The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-05-28

One winter day, the Egyptians time
ly appearance saved old Nanny Web.
ster from the poorhouse. The gypsy
impulsively offered five pounds to sup 4
port Nanny till her brother came back
from Jail. Then it 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.
Babbie brought him the money to
Caddam Woods next day, and gave
Gavin a holly spray that he secretly
treasured. Again and again he was
drawn to Nanny's cottage where Bah
bic frequently came, AID he didn't I'M
derstand at first that he was in love
with the mysterious girl with her
many caprices-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 fear was that the kirk
elders should learn Of the Egyptian
and the minister, and stone him out OF
Thrums.
One night, Babbie flashed a lantern
in at the manse window to attract
Gavin's attention. He waited breath
lessly till the manse was quiet In slum-
Der, then stole out to meet Babbie at
! the summer seat. There In the dark.
ness Gavin kissed her, and Babbie re-
allied for the first time his love Tor
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 kics into words. But
1t was late, and 1t was that night as
Gavin took her back to Nanny's that
1 saw them together for the first time.
Love dawned In Babies heart that
night, and all the world looked new
/ to her, and she longed for Gavin to
come. Then she met Rob BOWS little
son weeping bitterly, who told her OF
what sorrow the ''wooman who'd pc
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.
u Then came the fourth of August, the
eve of Lord Rintoul's marriage, an ole
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 hac
become calamity, and that night
there was to be a special prayer meet
ing for rain.
Then suddenly Babbie came to mi
/ in the schbolhouse, saying that GaviI
, had been killed by drunken High
land piper. It was not true-a rumor
! but I found Gavin, and told him wher'
. he would find Babbie, though felt
. was doing wrong.
II Babbie told Gavin her story then
| that she was to be Lord Rintouri
! bride on the morrow. He had fOun'
+ her when a mite, fallen from gyps.
, wagon, and for her beauty had reare'
, and educated her. Babbie and Gavil
! tried to give each other up, then Bal
= bic heard Lord Rintoul's voice
and in terror. chung to Gavin, and tn
! two ran or In the darkness to tn
: gypsy camp on the hill to be marrie
' over the tongs Of the gypsy king.
3 That terrible night, with the storI
/ coming. the earl seeking his los
d bride, the dour elders relentlessly TO
/ lowing their errant minister an
drunken Rob madly bound to save hi
+ lfriend.
k Then came the food, when the hea,
ems opened, and lochs seemed to fai
], Babbie, separated from Gavin after tn
d gypsy marriage, fell into Rob's hand
8 but mercifully escaped. and reache
the manse. Gavin wandered all nigt
d through the storm after Babbie, and
e found him exhausted near my nous
+ lnext morning. He told me all tbs
d had passed, and my anxiety for Ma
. 1aret at the consequences Of his ras
lact led me to attempt to reac
4 Thrums. But before left I felt
B was necessary to tell Gavin my Ctor
n that he was my son, and Margaret WI
Inv wife. Margaret had married Ada
J. Dishart first, and he had gone to Sc
4 | and after two years all thought III
Il Host. and she married me. Then whe
I lOayin was three years old. Adam 50
4 denly returned, and passed out
!, IMarraret's life forever.
r. Gavin sought to learn Il Babbie ht
Is been carried on BY Lord Rintoul, al
found the earl on an island In u
4. midst Of foods. Gavin jumped to b
y aid. but nothing could be done. and
"a was thought both must perish. =
congregation. gathered by the pre-
Of nice. forgot they had meant to exp
le him and listening with dim eyes
3 his brave last words knew only tn
1t they loved him. Then Rob Dow thrt
q his life away to save his friend, a
Il the rope WIN which he sprang 10
= ~ hood Withdrew minister and e
Ito safety.
Il So Gavin and Babbie were marie
- .~a M ma eeein0 Babbie going {