The Washington herald., 1914-08-23
A. CLASSIC
IN A PAGE


was sarcastic. reticent austere.
The GyPsy's Prophecy.
They ran across a gypsy camp and an
old woman eagerly asked to tell the for
tunes Of the pretty young gentleman and
the beautiful young lady"
Il know my fortune only too we'll" said
A shade Of sadness stole over Patty's
face. What could he mean?
And do you like the prospect OF it,
mot at ALL" snapped Verdant.
20, you had better let her tell your for
tune; perhaps II will be an Improvement
on the one you expect" said Patty after
The gypsy began. II was the usual pat
ter; Patty sketching the old haE as she
played the pythoness-
First she told the pretty gentleman
a long rigamarole about the stars and
their courses as especially influencing
him. Then she said that he was pas
sionately attached TO a pomegranate-
hearted young lady, but that the path OF
true love was crossed by a rival-a dark
man.
Frederick Duval." almost whispered
Yerdant. Really this was most extraor-
The gypsy saw that she had made hit
and ended up-after her palm had been
crossed by another piece Of silver-by
man and the ultimate triumph of Mr..
Verdant Green.
From Her Own Lips,
Patty laughed long and loud at these
predictions, and, as they wandered back
to the company. said: How abstracted
you are? Why do you not make yourself
agreeable2 You, surely Are not foolish
enough to believe anything that gypsy
says. What are you thinking about
I was thinking" replied VeTdant
that Mr.; Duval had proposed and been
Psftv looked confused and the, said
Yes; it is so. But how did you ind il
out? II is a secret for the present and
we do not wish any one TO know Of it
My dear Patty" came voice. where
have YOU been? We thought the gypsies
had stolen you II was Capt DuvaL
My last hope is gone" thought Yer
dant- I have heard my fate from her
own lips
The picnic dinner was spread II was
a most substantial one and was accom-
panied by variety OF liquid refresh
ments. Yerdant ate little. but applied
himself with assiduity to the champagne.
He would drown his sorrows.
Awakened by Champagne.
rather the cloth spread on the grass
which served as a table-and said: What
is the matter with you? You act very
strange today. That old gypsy seems to
have upset you"
And do you think that the dark man
she spoke Of" replied Verdant. was a
fgment of her own imaEination?'' ''Of
course" returned Patty; there is always
a dark man or a dark woman in their
stories"
But the lady she described was evi-
IDENTIFY you
very likely: Just as she would have
might have chanced TO be with you. The
gypsy knew her trade
Many a true word is spoken in Jest"
said Verdant, giving uttsrance TO an en-
nh
Il think" said Patty. that the gypsy
said that the lady preferred ths light
haired man"
The champagne was now taking charge
of Verdant's natural bashfuIness and put
ting il in the guard house. II was also
awakening his poetic Ssnsibilities. He
became voluble and even CHoted from
some Of his own unpublished poems when
he thought the idea or the sentence ap-
piled and was effective.
CrumPIed Hopes.
Until today" said he. 7 had hoped
II seems that I have built up my hopes
on a false foundation and one word Of
yours has crumbled them to dust"
He reiterated this little quotation about
crumbled hopes. Patty looked a trihe be-
wildered and said with a smile. What
have I done TO cause such ruin
1t causes you no pain to utter those
words said Nerdant. again quoting from
one OF his unpublished poems. but TO me
Decidedly, decidedly" thought Patty.
he has tasen too much champagne.
What do you mean she said with
some asperity.' What are YOU talking
about
And have you forgotten what you said
to me in reply to a question that asked
you as We came UP the hill?"
Yes. have forgotten. What was IT,?
You told me that Capt. DuvaH had
proposed and been accepted
Yes: that is so. o. little expected
this" almost wept Patty. Why did you
not tell me2"
Understood mt Last.
1T is very kind of you thus to feel for
me-" said Verdant, and all I ask is that
you will still be my friend"
Yes, yes, that will always, dear Yer
dant. And I am sure Kitty will wish
II to be the same. Why did you not tell
me that you were attached to her."
Her" cried Nerdant.
Yes: Capt Duval is to be married 10
Kitty in year from now. Father thinks
she is too young TO be married at once;
Verdant wanted TO kick himself but
compromised by saying: Well. it does
seem as II love was blind. Patty. il IS
you I am in love with, and l thought you
were going to marry the captain
He walked up and down few times
and then said: ''Patty-I love you-do
you love me?"
''Yoicks, unearthed at last" came
cry, and little Mr.. BoUncer came bound
ing into the retreat. But he was too late
this time.
4 Double Wedding.
Patty insisted that verdant go back to
Oxford and finish his course. He did 50.
Then there was a double wedding at the
ruined Church Of Last Hope in Northum-
berland.
The principal performers were Capt.
Duval and Miss Kitty Honeywood. Mr..
Verdant Green and Miss Patty Honey
wood. Perhaps the brides remembered
what took place at that wedding. The
bridegrooms, upon comparing notes aft
erward, found that they did not
They remembered going into the church
distinctly; OF somebody trying to marry
them off-+e the wrong girl and of an
swering Y will" or Il do TO several
questions.
When they came to themselves they
were in their travelling carriages and be-
side them were their wives!
Somewhat later there was another mar
riage at Green Manor, the high contract
ing parties being Miss Mary Green and
Rev. Charles Larkyns, now in holy or
derS.
Thus ends the adventures Of Mr.. ver-
dant Green He was a kind landlord and
sent his son to college.
Copyright, lsli, b. Irving KinsJ
Next weeks one-page classic will b
Prince Eugene" by Louise Muhlbach.
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