Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-12-23
THE POWER
OF MUSIC

the few bits Of silver In her
nurse abe shook her head despairingly !
and her teeth sank deep into her quiz
airing 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 |
70 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 70
try TO think Of . plan that would
help her people. But the lovely dark
head dropped despairingly until II
rested ON the palm Of her upturned
hand for try % she would she could
think Of nothing.
Her sorrowful reyerie was disturb
Cd By the sound Of approaching foot.
steps. and with start she recognized
the three men who advanced Into the
clearing - belonging to the trioe.
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 driu
Of their conversation sank Into tne
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 nc
one shared their secret, but another
and heavier burden had been laid on
the young queens shoulders.
Quickly she hastened back to the
gypsy settlement One glance At ths
| scowling faces around and she know
1t was useless to plead with them. she
singled the plotters out Immediately
Jake, the most desperate man IN the
tribe. was their leader, and In low
exciting tones was explaining to the
others the plan Of action. The Cir
shuddered a. she gazed at him; the
scar on his face was livid, and
smoldering fire seemed to burn In hi
sunken eyes.
The gypsy queen was In despair
there was no one to whom she couls
10 for aid or advice. Entering he
tent hastily, her dress brushed gent
" against her harp standing neglect
Cd in the corner, and . sigh almos
resembling the summer wind playfn'
among Eolian harps in the willowi
fell ON her ears.
In an instant she was beside Il
sweeping one delicate Drowned nan
; across the strings. and the instrumen
responded with one grand, swee
chord that soon glided into 9 10y
beautiful Hungarian melody that syer
} xvpsy loves with . passion too dee
for expression.
Dark figures soon began to Satne
outside the tent, and the poor, nom
} less gypsies. wanderers In foreie
, land. dashed the fierce tears Rol
their eyes ~ their hearts On
thoughts dew back to their fathe
! land. fair Hungary. that they new
more might see.
And still the weird, strange. plea
, ing music went on, now rising, no
. falling. almost dying away, ana
, ! smile Of triumph lit up the your
= queens face AZ she saw Jake's col
. panions turn from him and join u
e group around the tent, their gre
!. dark eyes melting with love and ten
q | srness for their fatherland-
Even their queen wondered at the
softened faces, but her heart gre
, numb with despair - her eyes 4
on Jake standing alone in the sha
of the elms, an evil leer on his sc'
. red face. It was fast approaching I
. midnight hour and she was Dowerle
!. To save the onrushing train.
n But once more she must try. II
2 time she sang; a song the gyps
sing on parting; when the differt
- tribes separate to take up their 10
q neys in foreign lands. They ha
n idled the summer away. but VIII
a stern winter approaches they M
leave their native land and seek tn
living in other countries, and SO
~ "Gypsies' Parting" IL sung at n
- night lust as the moon rises high o
~ the mountains, and the cracked b
y voices Of the old mingle with
- musical voices Of the young.
- Marie commenced the song ale
~ but before she had sung many b
10 the entire gypsy settlement had 1oil
in ono grand chorus and the sunni
night rang with the "Gypsies' p
as ing" But high above the other vol
OF rose q clear, sweet tenor that belc
:. cd to Just one man In the gypsy SCI
~ ment, and that was Jake.
The harp sang itself to sleep '
one grand chord. the chorus
m away. and the brave little queen
81 fainted Just az the belfry clock to
Sc the hour Of midnight Willing ha
Ct rushed to her assistance. but J
ne vas before them all. and tende
he almost rsvsrsntly. lifted the I'M
m, scious form and carried her into
tent Just a. the midnight exp
rumhled through In SAtAty-
S Building More Double Track
he Lynchburg Va Dec. 17.-The Sol
aer ern railway is about to put in to G
mission another mile lin OF dol
track between Whittles and Fran
70 junction and by the middle Of Eel
-. Iary. after the Lynchburg cut of
-. operation, there will be contins
ar. double track from Cool Well to W
cir ties, distance Of sixty-five m
ed This will leave less than fifty n
Of single track between Cool Well
Charlotte, N. o., q distance OF
ner 200 miles.
t
tCh | ND ShaAke n2uat Co