Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-15


ing q twilight gloom. deep. cool. Inn
penetFable. Hidden brooks tinkled
over moss and pebbles. Bird songs
sounded through the stiffness as clear
~ sweet as silver flutes.
Suddenly turn Of the road brought
the gypsy camp into view. some three
or four tents pitched ia a meadow
against a background OF birch and Or
In the foreground by huge black
caldron sat a weather beaten bag, her
black mantle falling about her In
witchlIke folds. her piercing eyes gaz
Ing out from under a shag OF grizzly
locks.
Other picturesque figures appeared
al the tent dOors--a dark. somber look
Ing man smoking long pipe and two
comedy Romany girls tinkling with
metal chains and earrings.
''Fasclnating!" whispered Miss Far
ney.
The weather beaten crone left hei
seat by the fire and hobbled forward
simultaneously Graham and Aldrlch
tossed her a coin with which to cross
Miss Faney's hand. She picked up
the money, looked at the glvers mar.
rowly and then bent to her task.
"What Romany reads had best be
read alone" she muttered, with a
twist OF her thin lips.
AldFich laughed.
II guess we can take a hint, eh.
Graham?" he cried, and the two men
BtrOlled toward the tents and waited.
II was as much an Ave minutes before
Hildegarde and her aunt Joined them.
Hildegarde quite pale and Miss Norris
with a furrow between her brows, II
have always said there was something
weird about gypsles." said Miss Nor.
ris. and that old woman's knowledge
Ii actually uucanny."
AS TO what the fortune teller had
read, Hildegarde would say nothing.
and on the way home she was strange
ly silent II 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 me!
There never was and never will be
any one but you"
Aldrlch's hand closed over hers hard.
"Shall ! bring round the car at So
said Percy Graham.
Thanks. no. have another engage
ment." said Hlldegarde sweetly.
And the self satisfied owner OF three
millions would have been amazed at
the glance that flashed between Hide
garde and Robert Aldrich II he had
seen It, He would have been even
more amazed had he watched young
Aldrieh next morning riding or to-
ward the gypsy camp at sunrise.
When he reached II. the old bag OF
the day before was the frst to catch
sight Of him. She was buslly stuflng
a grizzled wig and a long black cloak
into a bullying suit case, but she left
of packing and went to meet him,
smoothing the folds OF her blue serge
suit.
We'll" she questioned. "how did it
come ofrT'
u9 Heah eNefg Dehmeu AlQtlcn. II
rode over TO thank you and bid you
goodby."
The old character actress laughed.
Il thought my palm reading would
do the work. Finest part | ever play.
cd. Meg Merrilies herself couldn't have
surpassed the dark hints l gave about
your rival"
"sir," cried the tragedlan, pausing
In his work Of taking down the tents.
''sir. your muniacence win always be
remembered by band Of strolling-I
may even say OF stranded-players
who. save for It, would be walking
the ties from Brantly."
And he lightly tapped his pocket.
wherein reposed goodly number OF
Aldrlch's crisp greenbacks,
AS the latter bowed and smiled and
rode away the little Dresden china
soubrette snapped the last OF her
gypsy bangles into her trunk and
closed the lid.
"All's fair In love and war" she
commented tritely Originality beats
money every time"