Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-02

| malevoIently. Then Ill teach you what
they do in the Romany world and to
morrow you can put the two together
and see what they look like
With a Romany expletive, he fiune
back the curtain of the tent and passed
out into the night.
For a long time Fleda sat stunned
and overcome by the side Of the couch,
her brain tortured by a thousand
thoughts. She knew there was no i'm
mediate escape from the encampment.
She could only rely upon the hue and
cry which would be raised and the
certain hunt which would be made for
her. But what might not happen before
any rescue came? The ancient grudge of
the Fawes against the Druses had gain
ed power and activity by the self -impos-
ed exile of Gabriel Drusc; and Jcthro
had worked upon it. The veiled threats
which Jethro had made she did not
despise. He was barbarian. He would
kill what he loved he would have his
way with what he loved. whether or
not it was the way of law or custom or
right. Outside, the wedding song still
made musical the night. - Women $
voices. shrill, and with falsetto notes,
made the trees ring with it: low, bass
voices gave it kind of solemnity. The
view which the encampment took of her
captivity was clear. Where was the
bnt t,, bn
whose tent it was? She seemed kind.
Though her face had hard look. surely
She meant to be friendly. Or did she
only mean to bctray her: to give her Il
fancied security. and leave her to
Jethro-and the night? She looked round
for some weapon. There was nothing
available save two brass CandlestickS.
Though the door of the tent was closed,
she knew that there were watchers out
side; that any break for liberty would
only mean defeat, and yet she was
determined to save herself.
As she tried to take the measure
the situation and plan what she would
do, the noise of the music suddenly
ceased, and she heard q voice, though
low in tone, give some sort Of command.
Then there was a cry, and what seemed
the chaotic noise of a struggle followed I;
then voice n little louder speaking. u
voice of some one she remembered, she
could not place it.
Something vital was happening out
side, something punctuated by sharp,
angry eXclamations; afterward a voice
speaking soOthingly. firmly, prevailed :;
and then there was silence. As she
listened there was n footstcp at the
door of the tent, a voice called to her
softly, and hand drew aside the tent
curtain. The woman who had brought
her to this place entered.
"You are all safe now." she said.
reaching out both hands to Fleda. "By
long and by last, but it was close
shave! lie meant to make you his wife
tonight, whether you would or no. I'm
Fave, but I'd have none of that. T
was on my way to your fathers house
when | met some onc-somc one that
you know. He carries your father s
voice in his MOUTH
She stepped to the tent door and
beckoned: and out of the darkness. only
iaintly lightened by the dying fires,
there entered one whom FIeda had seen
not moro than fifty times in her life.
and never but twice since She had
ceased to be a Romany. 1t was her
fathers secret agent. Rhodo. the Ru
melaln. now grlzzIed and gaunt, but
with the same vitality which had been
his in the days. when she was a little
child. Here and there in the world
went Rhodo, the voice of the Ry of
ttyS to do his bidding, to say his say,
No minister of ear was ever more
dreaded or loved. His words we're ever
few, but his deeds had been many. Now
as he looked at E'leda, his old eyes
CLEANED, and be showed double row o,
teeth, not one Of which was imperfect
though he was seventy years of age.
'Would you like to Gomez" he asked.
Would you like to come homo TO the
Ry?"
With a cry she flung herself upon
him. 'Rhodo. Rhode she eXclaim-
ed aud now the tears broke forth, and
her body shook with sobs.
| \ few moments later he said to hcr !:
! Its fifteen years since you kissed me
last. | thought you were ashamed Of
old Rhodo."
/ She did not answer, but looked at him
/ with eyes streaming, drawing back from
. him. Her embran"e was astonishing
even TO herself, for as child Rhode
had been a figure of awe to her. aud the
feeling had deepened as the years had
gone on, knowing as she did his work
throughout the world for the Ry of
! Rys. In his face was secrecy, know
ledge, and some tragic underthiug which
gave him, apart from his office. Il singu =
lar loneliness of figure and manner. lie
! was so closely knit in form; there was
such concentration in face, bearing and
gesture, that the isolation of his posi- =
tion was greatly deepened.
mo, you never kissed me after you
were old enough to like or dislike" he
said with mournful and iropical refec
tion.
There crcpt into his face kind OF
yearning such as one might feel who
beheld afar off promised land and yet
was denied its joys. Rhode was wife
less, childless, and had been so for
forty years. He had had no intimates
among the Romany people. His life he
lived alone. That the daughter of the
Ry of Rys should kiss him was a thing
DOROTHY DARNIT-If