CHAPTER IV--THE GYPSY QUEEN
"Isn't that romantic?" cried Jess, under her breath. "Wouldn't you liketo live in the open like that, Laura?"
"Sometimes. Then again I might want a steam-heated house," laughedMother Wit.
"And see that darling little baby!" gasped Nellie Agnew, as a littlefellow in gay apparel ran out of one of the tents.
A young woman followed him. She had black hair, and very black eyes, andwore a necklace, and earrings, and bracelets galore. When she ran afterthe crowing little one the tinkling of these ornaments was audible tothe group of girls on the hillside.
This gaily dressed woman caught up the laughing child, and as she turnedher gaze went over his head and struck full upon the seven girls.
She set the little boy down quietly, said something to him, and he ranto cover like a frightened chicken. She spoke another word--aloud--andtwo men and three other women appeared from the wagons, or tents. Theyall gazed up at the half-frightened girls.
"Come down, pretty young ladies," said the gaily bedecked Gypsy woman,in a wheedling tone. "We will not harm you. If you cross our palms withsilver we may be able to tell you something pleasant."
She spoke English well enough; but her address mainly was a formulaused; to attract trade.
"What'll we do?" gasped Dorothy Lockwood, clinging to her twin's hand.
"Keep your courage, Dorry," said her sister.
"Don't let them see we're afraid of them," Nellie advised, but in ashaking voice.
"And why should we be afraid?" asked Laura, quite calmly.
"Oh, I've seen that woman before," said Eve. "She's one of the Vareys.They are English Gypsies, like the Stanleys. She was at our place lastsummer."
She started down the steep hillside into the camp. The first Gypsy womansaid something in the Romany dialect to the others, and the men driftedaway, only the woman awaiting the coming of the girls of Central High.
As the seven friends approached they saw that the Varey woman was veryhandsome, in her bold, dark way. Silver ornaments were entwined in hercoarse, blue-black hair; her dress, though garish in color, was neat andof rich material. The bangle, bracelets, necklace and all were either ofsilver or gold--no sham about them, as Laura Belding very well knew, herfather being a jeweler and she knowing something about good jewelry.
"She's queen of the tribe," whispered Eve to Laura. "And her husband,Jim Varey, is leader of this clan. He is a horse trader, and sellsoilcloth and tinware, while the women sell baskets, and the like, andpick up a quarter now and then telling fortunes."
"Oh, Eve!" whispered Jess, behind, "did you ever have your fortunetold?"
"Yes. It's silly," replied Eve, flushing.
"It would be lots of fun," said Bobby, quite as eager as Jess.
"Let's all do it," urged Nellie. "If we give them a little money theyprobably will not molest us."
"They wouldn't dare trouble us, anyway," said Eve. "And why shouldthey?"
But the other girls, who were not so well acquainted with the Romanypeople, felt that the adventure in the Gypsy camp promised muchexcitement. In a minute they were all on the greensward in front of thetent of the Gypsy queen.
"Cross the poor Gypsy's palm with silver," whined Grace Varey, in awheedling tone, "and each of you shall learn what the future has instore for you."
"Suppose you can't tell us anything pleasant?" said Bobby Hargrew,boldly. "Then we'd rather not know it."
"But such pretty little ladies are bound to have pretty fortunes,"replied the Romany woman. "Come! for a shilling--two shillings, in yourAmerican money--I will tell you each what you want to know most."
"You will?"
"Yes, indeed, for but two shillings in your American money."
"She means a quarter," said Eve.
"You try it first, Mother Wit," urged Nellie, nudging Laura.
At the words Grace Varey looked sharply at Laura Belding's earnest faceand thoughtful gray eyes. Instantly she said:
"You do not fear. You lead these others. You have a quick mind and youinvent things. You are usually first in everything; but power does notspoil you. You win love as well as admiration--there is a difference.You have parents and at least one brother. You have no sister. There isa----" She shut her eyes for a moment, and hesitated. "There is a blackperson--a woman--who has something to do with you----"
"Beware of the 'black man coming with a bundle,'" hissed Bobby,giggling.
"Hush!" exclaimed Jess. "She means Mammy Jinny, Laura's old nurse."
Grace Varey had turned swiftly to the scoffing Bobby, and she pointed ather with an accusing finger.
"You do not believe," she said, quickly. "You are light and thoughtless.You have been spoiled by a doting father. You have no mother--poorchild! You are very frivolous and light-hearted; but a great sorrow iscoming into your life soon. Into your school life, I believe. It isconnected with one of your teachers--a woman. Beware!"
Now, this was very melodramatic; but Bobby, for some reason, could notlaugh at it. The woman was too much in earnest. Suddenly Grace Varey'smanner changed, and she whined:
"Cross the poor Gypsy's palm with silver, and she will tell you more.Only two shillings, little lady," and she urged Laura toward the tent.
"All right," said Mother Wit. "If the rest of you are game, I am. Butdon't back out afterward."
"Not if she is genuine," said Jess, laughing.
Bobby hadn't a word to say; for the moment she was quelled.
But all that the woman had said could be easily explained by the scienceof deduction--which is merely observation raised to the _nth_ power.
Mother Wit went into the tent and found it a rather gloomy place. Therewas a folding table and two divans, besides some dingy hangings. It wasevidently arranged for the purpose of fortune telling and nothing else.
"Sit down, lady," said the Gypsy queen. "Let me see your hand. Do youbelieve in the reading of character by the lines of the hand?"
"I do not know whether I do or not," replied Laura, calmly.
The woman laughed lightly. She peered at the lines of Laura's palm for amoment, and then said:
"You believe nothing without investigation. For so young a person youare very cautious, and you have much good sense. You are sharp andintelligent. And you are gentle-hearted. In short, your friends love youvery dearly, and you are very faithful to them. Is it not so?"
"You flatter me," said Laura, quietly.
She noted that the woman was no longer holding her hand by the fingers;that she had shifted her own hand to Laura's wrist, and that two of thequeen's fingers were resting lightly on her pulse--just as Dr. Agnewheld a patient's hand when he counted the throbbing of his heart.
"Oh, I know," went on the Gypsy, in her whining, sing-song way. "Youwould be faithful in every event. If you had a secret you could keepit--surely. For instance," she added, without changing her tone orraising her voice, "if you had seen the girl with the yellowhandkerchief and green skirt, and the little, puckered blue scar highup--near the right temple--you would not tell where she was--whichdirection she had gone."
_That_ was why the woman was feeling her pulse! Laura knew her heartjumped at the question. She might control her features; but the woman'squestion had startled her, and that sudden heart-throb had told theshrewd queen what she wished to know.
She smiled lazily, in the dim light, upon the girl before her. She knewthat Laura Belding and her friends had seen the fugitive from the Gypsycamp.
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