reached the Warfield farmhouse, which was looking char

etness, and birds in the maples were singing thei

erly kind, and the marked resemblance sh

ness had made life a holiday to her, s

resh yourself after your journey," said Mrs. Warfield, and, conducting Hilda to a pleasant r

pected," she said, laying her hand upon his sho

eetness of her disposition. She will be

hter. How did you like the family

We have taken her from an excellent home, m

ghter-in-law," continued Mrs. Warfield, wi

ling in turn and reddening slightly. "She

obliged. When does sh

wife within the year. Mother dear, you wi

ed will be bringing me a daughte

one girl long enough. He is fickl

of pride. "I don't believe he would intentionally wound the feelings of anyone,

irs, and in a moment Hilda

reading law with an attorney in Springfield,"

aid that you expecte

toward the door, for quick footsteps were coming toward i

her eyes beaming with pleasure. "

easy, graceful manner and

Mrs. Warfield proudly. "The Garden of Eden c

Fred, turning with a bright smil

spirits, and I see

te. Having you in time for supper is an

Barry's woods, and some of the young people of Springfield came out in carriages to

r in fortune telling, but I am glad you a

, and Fred, with a radiant smile of pleasure, offered

e, well educated, attentive to business, and honorable in their dealings, and mothers with marriageable daughters could

lie in sunshine, never in shadow. He had experienced but few disappointments and fewer trials to dampen his exuberant spirits; but light, almost trifling as he was in manner

re acquainted with him, but they looked upon it as no more than might be expected of a handsom

s being the knowledge that he could not study law in Springfield and at the same time remain un

read his thoughts as accurately as if inscribed upon the page of an open book, and resolved

be no trifling with the affections of any girl, n

, when, tea finished, they returned to the parlor. "Mother, I will have

dies are coming from the village to help arrange for a fair to be held

rly, turning to Hilda. "It is really romantic; I could sc

her delight in anticipation of somet

sies by stopping to listen to their fo

for anything!" ejaculated Hilda. "I would b

n what you paid them,"

t hurried out to give or

ook the filmy white scarf from Hilda's hand and placed it adroitly and becomingly on her brown hair an

an the drive to the encampment, and nothing more romant

the forest separated from the encampment by a running brook and the thick screen of willows on either

tents, in front of which was bu

from which was suspended a tea kettle, c

woman had spread a white cloth, and was placing upon it

aid kerchief about her shapely throat was seated under a la

er crimson lips parted frequently in smiles at the gambols of the child at her feet, showing her per

er the oaks beside them lay three gypsy men, idly watching the h

l," commented Hilda. "I wish an

ndow of the carriage; "the tops of the trees are becoming silvered,

p; but during the bitter cold and snow-stor

as there is wood to steal; besides, they ar

mpment was in the woods near Dorton during two months of winter, and Dr. Lattinger saw her twice a day. He said they were very respe

hem as have other communities, but it is the ge

women is the f

not see her. She must

e hand

warthy, cross-grained and disagreeable in every way. Phe

ou in your fortune, I

ack Prettyman gave her the largest fee, and is to

d she te

rve. She caught me mimicking her, and I never saw suc

ith in her pre

ne. She also told me of some of my flirtations," continued Fred, laughingly, while he reddened. "The

home?" said his companion, amused at his disc

n unsuspected by honest individuals. She could not have told me so much

ll the ladies wh

les. We tried to persuade them to tell us, but they would only give us scrap

ople. I imagined that all gyps

r as appearances go, especially that one by the oak tre

been modulating their voices, and they realized t

king about them, conversing in a low tone, then went

s, "I believe that beautiful cream-colored one is the very animal th

s; how could you be certain that this i

speak of belonged to a circus company and had been trained to pe

hinting anything of the kind t

nes a moment I will take a circuit and come up back of the tent

would a closer

n a particular spot on his head. I know that spot and will put it

be careful! Suppose

ck in a moment." He swung himself lightly from the

tents and saw Fred reach the place, keeping at

tly the intelligent creature knelt and laid her mouth in the outstretched palm of Fred. He raised his arm and she arose

a look of terror in her eyes, and see

at bush the moment you left, and I cannot tell you the terrible thin

e realized the danger they were in, and his

alking, curses and threatening looks toward the

ight, had turned Planchette's head toward the road and reached to take

not leave this place alive!" cried the

chette sprang forward just as a bullet whizzed through the back of the carriage between the heads of the occupants,

ace pale from anger and excitement. "I was single-handed, unarme

to molest them! I should never forgive myself if anything happened to

upon me, and it is not through any merit in them that one of us is not lying

at fault. They did not g

ard's part by hiding their theft

st evening of my coming I should be the cause of bringing anxiety and perh

," commented the young man moodily. "Were I to f

h gypsies? Supposing you were victorious and killed one or mo

d you. What man worthy of the nam

and would not have told you only to warn you of

h the authorities cannot do unless complaint be ma

ot have stolen the horse, but bought it from someone who did, as I am sure if they had stolen it t

onable," said Fr

east for some time. I am a gir

" respon

s the encampment on your way b

or the Pacific, or around by California

ith an answering smile. "Thank you, Co

t recover their tone for many days. Her sleep was troubled, and in dreams she saw the wild