The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-06-04
Gypsy Jan
Her Prophecy and What
Came Of II.
By CONSTANCE DARCY MAcEAY

path he had been following to the main
road. He had chosen the end Of Sep
tenlber for his vacation. Already sum.
mer was mellowing into autumn. the
naples were tipped with yellow. and IN
the dark recesses Of the woods sumac
glowed with color that was already
Hamelike. As he walked on either hand
stretched fields of alternate stubbe
and green grass, starred here and there
by patches of goldenrod or slender pur.
pie asters. Fail sounds were in the air.
Late crickets chirped. Crows cawed
across the fences. Bits Of thistledown
HOated lazily in the morning sunlight.
Except for occasional farmhOuses
standing by the way or passing tenn.
the road was deserted, aud Clayton
was musing pleasantly on its solitude
when an unexpected turn past a clump
Of trees brought him upon a camp of
gypsies. He went forward with quick
ened interest.
They mad pitched their tents in lit
| tie hollow through which stream ran
In the background stood canvas GOV.
| cred wagon and half dozen lean teth.
| cred horses. In the foreground smold.
| cred the ashes Of a fire. Round this
clustered a few half naked children
and some wrinkled crones with huge
| gilt earrings In their ears.
The men of the camp had evidently
gone f0raging. nor were the women
slow to turn a penny. for one Of them
called out to Clayton that she would
tell his fortune. Clayton shook his
head impatiently and went on. II he
had 1t told at all 1t must be by some
young. black eyed girl. such a one as
he saw approaching half mile be-
yond the camp. a tall. 1.-THE creature.
who walked with the grace Of those
accustomed to the open. She wore a
red skirt. a white blouse falling away
from her throat and caught with a bit
Of dull yellow that matched her girdle.
One sleeve was torn. and her arm show
ed through. dusky and rounded. Her
dark hair was twisted with what look.
ed to be scarlet beads. but which upon
nearer inspection proved to be rose
fruit strung on grass.
"The princess Of her tribe" thought
Clayton.
| She was playing with a curious dag
| ger that she held and did not see him
I till he accosteu her. Then she looked
| up. startled.
| "Wili you tell nv fortune:" he que
ripd. smiling. aud held out his hand.
| when II has been crossed with sill
ver" she answered. her black eyes
cleaning.
''The life line IL Deep she went on
quickly. "YOu have made your way
SO far for you are ambitious and hard.
working. You do not come from Brier-
ley village nor from the country round
here You are from the city. You are
nearly thirty and unmarried. Do |
read true?" she asked. with II swift up
ward glance.
"Quite true" said Clayton amusedly.
mo woman has touched your heart.
but there Is one who soon will"
Ozark or fair?'
"Dark--and very wealthy. You will
see her this afternoon at o'clock"
"Well. I'm glad I'm warned" said
Clayton. with laugh. "How long
have you been herey nodding In the
direction of the camp.
She shrugged her shoulders.
| "How can ! tell? A few days-a
week maybe. We gypsies do not meas
ure time"
"And what is your name?'
! "Jan." she answered. turning on her
heel with the Indifference of II queen.
Now that she had told his fortune, she
seemed anxious to be gone.
~ mercenary young wretch. like the
rest Of them" murmured Clayton. look
ing after her.
That afternoon he strolled toward
the village. The season was over. and
most of the large hotels were closed.
80 were the handsome private cot
tages. save few whose owners pre-
ferred the luxury of solitude.
| Arden. the summer home OF Alyard.
the, copper king. was still open. Miss
Alyard. 1t was said. caring more for
her stables and kennels than for so.
ciety.
As Clayton passed It. admiring lts
green lawn aud well kept flower beds.
a smart trap came down the driveway.
In It sat u girl dressed In white. Clay
ton could not see her face. tOr she held
a lace paraSol to screen her eyes. but
he liked the patrician poise OF her
head. As they ratified past him with
a gay Changing Of silver harness the
coachman turned IN answer to some
| question.
"It's exactly 4 o'clock. Miss Alyard."
he said defcrentially.
Cla-tOn started and then laughed mt
himself for being foolish enough to
mind gypsy's prophecy. Aud yet
the prospect was allurlng-a rich wife
and money to pursue his studies In
Paris untrammeled. for. though Clay
ton's name was beginning to be known
In the world of architecture. 1t had
, been hard fighting every step OF the
way. Even now he was not free from