Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-05-08
The Return
Of Gypsy.
BY ADDISON HOWARD
GIBSON.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.

"A
bronchos into the gray dust Of the
trail.
There was wild jangle of spurs, q
CHATTER Of FESTIVE 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 a week.
They had derisively hurled "Arios.
Laynew ut 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.
It 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 rs she had
promised-that was the dominant con-
sideration-and OF they went, whoop-
ing.
Ned Layne, however, knew different
~. He had seen her year ago, and
the knowledge had come to him then.
She was young lady. and they-and
he--were only cowboys. Az 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 to
give you the place Of foreman. Make
the most of your opportunities and buy
out the Bar T. 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 that fiuttered In his.
when l come home to the ranch
want you to be here to meet me-" she
added.
"Ill 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 Layne and Gypsy Harrington had
been great comrades In those care free
days, and II now he was the only one
not riding out to meet her 1t 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 at great hotel In New York.
where the wealthy ranchman and his
daughter were stopping. He had gone
ali tine way 10 the lar eastern city fvr
no other purpose than to see her, but
the result had been sadly discourag-
ing one, and he had said farewell to
his dreams. Gypsy. dressed in 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
a big title. and Layne was left to 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 condescending 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 besieged him eagerly for news
Of their little chum Of the ranch.
Eyes. / saw her." he answered. veil
ing the bitterness In his heart. and
she's a great belle in her society toys.
She has 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
or by himself under the starlight and
finally abandoned all bis old plans and
hopes.
Ever since that night the young man
had been formulating a plan for his
future which he kept strictly to HIM
self, resolved to execute the first step
toward It when the owner Of the ranch
returned to his own again. According
~ he mounted Muggins. his own pony,
and rode rapidly away across the
brown mesa before the party could ar
rive
From an eminence his well 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 Herington
and a slender man wearing a derby
occupied the back seat. Trailing be-
hind or gailoping proudly on either
side Of the vehicle rode the adoring
cowboys. chatting merrily with their