Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-05-05

ing twilight gloom, deep, cool. In.
penetrable. Hidden brooks hnlNeo
over moss aud pebbles Bird songs
sounded through the stiffness as clear
~ sweet as silver flutes
Suddenly a turn Of the road DfousA'
the gypsy camp into view. some three
or fonr tents pitched IN meadow
against background Of birch and tir
In the foreground by a huge plack
coIdron sat weather beaten bag. Der
black mantle falling about her IL
witchlke folds, her piercing eyes gaz
Ing out from under shay of grizzly
locks
Other picturesque figures appeared
nj the tent doors-a dark, somber look
ing man smoking a long pipe and two
comely Romany girls tinkling with
metal chains and earrings
"Fasclnatingw whispered Miss Far
ney.
The weather beaten crone left her
seat by the FIRE and hobbled forward
simultaneously Graham and Aldrich
tossed her a coin with which to cross
Miss Farney's hand. she picked up
the money, looked at the givers mar
rovly and then bent to her task.
what a Romany reads had best be
read alone" she muttered, with a
, twist of her thin lips.
Aldrich laughed
81 guess we can take hint, eh,
Graham?" he cried, and the two men
strolled toward the tents and waited.
1t was as much as FIVE minutes before
Hndegarde and her aunt Joined them,
Hildegarde quite pale and Miss Norris
with furrow between her brows. II
/ have always said there was something
weird about gypsies," said Miss Nor
ris, "and that old woman's knowledge
is actually uncanny."
AS to what the fortune teller had
read. Hildegarde would say nothing,
and on the way home she was strange.
~ silent. 1t was sunset when the mo-
tor reached her door. The sea was
tinted with rosy light, and gulls were
lowering inland. AS Percy Graham
helped her aunt up the steps with
ostentatious care Hiidegarde turned to
( Aldrich
Bobby" she breathed, forgive mel
There never was and never will be
any one but you"
Aldrich's hand closed over hers hard.
"Shall ! bring round the car at 81
! said Percy Graham
Thanks, no. have another engage
ment," said Hildegarde sweetly
And the self satisfied owner of three
millions would have been amazed at
the glance that flashed between Hide
garde and Robert Aldrich IL he had
seen it. He would have been even
more amazed had he watched young
AIdrich next morning riding of to.
ward the gypsy camp at sunrise.
| When he reached it, the old bag of
the day before was the first to catch
sight of him She was busily stufing
a grizzled wig and long black cloak
into a bullying suit case, but she left
off packing and went to meet him.
smoothing the folds Of her blue serge
suit
well" she questioned, how did it
come OFF,
THE best ever" beamed Aldrich. 81
rode over to thank you and bid you
goodby"
The old character actress laughed
II thought my palm reading would
do the work. Finest part l ever play
ed. Meg Merrilies herself couldn't have
surpassed the dark hints gave about
your rival"
Sir" cried the tragedian, pausing
In his work of taking down the tents,
"sir, your muni6cence will always he
remembered by band of strolling-I
may even say of tranded-players
who, save for it, would be walking
the ties from Brantly."
And he lightly tapped bis pocket
wherein reposed goodly number of
Aldrich's crisp greenbacks.
| AS the latter bowed and smiled and
rode away the little Dresden china
soubrette snapped the last of Der
gypsy bangles into her trunk and
closed the lid.
"An's fair in love and war" she
commented tritely. Originality beats
money every time"