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n 
V 
402 
RUE. 
BY BE FORREST P. OL'MMF.rtSON. 
Sr ring, with its idle and dreamy hours, 
Its budding trees, and beauteous flowers, 
Makes glad once m ire the heart of man, 
As it lias since ever the world begun. 
And over the far-off plains below 
1 catch the tint of the sun’s red giow, 
And watch on the lakelet dark and gray 
The shadows that on Its bosom play. 
And I think of a dream that, once was mine. 
And the cup that I drank of Cyprus wine. 
And how that the dream lias never come true, 
And the wine that 1 drank was hitler as rue. 
For winter Will conic, and summer will go, 
Ar.d the flowers we love will lie under the snow. 
Anil the fondest dream that the heart has known, 
I ,Uce theoutnmn leaves will have faded and flown. 
(Bur j&urg-SWtyr. 
THE GYPSY’S AMULET, 
BY M. A. AUDEN. 
“ On, the charm of this beautiful country air, 
full of the perfume of blossoms! It is poetry 
to be here, so do not laugh at me, Mr. Practi¬ 
cality.” 
“No, indeed,‘Miss Persiflage;’ I enjoy it 
as much its you.” 
“Calling each other names, as usual. Carry, 
you and Mr. Myrtle are now under rny espe¬ 
cial jurisdiction, and you arc to conduct your¬ 
selves according to my code while visiting me,” 
and the speaker laid one of her soft, jeweled 
bauds on Carry’s arm, and raised the other 
warningly at Mr. Myrtle. 
“ What is your code, Mrs. Tracy ?” asked Mr. 
Myrtle, with his most deferential air; “while 
here, I abide by It." 
“And good habits once formed, like bad 
ones”—C arsy begun. 
“ May lie reetilled,” said Mr. Tkacy, joining 
them with a good-humored smile. 
“Wrong, as usual, Mr. Tracy,” said his wife, 
with a reproving look, “ no one wants to rectify 
good habits.” 
“And I am sure nobody want* to rectify bad 
ones,” her husband replied. 
Tims talking, they passed from the verandah 
to the pleasant dining room, and betook, with 
many frankly uttered words of praise, of Mrs. 
Tracy’s snowy broad, and delicious strawber¬ 
ries of her husband's raising. 
“Isn't it early for strawberries?” asked Mr. 
Myrtle. 
“Yes it is,” said Mr. Tracy, with becoming 
pride, “ but ours have riphned.” 
“ Wild strawberries are the most delicious,” 
added Carry : then said quickly, noticing the 
shadow stealing over her hostess' face, “ these 
taste very much like wild ones.” 
“ Yes; but they arc live times as large,” re¬ 
plied Mr. Tracy, triumphantly. 
Carry saw the smile lurking in the corners of 
Mr. Tract's mouth. 
“ There never were such strawberries as these 
before,” she said; “is not that true, Mr. 
Tracy ?” 
“Quite true, Miss Gassy. Shall I help you to 
some more ?” 
While he was filling her saucer, Mr. Myrtle 
asked” Do people about here go strawberry- 
ing?” 
“Are there any people about here to go?” 
asked Gassy. 
“ Oli, yes," Mr. Tracy replied ; “ there is quite 
a little settlement about, a mile from hero, and 
when huckleberry’ time comes, troops of chil¬ 
dren promenade my estate, and realize small 
fortunes from the fruit of their labor.” 
“Yes; at that time I reel the blessedness of 
giving, doubly, every quart of berries that 1 
buy,” said Mrs. Tracy. 
“It is a thrice hcuretily place to live,” said 
Gassy, sighing; “if I were here at huckleberry 
t ime, I should trespass so far on your charity as 
to promenade our lands for the coveted fruit. 
I would let you have what I picked for supper 
and not charge you anything.” 
“ Of course you will be here; you are going to 
remain through the summer, you know.” 
” Till July," said Gassy : “ then I have another 
visit to make." 
Mr. Myrtle grew visibly pale. There were 
only a very few weeks left for him to parry and 
overcome the light skirmishing of Gassy's love 
artillery. 
“I am out of all patience with those two,” 
said Mrs. Tiiacy to her husband. " Gassy will 
leave us, and that—that foolish—blockhead—" 
“ Mrs, Tracy !” 
“Yes, Mr. Tracy, ‘foolish blockhead’ will 
let her go, and then they will spend their days 
wondering and lamenting, and blaming every¬ 
body—you and me most. Now, dear, what shall 
we do?" 
“ Console ourselves with the thought that the 
course of true love never did run smooth.” 
“Would that have consoled you?" she asked. 
“ Listen to meand drawing him intoa retired 
corner of the room, which was quite empty, she 
revealed to him in a whisper something which 
amused him, and which he promised to con¬ 
sider. 
As July came nearer, the roses scattered the 
I earth, blown shapeless and withered at the will 
A ! of the wind. 
- v - fy 
% 
3tL 
OOBE’S BUBAL NEW-YOBKEB 
They wpre fading out of Carry's cheeks, not 
unnoticed by Mys. Thacv’ 8 loving eyes. 
“I am going to propose a little excursion," 
she said to Carry. “There Is a gypsy encamp¬ 
ment, a plea-ant drive from here, which I want 
you to visit. To he sure, the gypsies are a thiev¬ 
ish set; but if we go armed with silver, they 
will rospeet us, and 1 think we need have no 
fear.” 
“Mr. Myrtle has visited the encampment," 
said Garry. “Hesaid there was nothing very 
picturesque about them. They were a party of 
stragglers ready to take your money, and with 
sufficient provocation, your life.” 
“Then perhaps we hail better not go,” Mrs. 
Tracy said, in a tone of disappoinl merit that 
resolved Garry at once to undertake the trip. 
“Oh, yes, wo had better go,” site said ; “ I do 
not think Mr. Myrtle is much of a judge of the 
picturesque. I prefer to form my own opinion 
of the place." 
Accordingly one.aflermum, under a sky which 
shone, yet threatened rain, Mrs. Tracy started, 
with Carry’ and Mr. Myrtle under her wings, 
to visit the gypsy encampment . 
Mrs. Tracy, disdaining Mr. MvuTLE'floirer to 
drive, banished him to the back seat of the ve¬ 
hicle, whereupon Gassy, In order to enjoy the 
beauty of the scenery through which they pass¬ 
ed, clambered on to I he front-seal, leaving him 
alone in his glory. 1 f steep and rugged in many 
ways, the woodland road through which they 
passed was charming, and Garry allowed her¬ 
self a flow of eloquence, brought to short stops 
by Mr.M yhtlk’r common-places. 
“ How beautiful!” she cxeiai med, as they pass¬ 
ed through a bower of willow branches, and 
saw sparkling on either side the waters of a 
brook whoso babbling they could hear; “ I feci 
transported to Kiyshtn fields. I sit with Juno 
in her chariot, Apollo ” 
“ Apolly’ON, " Interrupted Mr. Myrtle ; 
“ Apollyon on the back seat, longing for-” 
“His lyre,” said Mrs. Tracy’. 
"Liars,” said Mr. Myrtle, “longing for his 
liars.” 
Whereat Carry laughed ; Mrs. Tracy's cheeks 
dimpled, and she drew down her chin, as if tol¬ 
erant of, though half disdaining such foolish¬ 
ness. 
Aa they approached the scone of gypsydora, 
several dogs of different degrees of leanness ami 
ferocity approached, and welcomed them in a 
manner which did not wake any exclamation 
of delight from Gassy's lips, and she was thank¬ 
ful when their owners whistled them away, 
leaving only a surly mastiff to guard thoir en¬ 
trance, to the encampment. The dark-browed, 
indolent gypsies were scattered in different at¬ 
titudes over the green sward, ami in front of 
their tents dwellings which, stained and 
weather-beaten, presented t he usual foreground 
of cross-sticks, tires and kettles. < 
As they tra ersod the little settlement, beg¬ 
ging and basket selling commenced, and after 
giving alms, and accumulating purchases, they 
started merrily on their homeward journey. 
“ Apollyon,” ns Garry still continued to call 
Mr. Myrtle, entreated to drive; but Mrs. Tra¬ 
cy’ firmly refused him the privilege, bidding 
him attend to his lyre. 
Whereupon, he devoted himself to Gassy. 
A few drops of rain fell, and as they approach¬ 
ed the densest portion of the woody country 
i lirough which they were passing, a black cloud 
hovered over them. The pony slackened his 
pace. A crackling of underbrush was hoard, and 
emerging from behind a group of dork pines a 
gypsy stood before them. A heavy cloak hung 
gracefully about him, while a slouching hat 
yvvis crushed artistically partly over his eyes. 
11 is straggling, coarse black hair gave him an 
uncanny look, and an exclamation of fear es¬ 
caped Carry's lips. Mrs. Tracy, cm the contra¬ 
ry, coolly stopped her horse and waited for the 
gypsy to approach. 
“ Why do you not drive on ?” asked Mr. Myr¬ 
tle, more in consideration of Gassy’s fears 
than of his own alarm. 
As lie spoke the gypsy, with a few long st rides, 
placed himself in front of the carriage. 
“ What do you wish ?" demanded Mrs. Tra¬ 
cy, with a boldness that appalled Carry’ nearly 
as much as the gypsy's presence. 
“ Our money or our life," added Air. My’rtle, 
mentally, whilst he regarded t he gypsy curious¬ 
ly, determining, at least, that he was not a 
robber. 
“ It is you who may wish," the gypsy said, 
“ see!” 
As he spoke the sun broke through the clouds, 
and dazzling flashes of light answered hack 
from something the gipsy was holding in his 
hand. 
Garry* leaned eagerly forward, forgetful of 
every fear,to gaze at the gorgeous crystal. 
"An amulet,’’ lie said, "possessing wondrous 
powers.” 
“ As we perceive,” said Gassy*. 
“Powers that you do not now perceive, lady,” 
he said, in a deep, melancholy voice; “take it 
in your hand a moment.” 
Gassy obeyed, and a new exclamation of de¬ 
light escaped her. “Is it not glorious. Apolly’¬ 
ON ?" ahe asked. 
“Charming," said Mr. Myrtle, regarding 
steadily the amused face of the gypsy; “it 
Yvould almost answer for a lyre.” 
•' Do not be nonsensical,” said Mrs. Tracy’, 
frowning at Mr, My rtle. "Explain to us the 
powers of this wonderful amulet, Mr, Gypsy.” 
” It. is of such a nature,” the gypsy said, “ that 
I can only reveal it to one person at a time. 
The fair lady who now holds it might know its 
secret if she would give me a few moments 
alone In her presence.” 
'‘Would you ?” asked Garry, in an undertone. 
“I think there will he no harm in it,” said 
Mrs. Tracy. “ You will be in sight ail the time 
if you stand under that willow tree." 
“Madam!” exclaimed the gypsy; “awillow 
tree ! We may not stand beneath a willow tree 
in presence of this amulet. Would you have 
your fair lady friend bereft of all her lovers? 
left-” 
“ Of course you know I wouldn’t,” said Mrs. 
Tracy, “ stand under the best tree t hat you can 
find that isn't out of sight." 
“ Not ice those feathery plnoa,” said the gyp¬ 
sy, raising his arm. over which his cloak hung, 
giving it a . wlng-likr aspect,and pointing a yard 
or two in front of them; “see how lovingly 
their branches twine together, whispering se¬ 
crets of trusting love, kissing and caressing, 
lleneuth them we may safely stand in presence 
of the amulet.” 
Garry’’h eyes grew radiant with wonder ami 
daring. She hastened eagerly to dismount from 
the carriage, no longer fearful, only eager to 
learn the spell of the wondrous crystal. She 
trembled when the gypsy took it from her hand 
and held it close against his heart. 
“You may wish by it,” he said. “If, as I di¬ 
vine, if as it whispers to me, you are longing, 
yet doubtful, wish by it. and your longing and 
your doubt must cease. You have only to press 
three kisses upon It and press if three times 
against your heart, speaking the name of him 
you love—and henceforth he Ih yours." 
Garry’, blushing at. her own credulous foolish¬ 
ness, took the precious amulet, and kissing it, 
laid it against her heart. 
“ Hut you have neglecte! to utter his name,” 
the gypsy said. 
“ I spoke it to myself,” said Carry, blushing 
more and more at her own folly. 
“ Ah, lady, that xvill not do. True love knows 
no shame. Speak softly—only myself and the 
trees will hear you. I shall forgot, and the 
trees understand only their own sweet mur- 
muvings.” 
“True,” Raid Carry, “I tut—I cannot speak It." 
The. gypsy considered a moment. “ You may 
write it," lie said, “and place it dose against, 
the amulet; kiss It three times, placed against 
your heart, give H t<> me. and I promise you 
that before three days you shall receive it from 
your lover's hand." 
“The name?” asked Gassy’, In alarm. 
“ No, lady, the amulet,” said t he gypsy, sooth¬ 
ingly; “it shall lie yours, and a token of his 
const ant endearing love." 
Gassy took from her pocket a tiny pencil of 
gold, and YVTOtC upon a piece of thin white bark 
the gipsy handed her, the name as he directed ; 
then, with trembling fingers, wrapped It about 
the amulet, and pressing if. into the gypsy's 
hand, hastened from him to the carriage. 
The gypsy disappeared among the shadowy 
trees os Mr. Myrtle helped Carry to her seat. 
He refrained from questioning her, and she, 
with averted face, seemed lost, in contemplation 
of the scenery. 
A few gent lerai ndrops falling in Mrs. Tracy'r 
face, she cheered the lagging pony, and at a 
speedy rate they approached the house, whore 
Mr. TraOy hastened to the gate to meet them. 
•‘ I am very glad you have come," he said ; " I 
was beginning to be frightened-—then, sud¬ 
denly at, a signal from his wife, lie disappeared 
within the house. 
“ It was fortunate we arrived," said Mr. My’r- 
tlb; " his face was dark with fear.” 
"Tt was all streaked with Something,” said 
G.arsy ; “he might have passed for a gypsy.” 
“ Bread and molasses,“said Mrs. Tkacy. “ He 
always takes the opportunity when I am gone, 
t,o eat liread and molasses, lie knows I won’t 
allow It when I'm here. In his haste, ho only 
half washed his face.” 
“Is it all off?” asked Mr. Tkacy, returning 
with afaee that now slume from snap and water. 
“I’ve been handling room paper, off which the 
color chose to come, and my wife hinted to me 
that my face had not escaped.” 
Garry passed into the house, Mrs. Tracy 
drove the pony round to the barn, and Mr. Tra¬ 
cy’ and Mr. Myrtle were left regarding one an¬ 
other. 
Aftor a while they walked down the garden 
path, and spent some time conversing together 
in a remote corner of the garden. 
Carry’, before her mirror, was arranging her 
hair for tea. “Three days,” she murmured to 
herself; “ at t lie end of three days I am to know 
whether he cares for me or not. the dear, pro¬ 
voking man !" 
Then chiding herself for her foolishness, she 
descended to the dining-room, where it seemed 
to her that the faces that met her ati seemed to, 
say, “We know something very pleasant that 
Yve’re not going to tell you yet." 
Falling into the mood of the expression. Gas¬ 
sy spent a strangely happy evening, and the 
following day, dreaming it over in the summer 
arbor, she became suddenly conscious that 
some one was looking through the leafy trel¬ 
lis, watching her. 
“ Come in, Mr.-M yrtle," shesaid; “ the arbor 
will hold us both. The mosquitoes and ants 
and lady bugs accommodate themselves as easi¬ 
ly as drops in the ocean.” 
“Then they are more accommodatin'* t p an 
usual," said Mr. My’rtle, entering. 
“ Lady bugs are nice,” said Cary f „ g ee w -hat 
pretty red and yellow spots G ,j S one has.” 
“A toad would exhibit ’ oe auty in your eyes,” 
said Mr. My'Rtle, sttd.Vlng, 
“That would depend upon whether I saw the 
jewel in his head or not," said Carry. 
“ You call to my mind the gypsy and his amu¬ 
let," said Mr. Myrtle. 
Gassy blushed and started, then sat speech¬ 
less, with a thrill of pleasure, as ho seated him¬ 
self beside her, it ml slowly drew from Ills pocket 
—the amulet. 
Ho placed it in her hand, and as it lay there 
It caught the colors of the sunset and set them 
dancing over both their faces. 
“Everything la golden and rosy and light,” 
laughed Carry’. 
You accept it then ?” 
She looked up at him with a smile as radiant 
iis the amulet in reply. 
Later, as they walked slowly t oward the house, 
Garry said Cm so puzzled to know how it 
all came about. It is quite like a poem.” 
“A lyrical one," said Mr. Myrtle. “When 
you deal with Apollyon and his liars, nothing 
ought to seem strange to you.” 
“ You couldn’t have been the gypsy unless 
you are Apollyon, t ruly,” Carry said. 
“ I the g> psy 1” 
“ But how came you by the amulet ?” 
“By the spell you wrought about it." 
“I have been duped,” said Carry*. “I have 
been betrayed into an unblushing confession of 
—of " 
“Never mind,” said Mr. Myrtle. 
“ But I do mind, and I’ll not take the amulet 
—or you—till I know how you came by it.” 
“ Do not be unreasonable, Carry*.” 
“ Unreasonable 1" 
“ The sound of their voices is not very lover¬ 
like,” reported Mrs. Tkacy to her husband, 
with whom slm had been anxiously awaiting 
t he Issue of affairs. Not that Mr. 7 racy was 
anxious, fur lie was not, being very confident of 
a favorable termination. 
“Their first, quarrel," he said; “they have 
been accepted lovers at least half an hour." 
“I’ll ask him," said Carry, excitedly, enter¬ 
ing the room. 
" Did you—did you, deceive mo? Mr. Tracy, 
were you the gypsy ? Oh, yes, I know you were. 
You wicked, wicked man ! Think if—if lie had 
not cared forme; of my chagrin, my mortifica¬ 
tion.” 
“ Hut then you would never have known,” 
Hald Mr. Tr acy, coolly. 
“Hut you would have known." 
“ And am I not n man to be trusted, as much 
ns if I were the gypsy you mistook me for? Hut, 
Miss Gassy, believe nie, I would not have forced 
your secret from you If I had not, beard pre¬ 
viously from Mr. Myrtle’s lips a similar dis¬ 
tressing revelation." 
“Obtained in a similar upplnudable manner,” 
said Mrs. Trac y. “ You never would have had 
courage tc> speak, Mr. MYRTLE, nnd Gassy never 
would have favored you with an opportunity. 
1 was obliged to resort to strategy.” 
“ That accounts for your bravery. You would 
have screamed a# I did if you had not known 
who the gipsy tvas. Did you know him thou, 
Mr. Myrtle?” 
“ I discovered him by the expression of hiR 
face when you addressed me as Apollyon. All 
that happened afterwards confirmed my suspi¬ 
cions." 
“ And you let me be duped 1” said Cassy, re¬ 
proachfully. 
“ I thought you might as well as I." 
“ Did you kiss the amulet and press it against 
your heart ?" 
“Three times; and spoke your name, to cap 
the climax." 
“ With right good will too,” said Mr. Tracy; 
"so now lie happy. You see no unfair advan¬ 
tage Yvas taken of you." 
Gassy was silent regarding the amulet. All 
at once, she laughed softly. “Who would ever 
have tiiought of it but Mrs. Tracy !” she cx- 
clai med. 
” Nobody,” said her husband, regarding her 
proudly. 
“The wonder to me is,” said Mrs. TRACY, 
pluming herself, “ that Gassy swallowed the 
bread and molasses so readily.” 
” Charge all things to the amulet,” said Gas¬ 
sy. “ My thoughts were full of it. If you had 
told me Mr. Tracy’s abolition principles were 
breaking out anew, as a reason for the appear¬ 
ance of liis face, 1 should have heard and be¬ 
hoved, and never have guessed t he truth." 
“I've been wondering,” said Mr. Myrtle, 
“ how you reached home before us, unless you 
rode upon the amulet." 
“ I strode," said Mr. Tract, “in a rapid man¬ 
ner over several fences and break-neck walls 
and ditches; arrived here, threw off my dis¬ 
guise, half-washed my face, and hut for Gassy’' s 
belief, should have betrayed myself then and 
there.” 
“The question nowIs,”said CaSSY, “to whom 
tiie amulet belongs.” 
“To you,” said Mr. Tracy, “ on the word of 
a gypsy.” 
“ A false gypsy and a false word,” said Gassy*. 
“ It belongs to Mrs. Tracy, as a reward for . 
matrimonial designs.” 
And Mrs. Tracy’S it became by common con¬ 
sent, and as the years went by the Myrtle 
blooms bejit eagerly above it, smiling with pleas¬ 
ure at it;? beauty, and laughing merrily at the 
st”' r y that wag told them of the part it played 
in twining the parent vines together. 
--- 
A gushing poet asked in the first line of a 
recent effusion. “How many weary pilgrims 
| lie ?" We give It up, but experience has taught 
ua that there are a good many. 
