The Somerset reporter., 1906-10-04
Gypsy: Jan
BY Constance darcy MAckay
Copyright, 1905, by Ruby Douglas

Clayton struck off from the wood
path he had been following to the main
road. He had chosen the end of Sep
TENDER for his vacation. Already sum-
mer was mellowlng into autumn, the
naples were tipped with yellow, and
In the dark recesSes of the woods SUI
mac glowed with color that was al
most flamelke. AS he walked on Ell
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 chlrped.
Crows cawed across the fences. Bits
of thistledown toated lazily in the
morning sunlight. Except for occa-
sional farmhouses standing by the
way or u passing team, the road was
deserted, and Clayton was muslng
pleasantly on its solitude when an I'M
expected turn past a clump of trees
brought him upon a camp Of gypsies.
He went forward with qulckened in
terest.
They had pitched their tents In lit
tie hollow through which stream ran.
In the background stood a canvas COW
cred wagon and a 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.
THE men of the camp had evidently
gone foraging, nor were the women
slow to turn penny, for one of them
called out to Clayton that she would
tell his fortune. Clayton shook his
head impatiently and went on. If he
had it told at all, it 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, a white blouse falling away
from her throat and caught with n 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
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
"Will you tell my fortune?" 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
Brlerley village nor from the country
round here You are from the city.
You are nearly thirty and unmarried.
DO | read true?' she asked, with
swift upward glance.
"Qute true" said Clayton amusedly.
mo woman has touched your heart.
but there is one who soon will"
Ozark or fair?"
Ozark very wealthy, You will
see her this afternoon at O'clock"
"Well, I'm glad I'm warned" said
Clayton, with laugh. How long
have you been here?" noddlng In the
direction of the camp.
She shrugged her shoulders
"How can | tell? A few days-a
week maybe. We gypsles do not meas
ure time"
"And what Is your nameY
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 We're closed
SO were the handsome private cottages,
save a few whose owners preferred the
luxury of solitude.
Arden, the summer home of Alyard,
the copper king. was still open, Miss
Alyard, it was said, caring more for
her stables and kennels than for so
clety.
AS Clayton passed it, admlring its
green lawn and we'll kept flower beds
a smart trap came down the driveway.
In it sat a 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 polse Of her head.
AS they ratified past him with gay
clanklng of silver harness the coach
man turned In answer to some ques.
ton.
"It's exactly 4 o'clock, Miss Alyard,"
he said deferentinlly.
Clayton started and then laughed at
himself for being foolish enough to
mind a gypsy's prophecy. And yet
the prospect was alluring-a rich wife
and money to pursue his studies in
Paris untrammeed, for though Clay