Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-09-01
Ronany Rose
By DOROTHY SMITH

SscSSSSSSSsSsScsSScS
&c. 1890. BY Mcclure Newspaper syndieaie)
Derringer had been painting in the
deep woods. Now that the picture
was completed, he stared at the green
tunnel which he had transferred to
canvas The perspective stretched
away TO the vanishing point marked
by a bit Of blue sky. he frowned al
the tameness of his own work.
1T needs life after all he grumbled.
AS If evolved from nOthingness FOR
his necessity, a girl stood before MN
IA fantastic figure in gay, clean rags
with a dark vivid face. soft black eyes
and a cloud of misty hair under Sc
quined scarf.
"A gypsy :" he muttered aloud.
She nodded and smiled. "A peecter
of me, sir? Cross my palm! she
laughed gleefully as he tossed hand
full of silver coins. She caught them
and dropped them into her pocket
"Sow She leaned against the nearest
tree trunk, so entering deliberately
into his picture. and her svelte young
form fell into lines that seemed 10
melt into the rough bark.
"A dryad--no, La Zingara hersen
he decided as he hastily seratched I'd
the outline against his painted tree.
where is your camp?" he asked
She nodded carelessly down the
green road. They are coming, she
said.
"Here?" he frowned little. 1t was
his own land.
"Always-my people camp here
she said CURLY.
He looked around at the worn
patches of coarse grass. at the strag-
Cling little paths that had seemed I'M
accountable to him; over there was
8 busy stream whose bank had been
worn down by the feet of veSiaht
| horses.
This is my property he said after
I a while. u do not want your people
TO camp here. They can go into my
south field yonder." And he pointed
vaguely beyond the stream where his
| farm lay.
She shook her head impatiently.
"This place is the camp Of my people
my father, my grandfather ana
away back. The wagons are coming
now"
Far down the road hung cloud OF
! gray dust that sifted up to the tree
| tops. When the caravan had entered
| the wood and the wheels creaked along
| on the dead leaves of many seasons,
| the dust settled aud the gayly painted
wagons became gorgeous chariots,
and tired horses were proud chargers
coming home, and the fat women loll-
| ing In the upper compartments of the
wagons wore eastern odalisques, Der
| ringers artist eye absorbed the riot
of color and he sat spellbound until
vagaboldish fellow dropped indolently
from the saddle and approached him.
The gypsy was beautiful in a smart
way, with laughing bold eyes and
black hair. He tossed off a ragged hat
and when he spoke his voice dropped
into a professional whine
"The gentleman buy horse" he
was beginning when Derrlnger jumped
up and waved dispensing arm.
Private property. You can camp
in my south field" he said grudgingly.
"Ah, meesterv' the girls pleading
voice was heard ats so hot in the
fields and my peepul poor!"
Every WELL he said good humored-
ly, and picking up his traps he started
down the path toward his home. The
| girls voice detained him.
"Tbe peectur-you did not finish
j him7"
Never mind will remember how
you looked Their eyes met and
velvety blush swept her cheek. His
heart quickened. 81 will come tomor-
row-perhaps you win pose again?"
'It may be" she said dreamily, ard
as he strobe down the path he was
| haunted by certain lit in her voice
The last words she had spoken were
as IL spoken IN another tongue from
the broken patOis of his first speech
with her.
He thought of her the rest Of the
evening and he dreamed Of her at
night. He had determined to cast
pride to the winds and WOO this Ro-
many maid. What wondrously beau.
| tiful wife she would make! He could
tame his Wild bird of the woods to his
civilized ways. He visualized her
her hair dressed in the mode. clothed
In amber satin with a scarlet flower
she was all that his nature craved
for beauty, and the soft goodness Of
her face told the rest! He determined
10 cast family tradition to the four
winds after pride-and so he really
fell asleep at last to waken in the
early dawn TO the soft patter of rain
on the roof and the thought of the
gypsy camp.
He dressed and breakfasted IN
haste; then in rough tramping clothes
he went out into the rain, pulling his
cloth hat well over his eyes-thex
were too betraying-aud be did not
want to startle the girl.