Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-03

INHE ODtruSlVe Drancn VI w.
sweeping off hat and wig reused
Sir Richard from his most bit.
ter meditation to find himself
deep amid tangled woodlands
and with night coming down
His mind was still obSesSed by this
one tormenting thought-he had been
so wantonly sacrificed. -. HIS ring;
that sacred bond of friendship had
been made the proof OF his guilt the
evidence which should drag him 70
the gibbet! His ring! AND she
had sought him out in his solitude;
had named him her friend ana
he had begun to dream of future
happiness. At thought Of this ne
laughed suddenly, and dismounted,
took up hat and wig, clapped them on
and turned back to his horse.
"Ha. Caesar" said he, smoothing his
horses glossy neck, whittier snail IL
be. boy? / might creep aboard some
smuggling craft. as coward murderer
should, and steal away to France ana
exist henceforth an alien and outcast.
Again, 1 might yield myself up and
GO to shameful death very heroicai
martyr. But 1 am neither hero nor
martyr. Third I might live mere
the wild, an outlaw and fugitive. EN-.
Caesar. how think We o. this?" Caesar
Then so be it. boy" said Sir Rich
ard. smiling grimly. Seeing the wood
too dense for riding. Sir Richard slipped
the reinS over his arm and strobe along
a narrow alley.
Thus went they, these fugitives. on
and on until glimmering dusk deep
ened to night. But after some while
Sir Richard halted; before them was
glow, the dancing, rudy light OF a
fire. He advanced thitherwardS until
he reached the edge OF small clear
ing where bazed the fire, cracking
merrilv, whose CHEEKY beams showed
him divers dingy tents pitched in the
shadow of a large, weather-beaten
caravan.
And then one spoke in voice strange
" rich and sweet:
who creepeth yonder? Who seeketh
,ne Romany? Up, Tornapo, and see!
Into the light of the fire Sprang a
tall, swsrthy fellow. who advanced
fierce-eyed and peering: then Sir Rich
ard stepped forth of the shadows and
thus beheld old Truffeni. the gypsy
woman, staring at him across the f1re.
Mrs. Camlo" said he. saluting her
with smiling bow, Il bid We a very
good evening""
All" cried she, "tis the kind. noble
gentleman AS is friend to the poor
folks and as the poor folks bids well
comet And rising with stately gesture,
she beckoned him near.
BE seated, sir" said old Truffeni,
80! And now--who doth the proud
Guyfford flee hither to the Romany,
to Truffeni the old, wise one?"
Il am here by the merest chance,
Mrs Camlo"
Chance. say We: Then what O. the
prophecy as l foretold, noble sir? A
dead man! Blood i the grass! Ha?''
Sir Richard rose from the stool in sud-
den, frowning perplexity.
wg
What do you know" he questioned.
Il know. as there's one lays dead and
one as comes riding into the Wildwood,
wi death behind him! -
He exclaimed: What more do you
know"
Reach me thy hands, lord, both OF
EN- that I may read thy past. Sc
seated, sir!" Sir Richard obeyed, and
began 10 whistle through his teeth
while old Truffeni peered into each
WELL he inquired at last, what d
We see mann"
That thy fine ring is gone"
"Ay," he nodded. L left it beside
a dead man."
At this she glanced at him with her
quick, bright eyes. And yet twas
fools act, my chavo!" he was silent
again and for so long that at last he
questioned her:
Speak. good dame! Are my hands
foul or clean? See We any blood there?"
Not sol" she answered. Here is
dangers and trouble. but likewise 1 sees
here a great joy" 49,.
"Joy?" he repeated. NAY. tbs
stranger hath passed me by
Patience. thou mani she nodded.
For happiness shall be thine by rea-
son of thy dear lady"
"TuSh, dame! ha' no lady nor ever
shall!'
However, sees her near thee, my
chavo. her white arms clasping thee
Sir Richard laughed harshly while
the gypsv surveyed him with wise, pity
ing smile. ,
doubt--you-that is no better than a
blind child l. the dark? l tell We by
this lady shall We 'scape shameful
death-L" she stopped and turned as
tall grizzled man stepped suddenly
into the freight and, pointing toward
Sir Richard, said something in the
strange Romany tongue, whereat Trut-
feni questioned him sharply: so they
talked while in their outland1sh dia-
lect and with hushed voices. At last
Truffeni nodded and the man stepped
aside into the underbrush and van
ished sudden as he had come.
so, my shave" said she. to Sir
Richard, Eye was spied riding into the
I.1SJr.,, tbo,,o 1,a apcunred rising