Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21

casting out their brilliant Jets to make
blacker darkness la the gardens. and many
centuries ana the monenfous history Of
the house. Ahead OF him lay the
moonlit park the giant Jews and elns,
the matchiess oaks, glades and deils, where
from the elves should come indispensable
avenues and all the beauty OF the forest
scene Gavin walked on. however. obiivious
OF the night or its wonders. He had
vague idea that he might learn something
from the rogues and vagabonds who had
followed Count O6in to Melbourne Hall.
and, with this idea indicating his path, he
came presently to the thacket beyond which
the encampment lay. There sound or
voices arrested his attention. Plainly, ne
said, a woman was speaking, and while the
surprise OF this discovery was sun upon
him the music OF g. violin, weird and echo-
ing, began to accompany the speaker In
song SO plaintve that the very spirit OF
sorrow appeared to breathe In every note
of 1t.
Gavin listened to the music spellbound.
and yet a little ashamed of his position. No
possible advantage to himself or others
would have induced him TO play an caves
troopers part at Melbourne or elsewhere.
If he fingered in the shadow of the thicket,
1t was because the music compelled MN
and he could not escape Its fascinatlons.
When the sound of the voice died away,
he turned about to come at the encamp-
ment by another road; and then he became
aware for the first time that he did not
stand there alone. pair OF black eyes,
SHINING lh9 Il cat . III the uttI AooNSo
up at him 1t were from his very
shoulder Returning their gaze, but NOT
without quickening pulse and some ap-
prehension of danger. he could at length
outline the figure of a man, slim and agile,
and yet not without certain grace to be
perceived even in such a light That this
fellow was one of the gypsies he had no
doubt at all. The clear nloonlit night re-
vealed the oval face. the restless eyes, the
long, tapering hands of a Romany. Gavin
remarked the hands particularly for one
of them was thrust into the bosom OF q
spotlessly white and clingng shirt-and
that hand, he said, covered the hilt Of
gypsy's knife. So 1t was to be hazardous
encounter after all. He understood too
well that II he moved so much as foot,
this gypsy would stab him.
why do you watch u.s. sir?
The English was execrable, but the
meaning quite plain. Gavin answered as
abruptly:
II am listening to your music
The gypsy, utterly lost In his attempts
to continue in tongue of which he knew
SO little. stammered for an instant and then
asked curtly:
do you speak German, sir?'
Possibly as well as you do have been
three years in that excellent country
please to tell me who you are. then.
and why you come to his excellency's
house,
Gavin laughed at the lnnpertlnence of it.
Speaking in fluent German. he said:
Il might very well put that question to
you. Shall say then, that | am not here
to answer your questions. Come, we had
better be frank with each other. I may he
able to help YOU
This was new idea to the gypsy, and one
that caused him some perplexity little
reflection convinced him that the stranger
was right.
Very WE'LL he said. I'VE will talk about
1t. Come to my tent and Djala shall make
us coffee. Why not be friends? Yes we
might help each other. as you say Let us
talk first and then quarrel.
He led the way through path of the dell.
powdering the ground with the gold dust
OF wild flowers as he went. The e:ncamp-
ment had been enlarged considerably since
Evelyn discovered it on the gypsies first
coming to Moretown. There were no less
than seven tents and the biggest of these
the one to which Gavin's guide now con-
Quoted him, had been furnished with lavish
generosity. Old silver lamps from the hall
cast warm. soft light upon the couches
and rugs about: there were old tapestries
hung against the canvas; tables glittering
with silver ornaments; buffet laden with
bottles and silver boxes. But the chief orn-
anent was Djala, little Hungarian girl.
and such a perfect picture of wild beauty
that Gavin stared at her amazed.
Here is Djala,' the guide said, with a
gesture of his hand toward her. Il am
own as Zallony's SON. His excellency
Taay have spoken of me-"
II know nothing said Gavin simply
Permit me to tell the young lady that she
has a charming voice. I have never heard
1T is the music of nation OF musicians,
sir. Please to sit down. Djala will serve
us cigarettes and coffee
The girl laughed pleasantly, showing a
row OF shining white teeth and evidently
understanding that n compliment had been
paid her by the stranger. When she had
served the coffee and cigarettes, she ran
away with coquette's step and they heard
her singing outside to the soft accompani-
ment Of a either. Zalony's son smoked
meanwhile with the contemplattve silence
OF the oriental; and Gavin, waiting for him,
would not be the first to break the truce
80 you have been in Germany. sir?"
II was there three years" said Gavin.
You know Bucharest, 1t may be?"
Not at all. though ladys book was on
the point OF sending me to the Carpath-
ians."
You should go and see my country: IT is
the finest in the world
II will take care to do on the earliest
opportunity
Make friends with my people and they
will be your friends. We never forget, sir
That is why I am here in this English
country, because we never forget"
The best of qualities. They tell
me that your father was his excellency's
friend in Roumania many years ago"
The gypsy looked at him questioningly.
ers OF the hills. when the houses burned
and the women ran from the soldiers then
men said it is Zallony and the English lord.
There was another with them. He is in
Sir, ! come to England to give him lib
erty.'
Gavin was greatly interested He drain
ed the little cup of coffee, and, filing a
pipe slowly. he said:
What forbids your SUGGEST"
Zallony's son looked him straight In the !
face.
"A lady known to us-she may forbid
it, SIR
You cannot mean the Lady EVELYN"
we will not speak of names. You have
her confidence. Say to her that when she
IS false to my friend Count Odin, Will
kill her.
But that is nonsense What has she
TO do with 1t? Your affair Is with the
earl, her father. Why do you speak of
herr"
Because there is only one door by which
my fathers friend can win his liberty Let
Georges Odin's son marry an English
woman and my government will release
him
THAT Is your view Do you forget his
excellency's influence? Why should he not
petition the government at Bucharest for
this mans liberty?'
Because, in that case, his own life would
be in danger. We are people that never
forgets l have told you So If Georges
Odin were at liberty, he would cross the
world to find his enemy. That is our ma