Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-10-18
Gypsy Jan
By Constance darcy MAckay
Copyright 1905. by Ruby Douglas

In the dark receSSes OF the WOODS SUI
mae glowed with a color that was al
most tiamelike. 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. Fan son IS
were in the air. Late crickets ch. ed.
Crows cawed across the fences. Bits
of thistledown foated lazily in the
morning sunlight. Except for occa-
slonal farmhouse standing by the
way or "A passing team, the road vas
deserted. ANA Clayton was musing
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 quickened in
terest.
They had pitched their tents in a lit
tie hollow through which a 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 a 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 a 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 Ii told at all. ii must be by some
young, black eyed girl, such a one as
he saw approaching half a mile be-
yond the camp, a tall. 1.-THE creature,
who walked with the grace Of those
accustomed to the open. She wore a
red skirt. a 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
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.
Twill you tell my fortune" he que
Red, smiling. and held out his hand.
"When 1t has been crossed with sill
YER" she answered, her black eyes
cleaning.
1.-The life line is deep" she wen 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 a
swift upward glance.
"Quite true" said Clayton amusedly.
mo woman has touched your heart.
but there is one who 500 will"
ozark or fair?'
"Dark-and very wealthy. You will
see her this afternoon at 4 o'clock"
swell, I'm glad I'm warned" said
Clayton. with a laugh. How long
have you been hereT' nodding In the
direction of the camp.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"How can I tell? A few days-a
week maybe. We gypsies 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 a 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 Alyard.
the copper king. was still open. Miss
Alyard, 1t was said, caring more for
her stables and kennels than for so
ciety.
As Clayton passed 1t, admiring Its
green lawn and well kept flower beds.
q smart trap came down the driveway.
In II sat a girl dressed In white. Clay
ton could not see her face. for she held
Z lace parasol to screen her eyes, but
he liked the patrician poise Of her head.
Al they ratified past him with a gay
clanking Of silver harness the coach
man turned in answer to some ques-
tion.
ITS exactly 4 O'Clock. Miss Alyard,"
be said d~eferentially.
Clayton started and then laughed at
himself for being foolish enough to
mind q gypsy's prophecy. And yet
the prospect was alluring-a rich wife
and money to pursue his studies In
Paris untrammeled. for. though Clay
tons name was beginning to be known
In the world Of architecture, Il had
been hard lighting every step Of the
way. Even now he was not free from
financial dificulties, and Instead Of put-
ding up at the luxurious country club
which was sun open to visitors he
was housed IN Z farm at the village
outskirts.
But. whether the gypsy had read his
fate truly or not there was something
tantalix1ng and mysterious about her
prophecy. and next day he went again
70 the camp. Jan was nowhere In
sight. In vain he questioned the old
bag who had offered to tell his fortune
he day before. Qhe declared th.- -.