The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-25

Lured from her home. just across Ches-
apeake Bay, by fsncifui tales OF gypsy
life spun by a wandering faker, Nellie
Small, beautiful in her twenty years and
the Idol Of the countryside is being
sought by the Washington police.
Her aged father called yesterday at
police headquarters and told story like
that Of Evangeline. He said the girl, dis
appeared more than a month ago from
Trappe. Talbot County. Nd. band Of
gypsies camped there last May.
For nearly a week they camped just
outside the town. telling fortunes in
their gaudy tents and selling beadwork
and toys to the farmers children.
Visit to Smans' Home.
One day they went TO the home ,of the
Smalls. and finally induced Nellie to
have her fortune told. Whether the old
woman who neld her palm read there a
romantic temperament, or whether the
dark hair and beauty OF The country girl
fascinated her. no one knows. but next
day she induced her to come 70 their
camp on a pretext or seeing some Won
derful silk scarfs
In the camp was a young man who
went by the name Of William Stone. He
saw the girl. and was captivated by her
beauty. The entire band gathered around
her. and with stories Of their free life,
Nof
another. tried 10 induce her to join them.
To all their eutreaues. however. she was
deaf. and when a few days later they
moved on, she remained at her home
There was one OF the party who did
not give up the thought that this young
country girl would eventually discard her
gingham OF the farm for the bright
eolors OF the gypsy. and that one was
Stone. While the rest journeyed on, he
remained behind. picking up living at
the various farmhouses through his good
humor and willingness to help the farm
ers in their work.
Worked on the Farm.
That he was about the Small home
stead a great deal did not strike thC
father as out OF the way. He worked with
him in the fields. and always had a TOY
for the younger children. In the evenings
he would tell the girl stories OF gypsy IF,
and adventure. and It was small wonder
a few days later that when the mothel
went 10 her daughters room to call her
she found nothing but a hastily pencileC
note, telling her that she had left with
the man she loved
Dropping all his work. the father spen
the entire day driving about the surround
ing country. searching for his daughter
But in some way the couple had made
the eighteen miles 20 the nearest railwa,
station. and when the father reached
there Il was 90 find that Stone and IN,
girl had only Just taken a train north
ward
Returning home for a few hours. the
father again set out upon the quest, and
until last night, when he stopped for
few hours at a Pennsylvania avenu,
hotel, he did not rest. At little towr
about fifty miles from Trappe the coupl,
had left only four hours before his ar.
rival Ten miles farther on he saw tn
remains OF their camp, and a FIRE still
smoldering.
Daughter I'm Washington.
The next he learned was from a lette
from Washington. It was but two o.
three lines. but it bore the signature o
his daughter. and told him that she wa
well and happy. AS soon as he coult
make the roundabout trip he came to tn,
city. firm in his belief that the searcl
was at last ended
People were found who had seen tn
couple az Marshall Hall. camped in
tent. telling fortunes for excursionist
and selling beadwork that the girl ha,
already learned to make. The pair staye,
there for nearly a week, and then. wit
another yearning Of the wanderlust
moved on.
Many Washingtonians saw the cou
pie at Marshall Hall. the girl wit
her dark hair bound in a gaud
red silk handkerchief. and with
silk timona embroidered with lace tn
man. Stone. was romantically dressed 4
a gypsy costume Of sash and turban. an
acted as "ballyboo'' TO draw the crowd
10 the tent where the girl read palms an
fingered the cards.
The Washington police are not yer
confident that the couple viii be foun
IN this city, and think that by this tim
they have found their way down int
Virginia A few days ago a band &
gypsies were camping around Kensina
ton. and yesterday moved toward Rock
vile. Not despairing OF finding nj
daughter. and confident that she VIII r.
turn home with him once he tells ne
OF a broken-hearted mother and que,
tioning brothers and sisters. the fathe
will go TO Rockville to-day.