The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-10-09
Romany Rose
BY DOROTHY SMITH

canvas. Inc perspective StFelClleu
away to the vanishing point marked
by bit of blue sky. He frowned at
the tameness of his own work.
ut needs life after all" he grumbled.
AS if evolved from nothingness for
his necessity, a girl stood before him
"a fantastic figure in gay, clean rags,
with dark vivid face, soft black eyes
and cloud Of misty hair under Sc
quined scarf.
"A gypSy!'' he muttered aloud.
She nodded and smiled. "a peecter
of me, sir? Cross my paint" She
laughed gleefully as he tossed hand
full of silver coins. She caught them
and dropped them into her pocket
"So!" She leaned against the nearest
tree trunk, so entering deliberately
into his picture, and her svelte young
form fell into lines that seemed to
melt into the rough bark.
"a dryad-no, La Zingara herself"
he decided as he hastily scratched in
the outline against his painted tree.
"Where rs 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
q busy stream whose bank had been
worn down by the feet Of vaSrant
horses.
"This is my property" he said after
while. II 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 and
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 and 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 She |
wagons wore eastern odalisques, Der
ringers artist eye absorbed the riot |
of color and he sat spellbound until |
from the saddle and approached him.
The gypsy was beautiful in smart |
way with laughing bold eyes and
black hair. He tossed off ragged hat
and when he spoke his voice dropped |
into a professional whine.
1.-THE gentleman buy horse" he
was beginning when Derringer 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. Its SO hot in the
leluS anu my peepul pOoI
"Very WELL" he said good humored-
ly, and picking up his traps he started
down the path toward his home. The
girls voice detained him.
1.-THE peectur-you did not finish
him."
"Never mind--I will remember how
you looked" Their eyes met and a
velvety blush swept her cheek. His
heart quickened. Il will come tomor-
you will pose again?"
ut may be-" she said dreamily, and
as he strobe down the path he was
The last words she had spoken were
as If 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
10 amber satin with scarlet flower
she was all that his nature craved
.or beauty, and the soft goodness of
Ter face told the rest! He determined
o cast family tradition to the four
winds after pride-and so he really
ell asleep at last to waken in the
early dawn to the soft patter of rain
IN the roof and the thought of the
gypsy camp.
He dressed and breakfasted In
taste; then in rough tramping clothes I
le went out into the rain, pulling his
10th hat well over his eyes-they
we're too betraying-and he did not
want to startle the girl. l
The rain was drumming lightly on
he canvas tent and the gay wagons. {
The horses were under a canvas shell
er and the children-miraculous
quiet games. Under the {
argest tent they were eating-about |
wenty people-some in fantastic garb.
theirs in outing garments.
"Hellow cried a friendly voice, ]
,hich he was startled to find came
rom the swart young gypsy of the