Connecticut western news., 1921-09-08

Nhe "lHIeF udy, Ine ESVpJlin tlIIle- ly appearance saved old Nanny Web ster from the poorhouse. The gypsy impulsively offered five pounds to SUD- port Nanny till her brother came back from jail. Then it was that Gavin first believed in her, ana 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 leased 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 Bab- bic frequently came, and he didn't un- derstand at first that he was in love with the mysterious girl with her many cGprices-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 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 alfZed 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 1t was late, and it was that night as Gavin took her back to Nannys that I 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 a 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 found Gavin, and told him where he would find Babbie, though felt I was doing wrong.
 Babbie told Gavin her story then that she was to be Lord RintouIs 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 Rintouls voice, and in terror clung to Gavin, and the two ran off in the darkness to the gypsy camp on the hill to be married over the tongs of the gypsy king.
 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 to save his friend.
 Then came the flood, when the heav- ems opened, and lochs seemed to fail. Babbie, separated from Gavin after the gypsy marriage, fell into Robs hands, but mercifully escaped, and reached the manse. Gavin wandered all night 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 I left I felt 1t was necessary to tell Gavin my story, 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 I passed out of Margaret's life forever.
 Gavin sought to learn If Babbie had been carried off 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.
 So Gavin and Babbie were married, and no one seeing Babbie going de fo oburob on GaUiD'S arm