Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-01


THUS it befell that Yasha was lost to the
Sultan and became in time citizen of the
New World. A year later found him a resident
York.
But Yasha was neither grateful nor happy.
To begin with. the only human beings with
whom he could ever be in sympathy were the
Gipsies. All Others, no matter how kind and
indulgent or inspiring of respect, were merely
aliens. Yasha was not hostile nor sulky. he
was merely Indifferent to them all. with no ap
parent dslikes preferences So Schuyler
was forced to admit that the breed was quite
devoid of affection.
Yasha made no attempt to run away. Some
instinct told him that his own place was far
beyond his reach: that he could never hope to
win it. From Belgrade or Bucharest or even
Kurdlstan he would have tried for the STAN
boul malhallah. and no doubt have gained 1t
too. As 1t was. he felt intuitively that he had
been transported to another world. whence es-
cape to his old home was impossible. Where
fore he renamed. becoming daily more lIstless
and apathet1c and although he ate little. grow
ing fat. Even fighting had CEASED to interest
him.
One evening just as it was growing dark
Yasha lay the grass near the back door OF
the farmers house-for he preferred though
by instinct the vicinity of the garbage pail.
even though not permitted to regale himself
therefrom-and thought sadly of his old vaga-
bond life. 1t was not tor Stamboul with Its
fights and flrtations and feasts of chicken feet
and fish heads and lobster claws that he
yearned; but for his peoP'e, the G,psies. He
was trying to remember the tug of his traces
and the changing trail and the smell of AIma's
incense-when suddenly taint eddy of the
breeze brought something to his twitCh1ng nos
trils and brought his nodding head upr,gn with
jerk. Was it retrospect of dream: YsSha
shifted then bounded to his feet and stood
quiverIng and alert. his head gong like trip
hammer and his eyes ablaze.
For the sweet spring air had brought to his
nostrIls the Gypsy scent!
There could be mistake! There was
nothing like 1t, and Yasns knew he was wide
awake In the year that ne had been at Schuy-
1er's farm. different bands OF nomads had passed
down the road or camped in the vicinity.
These vagabonds were locally referred to as
GIpsles. which indeed they pretended TO be
playing music of sort, telling fortunes. and
as different from the real parIahs as was Yasha
himself from the mongreI yaller dog" that
many people judged him. At first their general
aspect had excited YAsha, reminding lin. as 1t
did of his early days. but on following them
little way and smiling at Their tAl he had re-
turned in disgust.
But this scent was the real thI.g The scent
of the ChIngenI. different from that of any
other folkl
VASHA stole to the gate and stood for mo-
ment shifting the air. One who could have
seen him in that moment would not have rec
ognlzed the heavy, blinking, stolid animal of
the minute before. Every muscle was tense.
every nerve Jingle his eyes were glintlng green
fire.
fresh puff of the breeze brought the scent
fairly steaming. and 1t took all of Yasha's self
control to restrain yelp of excitement. The
next instant, without SO much as a backward
glance at his home of year. he was Oft like
bullet.
Taking the scent directly from the air. he
held to the road tor some distance then turned
off to follow trail which led into a piece of
woods. All! Here were the tracks of the band.
steamng warm his nostrils from the damp
earth; Yelps of joy and excitement burst from
Yasha's chest as he flew along. painting as he
never would have done IN the good old days of
winu and condition. This delicious smell of
ChingenI and damp ferns and wood smoke all
commingled' HIS yelps became yells of rap
ture as he sped along.
Presently he caught the flicker of campfire
flashing through the trees and heard the tinkle
of running water. A dog barked. then another
and hostile pack came yapplng and clamor-
ing toward HIM. Not the slightest heed paid
Yasha; but burst into the camp squeallng with
rapture in one breath and sending back such
snarls as struck terror into the hearts of the
ours with the other. One big brute flew at him
bare fanged, and Yasha with one of his light
ming strokes sent HIM rolling Uninterrupted into
the fire. But he did not want to fight, and
what with his yowls of pure JOY at being with
his own again and his ferocious treatment of
their On, rd,a, he G,rS1ec ,yere fr,ohteoed and