The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-05
6e
GYPSY'S
CHARM
A Halloween Story
By CLARlSSA MACkIE
By CLARISSA MACKIE


Molly Ditson looked out from the
farmhouse on the hill. shading her eyes
with her hand. She saw wagon lum-
bering along the road loaded with
camp equipage and human beings.
II do believe they're gypsies." said
Molly.
She watched them till they turned
or the road and encamped on the edge
of the old field woods.
A mans figure was walking In the
road Molly watched him, too, and
saw him stop and look at the gypsies
unloading their camp furniture. He
spoke a few words to them and pass
ed on.
"Joe Norton" remarked Molly to
herself. II wonder what he said to
them"
Molly descended the hill and, enter
ing the wood. saw gypsy woman APP
preaching her.
The slender, dark eyed nomad carried
a shawl wrapped bundle that proved
to contain a sickly infant. The young
mothers sad face frightened when she
saw Molly's friendly smile.
Lady" she pleaded. my little baby
so sick. | can get no good milk. He
will die"
NO. nor protested Molly. mo baby
shall starve for milk in Oldfield woods!
Sit down here on the leaves, and | will
rxo howe ood oat Sauna y,iILy for Won -
you are very kind, beautiful lady"
murmured the weary mother as she
sank to the ground and laid the whim-
pering infant on the soft leaves.
peoples say: Not give to gypsies.
they steal enoughr But, lady, my peo-
pies no steal!'
Molly smiled as the woman's head
nodded once or twice and then settled
into repose beside that of the little
child.
II mustn't tell Hannah that the milk
Is for a gypsy" she thought as she
turned into steep path that led di-
rectly up to her fathers orchard.
'sHannah does detest the whole tribe,
but that baby is starving for milk, and
he shall have 1t. The very idea Of re-
fusing milk when Hannah feeds it to
the pigs every night"
In spite of her defiance Of Hannah
Nike the elderly housekeeper. Molly
was wary enough to approach the
milk house by the back way. She
opened the door and stepped within its
cool shelter little stream trickled
under the stone floor. and Hannah had
her jars Of milk and crooks of butter
set In the water.
Molly lifted down q shining pail.
filed 1t half full of rich mornings milk
and escaped with her booty to the
wood. As she approached the gypsy
she noted that the woman was sitting
up, wide awake, staring after the dis
appearing form of broad shouldered
man.
"Who was that?" asked Molly
sharply
"a prince" said the woman, display
ing two silver half dollars in her
brown palm.
"a princer' Knocked Molly. THAT
was only Joe Morton"
Fifteen minutes later Molly was bid
ding the gypsy woman and the smiling
baby farewell. The woman carried the
pail of milk, and her dark eyes were
very grateful.
swat, ladyv' she called suddenly.
And. setting the pail on the ground,
oho firm, Had In hor eyo ~ co1too y,ocIat
and finally brought out a little box.
From the box she extracted a gold
ring, whose sole ornament was an ex-
tended hand.
Wear this ring. lady," said the gyp-
~ solemnly. Some day will come a
handsome stranger who wears another
ring like 1t. and the hands on the two
rings will at together In clasp. 1t is
a charm that never fails to work. The
handsome stranger will be your hus-
band"
Molly slipped the ring on her en-
gagement finger. kissed the baby and
then lifted mirthful eyes to the earnest
face Of the woman.
II thank you for the beautiful ring"
said Molly sweetly. But l am never
going to marry. What then?"
you cannot help 1t, wearing the
charm the woman nodded wisely.
Molly tucked silver coin In the
brown fist of the baby. and. promising
the woman that she would leave anoth.
er pail of milk at the top of the path
on the following morning. they parted
At supper time the telephone rang,
and merry voice informed Molly Dit
son that as this was All Halloween II
was proposed that the young people OF
the neighborhood should descend on
the Ditson house for the evening.
"Goodr' cried Molly as she hung ur
the receiver. Hannah Mix, have you
got anything in the house to feed fifty
hungry folks?"
Lord, help" screeched Hannah. Sc
cure In the knowledge that she had 9
well filed larder. "If they can put uI
with crullers and cider and nuts and
apnlea don't ca re how many fhero he =