The Snowflake herald., 1921-02-11
A NoN-PARTIsAN NEWSPAPER
NIGHT GYPSIES
BY CLARA c. HOLMES.

8&ESEcES<$<SE&$<E<<$ EAe&$<$<$$<<$$e
"a, 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
All day the rain had poured upon 9
small, neat cottage, the home Of Salins
Godfrey. For eight years Salina had
lived alone, the village Dorcas. Today
she took up her sewing work-a baby's
fine nainsook dress. 1t was daintily
handmade, with finishing touches OF
embroidery.
1T is his baby's Dress" she solilQ
Quized, "and no one knows how well
I've loved to put the stitches into It
/ can't help feeling blue and lonely
sometimes-bu he Is so happy with
her and the baby. did not have
much common sense" she continued
talking to herself ito keep on waiting
five years for him, thinking he would
come back to me.
Even when he neglected to write,
did not suspect, believing he was
overbusy. Bet he wrote to her every
day from here and he was restless un.
til he got away to her again. Then
he sent me that crushing note. / will
destroy it today and try to be more
sensible"
From a cabinet she took a yellow
envelope, postmarked two years be-
fore. She read it through for the
last time:
MY Dear SaIina-Tve dreaded and
delayed to write you these lines. which
| know will terribly wound your ten.
der, faithful heart. But / am so in.
tensely infatuated with Marie that ]
can't live without her. We are going
to be married next. week. Don't mind
too much, Salina; give some of the
other steady fellows half a chance to
win. They are more worthy than L
"With deepest regrets, l am,
HOWARD BLACKWELL"
Now two years had gone by, and Sa.
lima, outwardly, was the cheerful,
much-respected Dorcas of the village,
Salina tore up the yellow letter and
tossed it into the open fire, watching
the charred bits fly up the chimney
fue. Then she went to the window.
"Gypsies!'' she exclaimed, camping
right here, almost in my yard. I'll
telephone to the constable and have
'em bounced!
'No, I'll loose Badger; they win
move when they see him around" and
at once the savage great black dog
growing viciously, bounded over the
yard.
Then the telephone bell rang. The
call was from Mrs King, a neighbor
''That you, Salina? Have you heard
how Marie has got i'll? We are in
need Of assistance. Will you come
over?"
Course" answered Salina cheerful
ly, forgetting the gypsies trespassine
near her door.
Hurriedly she fed her hens and did
some other chores. Then she called
Badger and left him loose inside the
house. Taking folded apron she set
out. across a pasture for a crossroad
farmhouse.
Salina softly entered the kitchen
where Howard sat with downcast
heavy eyes.
What is the matter?" Salina asked,
startled.
Il am heartbroken hearing the baby
cry with no one to do for her." he
sobbed
few hours later the nurse came
from a hushed chamber to relieve Sa.
lima. The beautiful young wife and
mother was resting beyond earthly
care.
AS in a dream SalIna worked about
the farmhouse, doing the numberless
things needing to be done. At last II
was Howard who sought her.
II want you to rest now, Salina--
there is so much more to be done to-
morrow. / have no one can look tC
but you. Go into the spare room. II
is comfortable in there"
He opened the door for her and
bade her goodnight.
The next morning Salina rose early.
s'T must go to see what the gypsies
have been doing" she told Howard.
"But you will return to look after
my motherless baby girl?" he pleaded.
Briskly Salina retraced her steps
across the pasture. But she saw that
the dreaded gypsies already had brok-
an camp and moved on. The sun rose
brightly. Salina entered her house, a
new light softly beaming in her soft
prav ewes. Her sensitive nature was
shocked by the happenings of the last
Fearful day, yet she peacefully real
I1ed that, from the gates Of her own
heart. infestIng cares had stolen away
like the gypsies Of the night.