The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-07-08

The Mother Of the Gypsy ChHd.
MS carriage. But mebbe Zeke will tell
him he saw you, and you will be sent
Tor. You lad better wait right here"
And he turned the key III the pad
lock on the station door and trudged
away, leaving the bewilGered lawyer
wondering if wild beasts might be
about
In the scmber living room that was
part law Office and chambers Of Judge
Stanley, the judge and his equally
stern vlsaGed spouse were awaiting the
! evening mail on the last train down
from Richmond.
In few minutes Zehe, the colored
! handy man Of the household, entered
with the judges mail bag. The judge
| eagerly separated Il large, formally adj
dressed envelope bearing English
stamps and sealed at the back.
The judge opened it, glanced at it
hurriedly and handed it to his wife
1T is from the earls lawyer, Marina
duke Smythe, you see. He saws he
may arrive at about the same time this
letter reaches US" He turned to the
siouchy negro. Did you see a strange
man get CT the trai1l-looked like an
andertaker-al English lawyers do?,
1es' sun, q strange Scmman did Get
II de train,' replied the negro, but he
dldn say muffin to me, and I didn't
say muffin to him."
You black scoundrelr' reared the
Judge. Aat gentleman has come all
lhe way from England to see NE o.,
All important m;ttter. Get my horse
and put a saddle on the black mare.
VII go to the station for him 1nysejf,"
vt Stanley han, in the cd colonial
bedroom OF the mistress OF the house,
lhe colofe1 nurse, Lucy. was minis
feiing 10 her flower facad mistress
While CcioAel Stanley stood by solicit
Dusty confirming the Ole coIored man.
nly words With affirmative mods.
Yes, ny honey, de doctor Will be
here any llinute,' the cid nurse was
saying. Amt the colonel Jest back
from goin' after hirn: Bless my soul
money, deere come Dr. Lee hisse!f driv-
III up Wild dat ole red boss, StonevaU
Of his''
Tho colorel's wife lifted her fair face
as the colonel bent over to kiss it. Tho
old nurse softly hustled 70 the door and
admitted the doctor
II the cOpse Of woods, hardly far.
ther than stones throw from tho
mansion, night was falling darily with
the mutteTinSs of an approaching,
storm. over smolderinS tire crouch.
ed Matt H&rt;ing, the gypsy, putting at
MS snort black pipe. \ cry Of pain
from the weather stained tent near bv
reused the man, and he arose and sui
lenly walked over and entered tha
shabby shelter
In a few moments he emerged and
hurried rapidly il the direction OF
Stanley Hall.
the mansion Ned, the ssolored butter,
opened it. throwing a glare of yellow
light upon the sinister face of tho
gypsy.
You can't see nobody in this house.
MI. Man. said Ned.
But L tell you Colonel Stanley prom
1sei me his doctor would be here to-
night and that he would attend nv
wife. She needs the doctor now. IT'S
matter Of life and death. And it's
oad luck when a gypsy dies without
pelhS able TO face the rising suu.''
De coloneTs ailus doin' foolish kind.
nesses TO poo White trash" Grumbled
the darky as he shut the door on the
strange caller and went reluctantly ia
bear his message.
but the good old physician was posi-
tive that no harm would come from h;s
apsence Tor al hour Or SO and fastened
away ON lis errand Of mercy.
AT the little station of Fairfax mean
"nlle the now frightened London law
yer was wondering whether he sboul1
load the elephant rifle with which Ia
mad provided himself and fortifv him.
sell behind his luggage. AS the host
VI morse hoofs drew nearer the English
la"yef rose with leveled rife and criad
Halt! Who goes there, friend or
foe?" nu VI
The approaching horseman. 1uaoe
~u st'hley, laughed grimly as he
eaneo out: It's friend! Don't shootr,
Anu tnen he rode up to the platfcrm
ana introduced himself to the Enelish-
in"A ana explained matters to the lat
lers satisfaction. Then the iudoa
fastened the luggage of his visitor 10
ne TWO saddle horses, and they rode
off together.
In the copse of wood the patterine
night rain fell upon the gypsy tent
Inc storm passed as quickly as it
had come, and the moon shope ont
re1uigently. The flap of the tent onan-
co. ana the bulky farm Of the GOOD
oecfos Was Hsen II the noeoallgnt. Tn |