Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-09


i'm EITHER side of her, but few
~ feet behind, stood Rhode and
1ngolby.
Presently in a low, firm voice Rhode
spoke.
1.-THE Ry of Rys is dead, but his
daughter must stand upon her feet, and
in his place speak for him. Is 1t not
well with him? He sleeps. Sleep is
better than pain. Let his daughter
speak"
Slowly Fleda arose. Not SO much
what Rhodo had said as the meaning
in his voice aroused her to situation
which she must face. Rhode had said
that she must speak for her father.
What did it mean?
"What is it you wish to say to me,
Rhodo?' she asked.
"What l have to say Is for your ears
only" was the low reply.
II will CO." said 1ngolby. "But
is it time for talk?' lie made mo :
tion tokard the dead man.
There are things to be said which
can only be said now, and things to
be done which can only be done accord
ing to what is said now," grimly re-
marked Rhode.
II wish you to remain" said Fleda
to Ingolby with resolution in her bear
ing. as she placed herself beside the
chair where the dead man sat. "What
is it you want to say to me?" she
asked Rhodo again.
Must a Romany bare his soul be-
forc stranger?' replied Rhode.
Must a man who has been the voice
of the Ry of Rys for the long years
have no words face to face with the
Ry's daughter now that he is gomez
Must the secret of the dead be spoken
before the robber of the dead"
1t was plain that some great passion
was working in the man, that it was
wise and right to humor him, and In
COLBY intervened.
Il will not remain" he said to
Fleda. To Rhode he added: "I am not
a robbcr of the dead. That's highfalut-
ing talk. What I have Of his was given
to me by him. She was for me if could
win her. He said so. This is a free
country. I will wait outside" he added
to Fleda.
She made n gesture as though she
would detain him, but she realized that
the hour of her fate was at hand, and
that the old life and the new were face
to face. Rhodo standing for one and she
for the other.
When they were alone. Rhodo's eyes
Softcned, and he came near to her. "1ou
asked me what I wished to tell you"
he said. See then. | want to tell YOU
that it is for YOU to take the place of
the dead Ry. Everywhere in the world
the Romanys wander they will rejoice
to hear that n Drusc rules us still. The
word of the Ry of Rys was law; what he
wished to be done was done; what he
wished to be undonc was undone. Be
cause of you he hid himself from his
people; because of you 1 was for ever
wandering. keeping the peace by lies
for love of the Ry and for love of you"
His voice shook. "Since your mother
died-and she was kin of mine-you
were to me the soul of the Romany
people everywhere. As barren Woman
loves a child. so loved you. I loved
you for the sake of your mother. !
gave her to the Ry. who was the better
man, that she might be great and we'll
placed SO it is l would have you be
ruler over us, and / would serve you as
served your father until !, also, fall
asleep"
1T is too late" Flcda answered, and
there was great emotion in her voice
now. II am no longer a Romany. / am
my fathers daughter, but l have not
been Romany since | was i'll in Eng
land / will not go back l shall go with
the man l love, to be his wife, here
in the Gorgio world. You believed my
father when he spoke; we'll, believe me
i speak the truth 1t was my fathers
will that l should be what l am, and
do what l am now doing. Nothing can
alter me-"
IF it be that Jethro Fave is still