La Junta tribune., 1906-12-01
Gypsy Jan
D Constance Darcy Aaekay
Copyright. la5, by Ruby Douglas

naples were tipped with yellow. and
In the dark recesses of the woods su-
mac glowed with color that was al
most hamelike, As he walked on Ell
ther hand stretched fields of alternate
stubDle 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 tioated lazily in the
morning sunlight. Except for occa-
sional fafmhouses standing by the
way or q passing team. the road was
deserted. and Clayton was musing
pleasantly on its solitude when an IN
expected turn past a clump of trees
brought him upon a camp OF gypsies.
He went forward with quickened In
terest.
They had pitched their tents in lit
tie hollow through which a stream ran.
In the background stood a canvas COW
cred wagon and half dozen lean.
tethered horses. In the foreground
smoldered the ashes Of fire. Round
this clustered a few half naked chill
dren and some wrinkled crones with
huge gilt earrings In their ears.
'Tho 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
bead fDpatientiy and went on. II he
bad Il to1a at all. II must be by some
young. black eyed GIRL. such . one as
be saw approaching half . mile be-
yond H. camp. a tall, 1.-THE creature.
who walked with the grace OF thOss
accustomed TO the open. She wore Q
rcd skirt, o white blouse falling away
from he9 throat and caught with . bit
Of DUH yellow that matched her girile.
One sleeve was torn. and her arm
showed through. dusky and rounded
looked to be scarlet beads. but which
upon nearer inspection proved to he
rose fruit strung on grass.
The princess Of her tribe" thought
Clayton.
She was playing with a curious dag
Ger that she held aud did not see him
I'LL be accosted her. Then she looked
up. startled.
'Wiil y0u tell my fortunef' he que
ried. smiling. and held out his hand.
"when II has been crossed with ail-
ver," she answered. her black eyes
cleaning.
"The life line is deep" she went on
quickly. You have made your way
80 far, for you are ambitious and
hardworking. You do not come from
Brieriey village nor from the country
round here. You are from the city.
You are nearly thirty and unmarried
10 read trueT' she asked. with a
swift upward glance.
quite true" said Clayton amuseily.
NO woman has touched your heart,
but there Is one who soon Will"
Ozark or fairf"
"Dark-and very wealthy. You WIN
sec her this afternoon at o'clock
"weil. I'm glad I'm warned" said
Clayton. with laugh. How long
have YOU been herey' noddlns In the
direction Of the camp.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"iIJw can telll A few days-a
week maybe. We gypsies do not meas
ure Tine"
"And what Is your namef'
"Jan.- she answered. turning on her
heel with the Indifference OF a 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.
That afternoon he strolled toward
the VILLAGE. The season was over. and
most Of the large hotels were closed
So were the handsome private cottages
save a few whose owners preferred the
luxury of solitude.
Arden, the summer home Of Aiyard
the copper king. was still open. Miss
Alyard, u was said, caring more for
her stables and kennels than for so
ciety.
As Clayton passed IL. admiring Its
green lawn and well kept flower beds.
a smart trap came down the driveway.
In II sat girl dressed in white. Clay
ton couId not see her face. for she held
a lace parasol to screen her eyes. but
be liked the patrician poise Of her head.
As they ratfiei past him with a gay
clankin9 of silver harness the coach
man turned in answer to some ques-
tioH.
Its exactly O'Clock. Miss Alyard-" !"
he said deferenfially
layton startei and then laughed at
Himself for being foolish enough to
mind . gyp~y-s prophecy. And yet
the prospect was allurinz-a rich wife
and money 70 pursue his studies In
T--
tons neHe was beginning to be known
In The world cf architecture. II had
teen lard fighting every step Of the
way- Even now he was not free from
fnaDcia1 aiABcuities. and instead Of put
tins - at the luxurious country club
whicA was stH open to visitors he