The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-05-06

One winter uayt the Egyptian tiii0
ly appearance saved old Nanny Web.
ster from the poorhouse. The gypsy
offered five pounds to sup
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 Babble 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 Nannys 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 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 kiEs into words. But
II was late, and 1t was that night as
Gavin took her back to Nanny's that
| saw them together for the first time.
Love dawned in Babbies 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 woman 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 a 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. 1t was not true-a rumor,
but found Gavin, and told him where
he would find Babbie, though ! felt !
was doing wrong.
Babbie told Gavin her story then
that she was to be Lord Rintours
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 Bah
bic heard Lord Rintoul's voice
and in terror chung 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 food, 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 nigh
through the storm after Babbie, and
found him exhausted near my house
next morning. He told me all tha
] had passed, and my anxiety for Mar
J garet at the consequences OF his rasi
act led me to attempt to reacl
. Thrums. But before l left l felt !
was necessary to tell Gavin my story
q that he was my son, and Margaret wa
my wife. Margaret had married Adam
. Dishart first. and he had gone to sea
and after two years all thought hin
I lost. and she married me. Then wheI
Gavin was three years old, Adam sud
< denly returned, and / passed out o
Margaret's life forever.
r Gavin sought to learn II Babbie ha
; been carried of by Lord Rintoul, an
found the earl on an island In tn
!. midst of foods. Gavin Jumped to hi
' aid. but nothing could be done, and
D was thought both must perish. HI
congregation. gathered by the prec
4 pice. forgot they had meant to exp'
e him and listening with dim eyes
, his brave last words knew only tbs
I they loved him. Then Rob Dow tire
e his life away to save his friend, an
$ the rope with which he sprang int
, the flood withdrew minister and eal
to safety.
I So Gavin and Babbie were marrie'
J. and no one seeing Babbie going d
= murely to church on Gavin's ar
t would guess her history. Yet som