Connecticut western news., 1921-07-14

NRTIIlOnS dEdlIlNI NnIl6us llibNt their witching ways were the devil.
 One winter day, the EgyptIan's time ly appearance saved old Nanny Web ster from the poorhouse. The gypsy lmpulsively offered five pounds to sup port Nanny till her brother came back from jail. Then 1t was that Gavin first believed in her, and said he'd trust her word.
 The happy Nanny persuaded the minister to stay to tea. That tea drinking bewitched the little minister, for the fascinating Babbie teased him and he liked it .s B., Babbie brought him the money to Cad''m words r~--t 6S-, and gave Gavin a holly spray that he secretly treasured. Again and again he was drawn to NRnny's cotta.-e where Bab- bic frequently came. ana he didn't un- derstand at first that he was in love with the. mysterious girl with her many cCprices--all of which charmed him. He little knew that Rob Dow had discovered him with Babbie in their trysts, and wondered why Rob avoided him, and was drinking again. Rob's greatest fenr was that the kirk elders should learn of the Egyptian and the minister, and stone him out of Thrums. '.. s .-. -.. .. ..4 One night. Babbie flashed a lantern in at the manse window to attract Gavin's attention. He waited breath lessly till the mause'was quiet in slum- ber then stole out to meet Babbie at the summer seat. There in the dark ness Gavin kissed her, and Bahbie re- allzed for the first time his love for her. She had been playing with him, and felt ashamed. She wanted to run away, and she wanted to stay and have him put his kiss into words. But it was late, and 1t was that night as Gavin took her back to Nanhy's that saw them together for the first time. Love dawned in Babbie's heart that night and all the world looked new to her, and she longed for Gavin to come. Then she met Rob Dow's little son weeping bitterly, who told her of what sorrow the 'wooman who'd be- witched the meenister" would bring everyone, and Babbie, touched to the heart, went away. Months passed, and the little minister looked In vain for her.
 Then came the fourth of August, the eve of Lord Rintoul's marriage, an old earl staying at the Spittal, whose bride was reported as young and bonny.
 But nearly all of Thrums were con- cerned over the long drought that had become calamity, and that night there was to be special prayer meet ing for rain.
 Then suddenly Babbie came to me in the schoolhouse, saying that Gavin had been killed by a drunken High land piper. It was not true-a rumor. but I found Gavin, and told him where he would find Bsbbie, though I felt I
 Babbie told Gavin, ,her story, them that she was to be Lord Rintoul's bride on the morrow. He had found her when a mite, fallen from a gypsy wagon, and for her beauty had reared and educated her, .Babbie and Gavin tried to give each other up, then Bab- bic heard Lord ,, ,Rintoul's voice. and In terror chung to Gavin. and the two ran on in the darkness to the gypsy camp on, the hill to be married over the tohgs of the gypsy king. .r g
 That terrible night. with the storm coming, the earl seeking his lost bride, the dour elders relentlessly fol- lowing their errant minister-and drunken Rob madly bound 10 save his friend. .et
 Then came the flood, when the heav- ems opened, and lochs seemed to fail. Babbie, separated from Gavin after the gypsy marriage, fell into Rob's hands but mercifully escaped, and reached | the manse. Gavin wandered all night 1 through the storm after Babbie. and I found him exhausted near my house next morning. He told me all that had passed, and my anxiety for Mar garet at the consequences of his rash act led me to attempt to reach Thrums. But before left felt it was necessary to tell Gavin my Ctory, that he was my son, and Margaret was my wife. Margaret had married Adam Dishart first, and he had gone to sea, and after two years all thought him lost, and she married me. Then when Gavin was three years old, Adam sud denly returned, and passed out of Margaret's life forever.
 Gavin sought to learn if Babbie had been carried of by Lord Rintoul, and found the earl on an island in the midst of floods. Gavin jumped to his aid, but nothing could be done and 1t was thought both must perish. His congregation, gathered by the preci- pice, forgot they had meant to expel him and listening with dim eyes to his brave last words knew only that they loved him. Then Rob Dow threw his life away to save his friend. and the rope with which he sprang into the flood withdrew minister and earl | to safety.