The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-12-19
THE GYPSY CAMP

Slowly, reluctantly. the gypsy cara
vans came to a standsull Al the end
o: long days trek.
Halt here" shouted tall man
from his seat, high upon the first Of
the many wagons trailing along the
dusty road. Water over there. vii.
lage yonder." indicating with q move.
ment OF his chin q nest OF contented
cottages in the distance. and plenty
of corn in that field he finished with
meaning look To those nearest -
him.
simultaneously with his command,
every wagon la the train came 10 Il
stop. 1t was easy 10 recognize in the
man the leader Of the gypsy band. As
they obeyed him. he, himself, descend
ed lazily from has perch, jumped up
and down once or twice on the soft
springy earth. then stretched his long
limbs TO his hearts content.
Wen stay here for day or 80"
| nc announced 10 the group that
had quickly gathered around him.
Everyone Is tired and We have much
to do between us. Give the new mother
n hand. you women. See 10 II that
she gets her portion tonight without
some Of those chavies lchildren) steal.
ing II from her" pointing To half a
dozen wild.eyed youngsters who were
already rourping about on the gras
and shouting FOR JOY at their sudden
release from close quarters.
uA.... thn hand a. ahnrue
Then they scattered TO gather fire
wood for the evening meal and TO
stretch their own weary limbs
The young chief stood watching his
people. with a smile on his face. Then
he sat down ON "a boulder near him
and drew out his pipe.
His dark eyes We're filled with a
great melancholy as he sat smoking
lost In contemplation of the distant
kentucky mountains now Withdrawing
into the purple mists Of twilight Nc
one had ever been able To discover
'ust why II was that whenever the
caravan struck this part Of the coun
try their chief Immediately became
strangely restless and depressed. HC
was "A man of few words and contlded
In no one.
In appearance ne was every incl
the gypsy. His carriage was su
perb. as was also his straight, tai
figure now in the prime OF HIS youth
His face while not strictly handsome
possessed those manly attributes &c
essential to leader of men. Darl
hair. eyes OF brown and the mouth an'
Z chin of door lie was careless in hi
, dress. but clean. and held his followers
+. In the hollow of his huge and capable
, hand Don Mieuel they called him
land those of the older sy,psies wei
, remembered when first Mguels fathc
, Joined their ranks. and eventually be
came their chief. even as his son afte
him. They remembered the day nov
long ago when In .far.uff Spanisl
town a wild.cyed young man had com
|. to their ranks FOR food and assistance
, ana had thrown In his lot with them
from that hour on. About himself o
his past he had said nothing at n
time nor to anyone. ns far as the
, could remember. but rumor had It tha
the dark young man who had az
peared so mystcriously In their mida
! was part Spanish part American eS
, traction. and that at an earlier peric
u of his life he had lived In Americf
and not as gypsy, either TO al
: questions on the subject. however,
bon Manuel as he called himself. Ina
kent silent. And II. before his deati
be confided anything TO his son. no on