The Washington times., 1918-08-13

was very full ana deep. Il speak
many languages-a little. We travel
much and learn much" She laughed
again, musically and as IL fully
conscious OF her fascination
You are quite recovered from
your trance-you are sure" he
asked
II have no sicknessI am we'll"
she said. NY pulse beats evenly.
Only feel for yourself" She
stretched out her hands to him. He
took one of them, and rested one of
his fingers upon her pulse.
Suddenly she gave little startled
cry, and spoke some quick words in
her own language He was about to
withdraw her hand. but she seized
Il and held 1t In her own
what Is itE" He let his hand
remain passive, while she pushed
back his sleeve and examined his
wrist
She called to her uncle, who was
standing by the door. Her speech
was rapid and excited The man ad-
vanced, and STOPPING, examined
Basifs wrist as the girl had evident
ly commanded him to do.
Then the truth flashed into Basfrs
mind That peculiar V-shaped
mArk-it was that which was excit-
ing their attention. The distinctive
mark of q certain gypsy tribe-so
he had once been told.
you are examining that mark
upon my wrist" he said, with as
sumed icarelsssness. What do you
make of itr"
Then suddenly he realized that
the hazard OF q mole might be the
saving OF his life. !.
~You are Of usl" cried the girl
tYou are OF u.s." repeated the
man., .--Gud yet you know 1t not
How comes II so?"
81 cannot say" answered Basil
He FELT the need OF caution in his
replies. 81 have had the mark as,
long as can remember. That is
not the first time ! have been told
that am Of gypsy blood"
-There is no doubt Of It" said the
man, ''for there are 'pecuIiarities in
the mark which cannot be sfmu-
lated. We of the blood of vaienski
can fecegniIe each other wherever
we may be, and to whatever nation
we owe allegiance. Young man"
he spoke slowly and gravely-"it
is we'll that have seen this mark"
at is very WELL" put in cara
Il have seen It thus before"
unused the gypsy. There are those
who know IL not For some reasons
their parents have abandoned the
gypsy life-they like no more the
Romany. But the mark is on Nthe
wrists of their children-always-
always"
Basil smiled slightly as he re-
called his father, a country clergy
man, and his mother, true type OF
American respectability, now both
deceased, and he wondered what
they would have thought of this
suggestion. His brothers. too-not
one Of them was marked in the
same way as he. 1t was q mole Of
curious shape. Of course, but how
beneficial to him
It was essential now that he
should appear to know nothing Of
the man who waited without, he
had given no indication OF fear or
of suspicion; he must maintain q
friendly attitude
sour way is your way" said the
gypsy, "and yours Is. ours No i'll
shall come to you from the zigeu-
ner. nothing but we'll In peace you
shall come, and in peace go. And
I must have further word with you
you will. Wait. I will return"
Z He left the room, and presently
Basil heard him descending the
steps of the van There came the
sound of whispered voices. and then
a louder exclamation in a harsh
voice
They are rough, these men Of
our race" said Zara In her deep, In
tense voice.
And then Basil realized that he
was alone with the girl, and that
her eyes were fntently fixed upon
her. 49,
The girl seemed In no wise en-
baTrassed by the situation. She
laughed merrily, and the eyes which
she turned upon Basil were full OF
mischief.
81 am glad you stay" she said.
"and 1 am glad you are OF u.s."
He began 20 doubt that she could
have any knowledge OF the plot
from which he had SO providentially
escaped. She was 80 young. SO IT.
responsible-surely IL was not pos
sible. Had they made use OF her
for their own purposes7 He glanced
at her mouth-wGs Il really SO cruel
as he had fancied it2 As to her eyes
they sparkled merrily and with
out that subtle meaning which he
had read IN them-was II all an ef-
feet or his own fancy?
why are you EIadT' he asked,
weakly.
Because I like you" The words
were spoken without the smallest
sense Of their impropriety. She
looked up into his eyes candidly-
q very child OF nature and OF primi-
tive Instinct
He laughed q little awkwardly.
taken aback by her candor. TIN
I'm glad" he said.
III like people, ] speak, say
So" she continued. ''1s IL not bet
ter? To what good is pretense? I
read faces-it Is my power. read
yours"
What do you see in my face?"
he asked. curiously.
"Ah, not much can I tell you yet.
But this i read-you know not all
your life-you are as one who walks
IN the pride Of ignorance. You say:
I know the yesterday-I foresee the
morrow But the yesterday has its
curtain, and the morrow may be hid
behind it" She paused.
~Ah, q cryptic saying" he smiled
You speak In parallels"
You love" she went on, "and
where your heart Is there you must
not follow"
That's true enough" he said, with
some surprise. His mind was prac-
tical, and he had always scoffed at
fortune-telling. "And-shall i fol-
low?" She answered That tell you