The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-27
Nv DOROTHY DOUGLAS.
,pyrlght. 1911. by Associated
IdterArY Press

Copyright. 1914. by Associated
Literary PresA)
She tripped lightly along through
the sweet-smelliug baisam woods, her
feet scarcely seeming to touch the
needle-strewn paths So joyous Was her
Gypsy mood.
From the distance the lazy drones
of after-dinnor picknickers drew her
on. Upon reaching the grove by the
stream Gypsy paused and peered eau
tiously through clump OF bushes
There We're. perhaps, ten or dozen
huge motors lying about under the
trees. Laziness or mere IDLE interest
IN the movement of the servants who
were clearing away the dissorged
hampers, held some forty or nifty
merrymakers in semlclrcle. To the
GYPSY girl peerlng through the bushes
they seemed bored and quite ready
for her Intervention.
May | read your palms? ,"
The semioirele, as one nan, turned
In the direction whence the voice
| had come. She stood against the
dark foliage perched as a bird of
Paradise in gay pIumage.
The semtcIrcle literally swept her
into its midst The campers had been
longing with hungry hearts Tor some
kind OF entertainment a real Gypsy
with long inhy hair and nut brown
skin who offered to hear palms Was
unheraIded joy.
They were on their feet now.
! GYPSY found herself holding court in
the biggest and contest of the limou-
sines and prophesying. Tor the most
part only good things, to those whose
hands she held.
Dick Berwick was among the last
to venture into the limousine ana
seek his fortune. lie swung the door
shut and sat down in the wide seat.
lie seemed to I'LL up the entire car,
and Gypsy looked up to see the face
her head bent low over Dick Berwick $
palm.
/ Berwick was conscious OF vague
annoyance that the girl touched his
hands SO lightly. lie s0rutinized the
hands that were sending little shocks
up his arm, they We're shapely and
manIcured so that the curved almond
nalIs shone against his palm as they
/ pointed out crosses. triangles and
squares to his uncomprehending eyes
1ou are very fond OF the water .
she said finally. and Berwick mag
med that her voice was not quite
steady even though you very nearly
lost your life In it."
| The man looked quickly up.
| "A girl saved YOU" went on the
Gypsy quickly. Her eyes were
/ brown"
Blue corrected Berwick, then
! half seriously II Will cross YOU,
palm twice II you will tell me the
color of her HAIR"
| GU don't know then o.
1t was under bathing caD-I
have always hoped it was that red
| disn. coppery hair" he conhded. but
as IL he were communing with him
SEX was taken with cramp and
the girl came out and pulled me
| in"
The girl looked up. The silence
within the limousine was intense,
! then Gypsy spoke rapidly. Behind
the half mockery In Berwick's eyes
shs had seen that which forced her
words.
1 You will meet the girl who saved
| your life
! "When--where?
| A slow smile dawned in the Gvpsv
girls eyes and she closed them for a
moment as II penetrating the future.
Il see you, IN the next few DAYS,
climbing many mountains You will
| ind, at the top of one pine-clad
| hill, a small log cabin / see Won
climbing YEARLY toward that cabin
/ you iiluAl Ifdtu IL. 10 AlnDha size
her command the Gypsy turned wide
! open. eyes full upon Berwick.
lie looked back at her and n
slightly puzzled frown pucksred mis-
! brow. His manner was preoccupiod
as he took goldpiece from his pocket
and put II within her warm little
palm He drew a quick. sharp
breath, glanced at her again with n
startled question troubling his eyes
and jumped from the limousine.
! A low laugh Knocked him as he
went. He turned but the GYPSY girl
had sprung lightly from the other
side and he saw her fitting OF
through the woods.
Has the hme-eyed Gypsy turned
your head" a feminine voice chioed
him.
/ 1t was nearing dusk on the third
/ day after the picnic that Berwick
/ found himself climbing toward the
shadowy outline OF a log cabin. tina,
potched itself on the summit of the
hill. IT had seemed. during the last
few days that feet other than his
own hao impeAed him from his grea,
/ cosy camp. in search of a log cabin
1 Sleeping and waking he seemed "a
see that cabin, and it miagled oddly
with GYPSY girl and girl in red
bathing cap.