The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-07-08
held small sWaddled object in his


born; unto lis q son is given"
''Then's fine words for rich folk"
grumbled the gypsy gruffiy. ITO me
it don't mean nothing but another
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 it
and its mother.
The good doctor hurried back to
Stanley hall, where all were inpatient
" awaiting him. He smiled reassur-
ingly at the coloners wife, the colonel
and the nurse.
"a fine boy has been born to the
gypsy woman" lie said. 1T seems an
omen Of like good luck to Stanley hall.
We may expect q little earl to be born
here this night be added gently
The cOlonel's flower faced wife shook
her head and smiled back at the old
doctor, and the colonel spoke quickly.
Il have no ambitions for any title for
son Of NINE" he said. "Dut 1 wish
a boy If but to thwart my cousin, La
mar Stanley"
4 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 to her mistress, AN don't you
worry either, colonel De good Lord
don't intend no luck for Judge Lamar
Stanley. l was a slave girl on his fa-
Tiers place when de jedce was a
young man. lie killed my brother like
a Cog. an he had me beat insensible
when l called him CAIN
girl child was born at Stanley
hall at midnight. The colonial blanch-
ed at the news, bat the flower faced
mother smiled and cstlled her husband
10 bring the diamond from the sky
With trembling hands he brought the
precious heirloom. and the mother with
her own weak hands placed the chain
and the locket that contained the
jewel around the necl. Of her newborn
daughter
"Siie is heir to Stanley hall, at least"
murmured the mother, s'and until YOU
Gle she added, turning to the colonel
she may wear it as a charm against
harm,' as the Stanleys OF our branch
have always done"
linen as all turned away to hide their
tears at tie pathOs of her words the
young mother. with trembling hands
drew slip OF folded paper from be-
meath her pillow and, opening the Sc
cret catch at the back of the locket
placed mothers last message unno-
tlced beneath the diamond from the
sky, murmuling as she did 50:
charm against harm my little
daughter; Charm against harmr' And
then she sank back upon her pillow
her babe upon her breast.
The old nurse turned ard oazed fixed
~ at her n1lstrcss; then with scream
of grief and terror, She threw herself
beside the babe and mother.
she is dead shrieked the nurse
My sweet mistress is dead," 1t was
but too true; this gentle soul had
passed.
In the library an hour later DR.. Lee
stood over the shattered colonel. Ills
zen to the truth" said the doctor TT
Is Idle for you to rave. I have told
you, You have alctris1n Of the heart
and another attack like this NAV he
your Ge3th. You cannot hope to live
to marry q wife who may yet bear YOU
a son"
4 vii! never marry AGAIN. cried
Colonel Stanley in anguish. 81 have
loved but one woman. could love but
one woman, and she is dead, But bv
heavens, | will cheat Lamar Stanley
and all his brood. l have $500 in
yonCer safe. l will buy the male child
DOTH 10 the gypsy woman. | will hide
away my own flesh and blood, nv lit
tie daughter, and have her reared ten
Gerry, yet in secret And tie cypsv's
brat at my death shall be tl,es,ar, of
Stanley in England and possess tie
diamond from the sky That viii be
me Tor Lamar Stanley and his ver1nin
offspiinS!' And he laughed and shook
his hands il bitter rage.
mean it, and you must help NE,
You hate Lamar Stanley, for he ruined
you. Nanny Lucy hates him. He
Killed her twin brother in cold blood
Comet"
In the glow Of his campfire Matt
Harding gazed creediiy at the wealth
beyond his widest dreams that Colo
mel Stanley had reused him from, his
htful slumber to pour into his lap.
Iagar, reused from be-; fovarel7
dreams, felt her babe being lifted fro7,
her bosom. The rural gypsy husband
ana father seized her by the throat rs
she fee1ly struggled He cacraa ana
pound her hastily as he might ars
emerged painting from the tent carrr-
ing tie swaddled babe which he hand
ed TO the colonel and the doctor.
Does my Wife object?" he asked +o
ire doctors question. "sav. governors
she would sell every child she eynacts
10 nave for half tie money. Wen ba
twenty miles away by sunrise and ff-
y mics more by another day. Wen
pe gypsy kings asd queens and vou'u
never near OF Us aGain.'
oack at Stanley hall the doctor and
the colonel entered secretly nv tho IL
Dfary window and bore the babe m
s'alfs TO the waiting nurse. Reluctant
~ ana yet resolved like all the rest
the faithful coiored nurse arravad tho