The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-08-26

rba afternoon sunlight leil dSidnI
professors desk. He was
[bolar of no mean reputation. dis
&rgnished among men Of letters. a
old student and a master OF the
rts. vet. even now. within the pro-
bssor's deep gray eyes, there was
sleam of something. savoring not at
In of sociology nor the science of the
&eonle suggesting no whit of dust
Nick volumes. remote from class
nom dictates and the rule of college
>puneil. Was it that the professor
8niled?
He held a manuscript, sent him for
Correction, a review of his latest
Nook accompanied by a brief bio
ahaphical sketch. The professor was
reading:
ut is noticeable that. from the
4rst, DR.. Carl Sternbaum. our emf
ent scientist, was attracted toward
he study of human nature in all its
)hried phases. A boy of sixteen, he
In away from home and Joined a
hand Of wandering gypsy tramps, os-
ensibly to make personal observation
a the peculiar habits of this peo-
le."
1t was at this point that the pro-
essor laid down the paper and the
8lggested CLEAN Of humor took pos
bccion of his features
Yes he had run away. Who would
1pt have run away from the stern
discipline of a moody foster-father
HID the continual nagging Of stern
heed aunt? Had his mother lived he
Tould have scorned this thing. but.
II hen she died all sympathy and love
ent with her and he fought his way
ehchampioned and alone.
He recalled again that day in early
6bring-a Saturday half-holiday it
Has-and yet he sat alone within the
Ibrren spare room, swinging his legs,
6ejected and distressed. What bust
less had Aunt Maria to treat him so?
/ e was no child, though he was frail
ID slender for his age. He was six
Zen, and because she had discovered
Inn buried deep in a volume of his
Dry at a time when he should have
ben drawing water from the we'll
Without she had sent him peremptor-
- into the cherries room, there to
wait his fathers later judgment.
81 xteen-was he not man? She was
Ii 2 woman! A man is always great
4 thar a woman, and his inmost soul
2belled
Again the professor seemed
Teighed down, as on that day, by
e oppressive tick-tock-tick of the
4 oon-faced clock. looming times
iran: in the corner. Tick-tock-tick!
81 was very damp and still. But what
las that?
Down the road. far out beyond the
rden's whitewashed wall, and the
81 rvs Of nodding daffodils, came a
1qund suggesting to the boy many
<ings At first 1t was but a vague
formless tinkle, then the clear
<fhong Of numerous bells. laughter
ID shouts, the rumbling of many
Heels. There was sudden call to
Ut, the hoof beats paused awhile,
d above the clatter of the rest. one
<Qice shrieked, Fine lace for sale!-
I'm kettles we will mend!-your for
<IIhe while you watt"
With the last b}ithe statement the
-olnd ceased. Aunt Maria came,
fging from the kitchen, Away" she
you good-for-nothing beg.
<Fs-away from our clean streets!
70 on to the Black Forest whence YOU
<oime"
gay laugh was the answer to
"a ranting and the band went jang-
Is on.
put the gray eyes of the boy with
grew wide with sudden question
e Black Forest? There would be
'H getting there of stringent tyran-
There he would be free and gay.
N hy not? The window sash was
en. Already 1t was dusk. A mo-
nts final argument, and he had
Ppped upon the new soft grass. was
wn the road. away to gypsy-land.
pney welcomed him, those artless
psy waits, made much of him and
lmed him one Of them. From the
g. he was useful in countless
VS. He had head for figures and
ancing accounts. and saved the
Fless band many scrape. They
RE kind enough, but he, too. did
- part
Jet what had kept him there. en-.
ring hardships of summer drought
winter frostness. uncomplaining.
n brave grace? Was 1t that inner
se of scholarly investigation sub
asserting itself? Was it the mere
innate braggadocio of boy, mis-
perstood at home? Or was it
hething else?
Attle Rose was a fragile thing.
E eyed and faxen curled, startling.
unlike the other children of the
np' The boy watched her wonder
~ and used to ponder deeply on
parentage. Being wise beyond
years, and knowing the unconform.
OF gypsy wanderers. he asked no
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