Red Money

ying at length amongst the crushed and fragrant flowers, herself in her parti-colored attire scarcely distinguishable from the rainbow blossoms

dy Agnes should have traded herself to save Garvington from a well-deserved punishment, seemed inexcusable to the gypsy. If he had been the man she loved, then indeed might she have acted rightly. But having thrown over that

nue to be a martyr. The question was, could she keep up that pose in the face of the undeniable fact that she loved her cousin? The listening girl thought not. Sooner or later the artificial barrier would be broken through by the held-back flood of passion, and then Lady Agnes would run away from the man who had bought

id, and Lambert had given his promise to share the burden with Agnes by acting the part of a lover who had never really been serious. But it did not do to discuss details, as these were too painful, so the woman hurried away without a backward

seen, although she need not have taken all this trouble, since Lambert, with a set face and a trembling hand, was working furiously at a minor picture he utilized to get rid of such moods. But the gypsy did not know this, and so writh

ifth rib. Either result did not appeal to her. She wished to get Lambert to herself, and his safety was of vital importance to her. After some consideration, she determined that she would boldly face the lover, and confess that she had overheard everything. Then she would have him in her power, since to save the wife from the vengeance of the husband, although there was no reason for such vengeance, he would do anything to keep the matter of the visit q

hould defy her and fight, which would mean-to her limited comprehension-that everything being known to Pine, the couple would confess all and elope. In the second place, Chaldea was piqued to think that Lambert should prove to be so indifferent to her undeniable beauty, as to love this pale shadow of a Gentile lady. She would make

be her master, and should she indulge her fancy for a Gentile, he would assuredly use a very nasty-looking knife, which he wore under the green coat. Even as it was, Kara would not be pleased to fiddle to her dancing, since he already was jealous of Lambert. But Chalde

e to the fiddle and the fiddle spoke to him, probably about Chaldea, since the girl was almost incessantly in his thoughts. She occupied them now, and when he raised his shaggy head at the touch on his hump-back, he m

n the glory of the rosy sunset which slan

n her tent, sister. Do

do with the half Romany? Truly, brother, his h

me signifies that he is of the gentle br

of it. At present she could not, so behaved honorably. "But he's Romany enough to split words with the old witch by the hour, so let him stay where he is. Brother, would you make money?" Kara

hair-grew sombre, and he spat excessively. "Curs

ping to pat his face. "It's fine work, cheating the rye. But j

ned. "Were you

en indeed. But your

y as you are lovely, and we two together, you dancing to my playing, w

red Chaldea, nodding. "Yes. It is so

the Gorgio mak

s on the bough. If I kiss him I suck gold from his lips. If I put fond arms around hi

oat to show the gleam of a butcher knife. "Should you go

"Truly, brother, speaking Romanly, you are a fool of fools, and take cheating for honesty. I lure the Gorgio at my will, and says you whimpering-like, 'She's my rom

d that whatever tricks she played the Gentile would not be taken seriously by himself. "Poison him I would," gr

u play the dance that delights the Gorgios. But what I do, with kisses or arm-loving, my brother," she added shaking her finger, "is but the play of the wind to shake the leaves. Believe me honest and my rom you shall be-some

ss. But, had he known it, she had her eyes on the cottage all the time, and had he failed to come forth she would have come to inquire if he was at home. But the artist did come forth, thinking to wile away an hour with the fascinating gypsy girl. Always dressing for dinner, even in solitude, for the habit of years was too strong to lay aside-and, moreover, he wa

nd leaning against one of the moss-gro

gentleman, you, too, are a nightbird. Have you come out mousing like an owl? Ha! ha! and you hear the nig

pani rep

ano hege

that mean

while the stream flows I hear the violi

a is you

have I, but a mateless bird I wander. Still I hear the violin of my true love, my new love, who

nking what a picturesque girl she was in her many-hued rag-tag g

rling gentleman, cross my hand with silver and I dance. I swear

eny b

he gentle Romany tongue. Kek! Kek! What does it matter, when you sp

he opera," murmured Lambert, sliding

nd of him? Wer

wasn't. She danced he

to herself. "Kushto bak," cried Chaldea, using the gypsy for good luck. "And to me, to m

ding with its faint cry came a long, sweet, sustained note of music. Lambert started, so we

, then, as the music came breathing from the hidden violin in dreamy sensuous tones, she raised her bare arms and began to

her limbs, so that without speech the onlooker saw a love-drama enacted before his eyes. Chaldea-so he interpreted the dance-swayed gracefully from the hips, without moving her feet, in the style of a Nautch girl. She was waiting for some one, since to right and left she swung with a delicate hand

ans that he raises her. She caresses him with much fondling and many kisses. By Jove, what pantomime! Now she dances to please him. She stops and trembles; the dance does not satisfy.

answered to every note as a needle does to a magnet. She leaped, clicking her heels together, advanced, as if on the foe, with a bound-was flung back-so it seemed-and again sprang to the assault. She stiff

espair the violin gave just now. She follows, stretching out her empty arms. But it is useless-he is gone. Bah! She snaps her fingers. What does she care! She will dance to please herself, and to show that her heart is yet whole. What a Bacchana

d her lips against his cheek. The music stopped abruptly, with a kind of angry snarl, as if Kara, furious at the sight, had put his wrath into the last broken note. Then all was si

g of his heart, and restrain the racing of his blood, for he was a man, an

a from the grass, where he had thrown

in such a gust of anger that Kara, hidden in the wood, rejoiced. He could not understand what was being said, but the tone of the voice was enough for him. He did not know whether Chaldea was cheating the Gentile

l, and you take nothing

girl, do you think that for one mo

e me," sobbed Chaldea,

removed in its pure looks from the flushed beauty of the fiery gypsy. To gain control of himself, he took out a cigar an

her face black with rage. Her tears had vanished and with them went her softer mood. "You-you

d a pace he faced her squarely. "You must have been drinking," he decl

nterrupted Chaldea, her breast hea

silly way? We were very good friends, and now you have spo

ooped. "Never ag

ve chosen to act in this way. Come,

lly girl," flashed out C

iffened himself.

nder the window this afternoon. I

hed his hands. "You-listened?" he ask

d with a triu

ou have no right to lo

ly could not discuss so delicate a matter with this wildcat. "Why did yo

e you, and lov

re talking nonsense," he declared with enforced calmness. "And it is ri

an wait," insiste

no difference. I don't love you, and I ha

the girl. "Is that bec

rac

le lady, that is

ng to talk over such things with you,

iness of the Gorg

d, you mean. Wha

ly one of us," interrupted the girl

ubert

"He comes to the fire of the Gentle Romany

of that dark, lean, Eastern face impressed him

son of the ro

arted violently. "

s in our camp enjoying the old life. Shall

ed to him that honesty was the best policy at the moment. "I shall see him myself later," he declared after a pause. "If you listen

ed the girl contemptuous

him

u love h

See here, Chaldea, you are dangerous, because this silly love of yours has warped

e, my golden rye,

hing wrong, and I don't intend to do anything wrong, so you can say what you like. To-night I shall

haldea, her breast risi

h a spy," and he gave her a contemptuous look, as he strod

h till the dood wells apré," which means: "Wait un