The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-04
The Return
Of Gypsy.
BY ADDISON HOWARD
GIBSON.
Copyrighted, 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.

morning on the Arizona foothills the
cowboys of Circle II wheeled their
bronchos into the gray dust of the
trail.
There was a wild jangle Of spurs. a
clatter of restive hoofs; and they were
off like one of the brown whirlwinds
Of their own desert to meet Gypsy and
''the boss" who were coming to the
ranch to spend week.
They had derisively hurled "Arios,
LayneP at the bronzed young foreman
as he leaned against the corral gate.
They could not understand why he had
persistently refused to join their re-
ception committee
1t really was not the coming of Her
ington, "the boss" that was calling
forth the unusual demonstration, but
the return Of Gypsy, their little COM
rade OF the range, whom they had not
seen for four years. 1t never entered
their simple heads that two years OF
school in France, followed by two
more Of travel and society, might
have changed their merry, fun loving
little pet.
She was coming back as she had
promised-that was the dominant con-
sideration-and off they went, whoop.
ing.
Ned Layne, however, knew different
ly. He had seen her year ago, and
the knowledge had come to him then.
She was a young lady, and they-and
he-were only cowboys. As he leaned
against the gate he thought OF the old
days. He remembered her eyes and
voice on the evening before she de
parted into the world, and he remem-
bered how she had said to him:
"Goodby, Ned. Father is going 20
give you the place OF foreman. Make
the most Of your opportunities and buy
out the Bar It. Don't forget me, Ned"
and her eyes had been moist when she
suddenly dropped them.
"I'll never forget you, Gypsy" he
had promised stoutly, pressing the
hand TINT fluttered in his.
when / come home to the ranch
want you to be here to meet me-" she
added
"I'll be sure to meet you" he re-
turned. Then the train had borne her
away to the new life, so different from
that among the boys on her fathers
ranch.
Ned I.ayne and Gypsy Herington had
been great comrades In those care free
days, and II now he was the only one
not riding out to meet her IL was be-
cause he felt that those old days were
gone forever and would best be for
gotten. There should be nothing on
his part to remind her Of old promises
and old thoughts that could have no
place in her life any more.
Just year ago Layne had seen her
once Mt n great hotel in New York,
where the wealthy ranchman and his
daughter were stopping. He had gone
all the way to the far eastern city for
no other purpose than to see her, but
the result had been a sadly discourag-
ing one, and he had said farewell 10
his dreams. Gypsy. dressed In a be-
wildering gown and moving with be-
wildering ease and elegance among the
elegant throng that oppressed the
ranchman, was on her way to the
opera under escort Of an Immediately
clad young Englishman possessed Of
big title, and Layne was left 20 be
entertained by her father.
She had asked him TO come back and
breakfast with them, but her changed
bearing and the cool treatment accord
ed to him by the condescendlng noble
man had nettled Layne. He took the
very next train back TO the land Of
sunshine, where people were not proud
and stuck up and did not forget old
friends
On his return the cowboys of Circle
ii had besleged him eagerly for news
of their little chum Of the ranch.
Eyes, ! saw her." he answered, veil
ing the bitterness In his heart, "aDd
she's a great belle in her society togs.
She has a beau, Lord Percy Ellington,
one Of those plug hated chaps, and
she seems to like his attentions all
right The boss says he followed them
back from Europe"
Having impaired this information to
the news hungry men, Ned had gone
Off by himself under the starlight and
finally abandoned all his old plans and
hopes.
Ever since that night the young man
had been formulating plan for his
future which he kept strictly to him
self, resolved to execute the first step
toward II when the owner OF the ranch
returned to his own again. According
ly he mounted Muggins, HIS own pony,
and rode rapidly away across the
brown mesa before the party could ar
rive.
From an emineDce his we'll trained
eyes caught the blur of rising dust far
up the trail Nearer approach enabled
him to recognize the ranch blackboard
driven by Bob Cat Nick. Seated By
the driver was the trim figure Of Gyp-
sy. while the stout form Of Harrington
and slender man wearing a derby
occupied the back seat. Trailing be-
hind or galloplng proudly on either
side Of the vehicle rode the adoring
cowboys, chatting merrily with their
old friend.
At sight of the derby hat frown
crossed Ned's face, and, putting spur
to the unoffending Muggins, the dis
gruntled young horseman rode on
down the gulch.
"Eling.uu alongw he exclaimed
yet what right have to be surprised
or care for that? No doubt Heringtou
wants to sSow his prospective son-in,
law what a fine ranch he has for hid
daughter