Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-03-01

in stacking hay, although the perspira.
tion was streaming down his tired
face. ~ heard over the radio this
noon that storm was due. This hay
is going to get wet after all our hard
work. Maybe we can get small load
or two in the barn, but that's all. Say,
Alice, unhltch now from the rake and
go up TO the barn and get the hay
rigging. Tell mother and the kids to
come and help. Hurryl Don't lose an
instant"
Alice obeyed swiftly. Springlng upon
Baldy's back, she urged the slow old
horse into trot. Yet II seemed as
II she would never reach the barn,
never ret Raldy hltched to the hay
rigging. One thought turned over and
over In her mind. n the hay got wet
It would be spoiled the way II was
last year. She saw her year at
Gardner high, nll her bright hopes and
plans for the future fading into I'M
possibility II the hay got wet.
Continual roars from the distance
accompanied Alice. as she drove hack
to the bayfield, Her mother and the
twins were hurrying thlther. The five
OF them began to work like TrOinns.
obllvious to all else.
"You want help herei" Alice looked
up from the great forkful she was try
ing to lift. The chief Of the gypsles
stood beside her. She motioned toward
the sky, unable to speak.
Instantly the man made some signal
unknown to her In response the
gypsles came focklng to the field,
both men and women, leading their
horses, a score Of them, by the name.
With swift movements the women
heaped the hay while the men bound
It with ropes deity twisted from dried
grasses. The great bundles were
placed on the horses backs.
A strange sight, that bayfield, Yet
inspiring to at least one of the work.
ers. Alice saw with gratitude swell.
ing in her heart that the dark skinned
folk in their gay garments were de-
termIned to beat the storm. When the
procession started for the barn and
Badly fell far behind, dragging the
heavy,lnden hay-rlgglng, a group Of
women fell to aud pushed the wagon
along In the barn the men moved
away while the women hoisted up to
them the great bundles. Then bnck
to the field the whole crowd went rae
ing.
As the last bundle Of hay found Its
place under the caves the rain began
to fall. Mounting their horses the
gypsles fed to the shelter OF their
camp.
From the kitchen window Alice
watched the driving rain, tho darling
lances OF lightning, heard the pealIng
of the thunder, which lessened In vol
ume as the storm moved onward.
II was dusk before the rain ceased.
The world was drenched and torn.
Over the radio David was getting re.
ports of the worst storm OF the sum.
mer
Down beside the creek the fires OF
the wanderers glowed brightly Pres.
emily David and Alice and the twins
laden with baskets made their way
thlther. They were hearing generous
hospitality to their guests.
Next morning Alice. awakening
from the dreamless sleep Of youth and
WEAKNESS, sprung from her bed and
ran to the window. The sun was shin
ing glOrlOusly on the place OF en-.
campment. but the gypsles had gone.
They had, true to their traditions,
stolen quietly away in the night
"The little boy must have got much
better or they wouldn't have moved
on, for they knew they were well
come to stay" she thought