Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-10-01
ROMANY RULE
By A. MARIA CRAWFORD


sound asleep when Melicent quietly
unboted the heavy oaken door. and
with her ragged skirt futterng in the
early morning breeze set out for the
little wooded corse where old Michael
was waiting for her
You do look for all the world Just
like Il real gypsy girl. Miss Melicent.
The idea of YOU wearing that ragged
skirt ~ he cried. whatever will your
mother say, child. with me aiding and
abetting YOU in such foolishness?"
She sprang into the wagon and flick
ed the lines gently over the broad
back of the fat old horse. Mother
will never know. Michael It's Il Sc
cret between you and me- You've
helped make a lifelong dream come
true for me, Michael. Thank you.
Goodby"
You be back before dark, Miss Mel
icent I'll be waiting here for YOU"
warned the old servant as Dobbn
started to jog down the leafy lane
Out of sight of the house. Melicent
lifted up glad voice and sang out
of the sheer happiness of her heart.
A sudden lurch of the wagon in the
road caused great rafting of tin.
The girl glanced over her shoulder.
There We're the tin cups. pots and pans
that she had ordered Michael to buy
for her If she met anybody. she
would try To sell them her wares and
nj 81 hn
money as a talisman of her one care
free. gypsy day.
She looked along the little trail and
saw the shadow of the mountains
looming before her. At the foot of the
first one she would stop for breakfast
at a little spring that buhbled up
clear as any crystal.
With great creaking and groan-
ing and the rattle of tin the wagon
stopped. She gave old Dohbin his
head and. like woodland sprte. she
ran here and there gathering twgs,
then she reached into the back of her
wagon for the big bundle of dry sticks
that Michael had thoughtfully pro-
vided. It was when the appetizing
flavor of bacon rose on the pine scent
ed air and Melicent felt n rising hun
ger that she never experienced in the
gray and blue breakfast room at home
that she heard voice singing Il roll
licking air of the music halls She
turned her head to listen. and there
along the very same trail which she
herself had Travelled came real
gypsy wagon and on the high seat of
the canvas covered vehicle rode a real
gypsy man.
Morning" said the stranger, halt
ing beside her and smiling down at
her, his teeth white as milk under
his black mustache.
Morning" she replied. hoping that
he would drive on and not try any
Romany language on her
He shifted the air with quivering
nostrils. Smells good" he said. lazi-
~ regarding her.
She was forced to generosity Want
some:" she demanded briefly.
He sprang lightly from the high seat
and bowed before her. He looked
like the king of all the gypsies in the
world
And so the adventure. the great
adventure. began, Together. all day
long, they roamed by devious. untrod
paths.
.You're only playing gypsy. aren't
you?" he asked at last when they had
stopped for lunch on top of high
mountain. where the winds from the
four corners of the earth seemed to
blow. 4 sudden summer storm broke
upon them and sent them scurrying
70 his big wagon for shelter. He
pulled off his own velvet jacket and
wrapped II tenderly around her. II
wish that you were gypsy" he said
sadly.
Il wish ! We're a gypsy, too she
said hreathlessy. and drew back from
the look in his flashing eyes. But he
did not offer to touch her She wish
ed. wantonly. that he would take her
into his arms and kiss her. hard. upon
the mouth. She would have the thrill
of II 10 dream over. as long as she
lived. to have been kissed by this
strange nomad who spoke many
tongues and had Travelled over all
The world
Finally she mentioned home and the
necessity of reachlng there by sun
down. He laughed, and lifted her into
the high seat of his own wagon, tying
patient old Dobhin to the back of 1t.
"I'll take you," he said We'll finish
this day together" and then, beside
her. driving along the rocky road he
began to sing in clear. sweet tenor,
For mem'ry has painted this perfect
lay with colors that never fade"
All 100 soon the wooded copse came
into view. and old Michael, standing
here. hareheaded eagerly watching
the road
III remember this day as long as
live. gypsy boy" She said, and gave
him her smooth, cool little hands, while
her eyes brimmed with sudden, blind
ing tears. Never to see him again.
Never to catch the CLEAN that lighted
his flashing black eyes! Never to feel
tho comforting pressure of his long