The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-17
THE POWER
OF MUSIC

Marie, the young queen of the
gypsies, sank to the ground under the
friendly shade Of the elms with a
despairirg sigh and a world of trou-
Bile in her great, dark eyes. Far over
in the clearing the tribe had pitched
their tents, and from where she sat
the queen could see the men gathered
around the blazing camp fire, and she
even fancied she could hear their sui
len murmurs of discomfort.
The future looked very dark for the
gypsy tribe, and as the young queen
counted the few bits of silver in her
purse she shook her head despairingly
and her teeth sank deep into her quiv-
ering lips. Business had been very
poor with the tribe for the past year;
true, they had tramped many miles
to all the county fairs, but there were
SO many other attractions and the
people seemed to have lost interest In
fortune telling. And the little pile
of silver had pitifully diminished and
the murmurings of the tribe had
grown louder and louder And Marie
had slipped away from the others to
try to think of a plan that would
help her people. But the lovely dark
head dropped despairingly until 1t
rested on the palm of her upturned
hand for try as she would she could
think of nothing.
Her sorrowful reverie was disturb
ed by the sound Of approaching foot
steps, and with start she recognized
the three men who advanced into the
clearing as belonging to the tribe.
The gigantic trunk of the tree hid her
from their view, and she was too sad
and disconsolate to make her presence
known.
The men commenced to talk in
their native tongue, and as the drift
of their conversation sank into the
young queens brain, her eyes grew
wide with horror, for they were plan
ming to wreck the train that ran
through at midnight, escape with the
spoils and leave the gypsy camp for
ever.
When their plans were completed,
they arose and departed, thinking no
one shared their secret, but another
and heavier burden had been laid on
the young queens shoulders.
Quickly she FASTENED back to the
gypsy settlement. One glance at the
scowling faces around and she knew
it was useless tc plead with them. She
singled the plotters out Immediately.
Jake, the most desperate man in the
tribe, was their leader, and il low,
exciting tones was explaining to the
others the plan of action. The g!rl
shuddered as she gaZed at him; the
scar on his face was livid, and q
smoldering fire seemed to burn in his
sunken eyes.
The gypsy queen was in despair;
there was no one to whom she could
go for aid or advice. Entering her
tent hastily, her dress brushed gent
ly against her harp standing neglect
ed in the corner, and sigh almost
resembling the summer wind playing
among Eolian harps in the willows
fell on her ears.
In an instant she was beside It
sweeping one delicate Drowned haat
across the strings, and the instrument
responded with one grand, swee
chord that soon glded into low
beautiful Hungarian melody that every
gypsy loves with q passion too deeI
for expression.
Dark figures soon began to gatheI
outside the tent, and the POOR, home
less gypsies, wanderers in a foreign
land, dashed the fierce tears from
| kIAt, hfir
thoughts flew back to their father
land, fair Hungary, that they neve
more might see.
And still the weird, strange, plead
ing music went on, now rising, nov
falling, almost dying away, and
smile of triumph lit up the youn
queens face as she saw Jake's com
panions turn from him and join tn
group around the tent their grea
dark eyes melting with love and tent
erness for their fatherland.
Even their queen wondered at thei
softened faces, but her heart grey
numb with despair as her eyes fe,
on Jake standing alone in the shad
of the elms, an evil leer on his seal
red face. 1t was fast approaching tn
midnight hour and she was powerles
to save the onrushing train.
But once more she must try. Thi
time she sang; song the gypsie
sing on parting; when the differer
tribes separate to take up their jou
neys in foreign lands. They haV
, idled the summer away, but whe
stern winter approaches they mus
leave their native land and seek the
> living in other countries, and so tn
"Gypsies' Parting" is sung at NIT
night just as the moon rises high ove
the mountains, and the cracked hig
, voices of the old mingle with tn
musical voices Of the young.
; Marie commenced the song alon
, but before she had sung many bal
, the entire gypsy settlement had joine
in one grand chorus and the summt
night rang with the "Gypsies' Par
ing" But high above the other voice
, rose n clear sweet tenor that belOn