The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-07-15


In the cOpse OF woods. hardly far
Their than a stones throw from the
mansion. night was falling darkly with
the mutterings OF an approaching
storm Over n smoldering fire crouch
ed Matt Harding. the gypsy. putting at
his short black pipe. A cry OF pain
from the weather stained tent near by
reused the man. and he arose and sui
lenly walked over and entered the
shabby shelter
In few moments he emerged and
hurried rapidly In the direction of
Stanley Hall
As he raped at the great door OF
the mansion Ned. the colored butler.
opened il, throwing glare OF yellow
light upon the sinister face OF the
gypsy.
you can't see nobody I'm this house.
Mr.. Man." said Ned
But tell you Colonel Stanley prom
ised me his doctor would be here to-
night and that be would attend my
wife She needs the doctor now Its
a matter OF life and death. And it's
bad luck when a gypsy dies without
being able TO face the rising sun
de coloneFs allus dom foolish kind
nesses 70 poo white trash" grumbled
the darky as he shut the door on the
strange caller and went reluctantly TO
bear his message.
But the good old physician was posi-
tive that no harm would come from his
absence foC an hour or so and FASTENED
away on his GRAND OF mercy.
At the little station OF Fairfax mean.
while the now frightened London law
yer was wondering whether he should
load the elephant rife with which he
had provided himself and fortify him
self behind his luggage. As the beat
OF horse hoofs drew nearer the English
lawyer rose with leveled rifle and cried:
"Halti Who goes there. friend or
foeY'
The approaching horseman. Judge
Lamar Stanley. laughed grimly as he
called out: Its friendl Don't shootr'
And then he rode up TO the platform
and introduced himself to the English
man and explained matters to the lat
ter's satisfaction Then the judge
fastened the luggage OF hts visitor 70
the two saddle horses. and they rode
OF together.
In the copse OF wood the pattering
night rain fell upon the gypsy tent.
The storm passed as quickly as II
had come, and the moon shone out
refulgently. The hap OF the tent open
ed. and the bulky form OF the good
doctor was seen I'm the moonlight He
held small swaddled object I'm his
arms.
Matt Harding" said DR.. Lee Inn
pressively, 1.-THE storm has passed with
the miracle OF birth. and you may say,
as was said OF old. Unto us a child Is
born; unto us a son Is given"
'4Them's fine words for rich folk, .
grumbled the gypsy gruf1y. ITO me
mouth to feed"
The doctor regarded the man with
such look OF sternness that the gypsy
took the child from the doctor and en-.
tered the tent with it after promising
the physician to take good care OF II
and its mother.
The good doctor hurried back tc
Stanley hall. where all were impatient
" awaiting him. He smiled reassur
ingly at the colonePs wife, the colonel
and the nurse.
"a fine boy has been born to the
gypsy woman" he said. 1T seems an
omen OF like good luck to Stanley hall
We may expect a little earl to be born
here this night" he added gently.
The colonel's flower faced wife SHOOK
her head and smiled back at the old
doctor. and the colonel spoke quickly
II have no ambitions for any title FOL
a son OF mine," he said But / wish
boy II but to thwart my cousin, La
mar Stanley"
A bitter expression crept into the
face OF the negro woman at the men
ton OF Judge Stanley's name.
Don't you worry, honey" she SAID
softly 10 her mistress. IAN don't you
worry either. colonel De good LORD
don't intend no luck for Judge LANAI
Stanley. / was a slave girl on bis IA
Tiers place when de Jedge was q
young man. He killed my brother like
a dog. an he had me beat insensibls
when I called him Cain"
A girl child was born at Stanle,
hall ut midnight The colonel blanch
| ed at the news. but the flower faceS
mother smiled and called her HUSBAND
! TO bring the diamond from the sky
With trembling hands he brought tn,
] precious heirloom. and the mother witt
her own weak hands placed the chair
and the locket that contained tn
| jewel around the neck OF her newborn
daughter.
'She Is heir to Stanley hall. at least.
/ murmured the mother. "and until 20
die" she added. turning TO the coIone
-she may wear IL as a charm agains
HARM as the Stanleys Of our brancl
have always done"
Then as all turned away TO hide thei
tears at the pathos OF her words tn
young mother. with trembling hands
/ drew a slip OF folded paper from be
meath her pillow and. opening the 81
| cret catch at the back OF the locke
| placed a mothers last message unnC
ticed beneath the diamond from tn
sky murmuring as she did so;
"a charm against HARM my littl
daughter: charm against harmF" An
then she sank back upon her pillow
her babe upon her breast.
The old nurse turned and gazed nxet
Iy at her mistress: then. with a screaE
l of grief and terror she threw hersel