tipped with yellow, am
az In the dark recesses of the woods su
~ mac glowed with color that was al
g most hamelike. AS he walked on eli
" Their 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.
= crows cawed across the fences. Bits
= OF thistledown foated lazily 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 on its solitude when an un-
expected turn past a clump of trees
Drought him upon a camp Of gypsies.
He went forward with quickened in
terest.
They had pitched their tents in a lit
tie hollow through which a stream ran.
In the background stood canvas COW
cred wagon and half dozen lean.
tetnered horses. In the foreground
smoldered the ashes Of fire. Round
this clustered few half naked chill
dren and some wrinkled crones with
huge gilt earrings In their ears.
The men Of the camp had evidently |
gone foraging, nor were the women
SLOW to turn a penny, for one of them
called out to Clayton that she would
tell his fortune. Clayton shook his
head impatlently and went on. II he
had 1t told at all, 1t must be by some
young, black eyed girl, such a one as
ne saw approaching half a mile be-
yond the camp, tall, 1.-the creature.
who walked with the grace of those
accustomed to the open. She wore a
red skirt q white blouse falling away
from her throat and caught with a 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.
''The princess of her tribe" thought a
Clayton. a
She was playing with curious dag "
ger that she held and did not see him q
I'LL he accosted her. Then she looked u
up, startled
VIII you tell my fortune?" he que g
led, smiling, and held out his hand. ~
When 1t has been crossed with sill ~
YER" she answered, her black eyes n'
,leaming. hf
The life line Is Deep" she went on ~
quickly. You have made your way 30 30
o far, for you are ambitious and ="
Iardworking. You do not come from ~
'rierley village nor from the country
ound here. You are from the CITY. ~
ou are nearly thirty and unmarried. Ds
10 read truer she asked, with a W.
Witt upward glance. 1ei
quite true" said Clayton amusedly or
mo woman has touched your heart
Ut there Is one who soon will" An'
Dark or fairT TOO
"Dark-and very wealthy. You will :,
e her this afternoon at 4 o'clock"
We'll, I'm glad I'm warned" said I.ia :,
ayton, with a laugh. How long -
We you been hereT nodding In the
-ection of the camp. =,
She shrugged her shoulders.
How can 1 tell? A few days-a .ne'
Eek maybe. We gypsles do not meas Wv
3 time" 'eiii
was
And what Is your manner" -,
JAM" she answered, turning on her a. a.
Il with the Indifference Of queen. ~ 49,. :,
W that she had told his fortune she ~ =
med anxious to be gone. %
A mercenary young wretch, like the -"
OF Them" murmured Clayton, %,
king after her. 'raci
hat afternoon ho .+o,, vers
village. The season was over. and nv
we're the bandsomo nrivoto oot $3.50 denl!
q few whose owners ,,ro,o,.s. a. hot '
Try of solitude. Inc
rden, the summer home of Award vi III
copper king, was still open, Miss sro"
ard, 1t was said, caring more for seem
stables and kennele thor for 80 unde
?. very
Clayton passed n adm,r,no ,+s Ing
lawn and we'll kept flower beds arour
lart trap came down the driveway. track
sat a girl dressed In white C,ov- the la
'ould not see her face, for she held don [
% parasol to screen her eyes, but
ted the patrician poise of her head.
ney ratified past him with a CAV Sir
ing Of silver harness the coach head
turned In answer to some cues in Ca
led tc
=, 80" CLOCK miss Aiyard," to an
49, 80, ".n enuSily' late A
III for being foolish enough to - 80,
a gypsy's prophecy. And yet 'iu'ii
respect was allurIng-a rich wife anu
money to pursue his studies in by the
untrammeled, for, though Clay did
name was beginning to be known quin
worlo OF architecture, 1t had potent
r Ta ngntlns every step Of the piled,
-, s,a, "om ne was hot free from one."-
lai difficulties, and instead Of put
p at the luxurious country club
was still open to visitors he
oused in farm at the village Spid
rts creatul
whether the gypsy had read his found
uly or not. there was something Of spit
ENG and mysterious about her with oil
~ Uo uuu next Gay ne went asa,o occupie
In vain he questioned the old CO !"
10 had offered to tell his fsrtu-e oonieIi
, before. She declared tbcre VINO tered
ch person and called on , only Ii
y devil-may-care young fellow they 81
unged close by to confirm her in prey Il
The said. some o,
ne reiterated. mo Jan Is approac