Eastern High School - Echo Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE EASTERN ECHO 7 could drop you off home. lsn't that better than going without food and sleeping on the damp ground then still. be lost in the morning? Marny realized that the former plan was bet- ter. She agreed to stay. She and Bomby both ate heartily and then were shown to their beds inside one of the wagons. Marny did not bother to undress but lay down and was soon asleep with Bomby keeping watch. V Marny was awakened by a jolt which nearly knocked her out of bed. She got up and looked out the window at the back of the wagon and saw other wagons, and men on horseback. All were moving along the road, her wagon in- cluded. We must be on the way home, thought Marny. She opened the door and beckoned to the nearest man, who happened to be the same one whom she had talked to the preceding night, Old Shangham Rue. . Are we on the road to the Livingston Es- tate? she asked when he had come up to the wagon. Yes, replied the man, only a few more miles, now. Would you like some breakfast? I'll send it to you in a minute, and he rode ahead of the. caravan. Marny sat down on the steps of the wagon and watched the road slip away beneath her. She was in th-e midst of thinking how the folks at home would feel about her night outing when a youth on horseback rode up. He was carry- ing her breakfast. He handed herthe tray, say- ing: Old Rue says you are to eat all. l will ride beside you until you have finished, to take the tray back to the kitchen cart. Marny tried to eat but found she wasn't very hungry. She looked up, once or twice, when the youth wasn't looking and studied him care- fully. He was handsomely built, his square shoul- ders thrown back. He had a strong chin, a straight nose, eyes that were like shining black pools and black, glossy hair which fairly shone. He had on khaki pants with leggings, a gray flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up ex- posing his almost brown skin. You are to eat all of that, for we have many miles to travel before dinner and you will be hungry. What! cried Marny, many milesibut the Livingston Estate is not-cannot be many miles from here. Livingston Estate? asked the fellgw. Who said anything about Livingston Estate? l did, she responded haughtily, that's where l'm going. He laughed outright at her commanding air. Marny was thoroughly angry now and she flashed him a scornful look which he must have felt, for he straightened up an-d explained the joke to her. 'ils that where they told you you were go- ing? he asked, trying to hide a smile. She explained her experience to him, then he continued. ' Oh, but you were foolish to think they would take you home. They know you are of a wealthy family and they are holding you for ransom. Didn't you think of that? No, I never knew there were such mean people in the world-of course l have read about them in books but never have l met any. Oh why was l so foolish! She wanted to cry but she wasn't going to give this boy a chance to laugh at her again. She frankly told him that she would wait her chance to run away and went into the wagon and shut the door. VI All morning Marny sat in the wagon as it rolled roughly over the road. At times she would look out of the back, but on seeing the same youth on horseback nearby, she would turn around and sulk again. ' She tried to think of some way to let her parents know of her whereabouts or of some plan to escape, but no sensible plan came to her. Once she thought of tying a note around Bomby's neck and sending him home, but he wouldn't know the way home. And besides she had not writing material. She had to give up that plan. She decided that surely when her parents missed her they would send out search- ing partiesi. Accordingly she would make the best of her plight. At noon the troup came to a halt. There was a clatter and chatter and a great excitement over the preparing of the noon meal. Marny thought she would go out and get a little exer- cise. She opened the door and went out. She found the same youth standing by the door. You wish something? he asked. l am going to walk, was her haughty reply. May l not accompany you on your walk? he requested, you may get lost in these woods. . I don't get lost, l'm not a baby. I shall take my walk alone. Pardon, but were you not lost last night? he asked, his eyes twinkling. He evidently liked to tease. No, l was not lost last night. l just strayed

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6 THE EASTERN ECHO down. Then she realized that she was tired, after all. Bomby stretched out on the ground beside her and fell asleep. She felt drowsy herself so she thought she, too, would take a little nap, then they would go home for, even if they hadn't found adventure, they had had a good time. She lay down on a mossy ledge of rock and before five minutes she slept. Meanwhile, night came from its Eastern cave and took the place of day and the woods were as black as if they had never known the warm rays of the sun. II Marny, half waking, rolled over on her mos- sy bed and her arm touched a sharp rock, near- by. She awoke as the pain stabbed her arm. OW, she cried, then O-o-o-o it's dark! Turn on the light somebody! But as she said it she felt something cold and wet touch her face. Oh, she gasped. Bomby barked, for it had been his nose IVIarny had felt on her face. She realized now where she was. Silly, she said to herself, now it's dark and you'Il never find your way back home. I wish I had never taken that foolish nap. Come here, Bombyln and when she felt Bomby's fur, well, come on we'll start anyway-we can't get lost much more than we are, so taking hold of Bomby's collar she stumbled along. When they had walked what seemed to Mar- ny about fifteen miles, really only two, they came to a steep hill. When we reach the top of this hill, Bomby, I'm going to rest. I'm about all in. This is wonderful adventure, nearly killing yourself falling over tree stumps and roots. I'm bruised all over, I'll bet. It doesn't hurt you walking in the dark because you're used to it, but good- ness-me! Well, here we are at the top. What's that-looks like a fire! and it was. I do believe it's a camp, exclaimed Mai-ny excitedly, maybe some of the campers can tell us the Way home. So without thinking of any danger Nlarny approached the camp with Bomby. III The gypsy camp had just settled for the night. Old Shangham Rue, the commander and leader of the gypsies, had ordered the camp for the night to be made in this spot. All the men were busy ,unpacking while the women were cooking the evening meal. There were fifteen families in Old Shangham Rue's gypsy band. There were about twenty-five able- bodied men, including, of course the younger boys. They were what might be called a rich tribe, having been successful. in all their ran- som deals, and having stolen quite a few val- uable things. There was always plenty of food and they seldom had any serious troublef This gypsy band, an unusually clean band of wan- derers, by the way, was content, but because they were content does not say that they would not take more, for what person, even though he has nearly all, would not Want he all? Such was Old Shangham Rue's gypsy band Whose fire lVIarny had seen. IV As Marny approached the camp fire she smelled a very pleasant odor-meat frying- it seemed to make her feel as if she had not eaten for ages. She walked boldly up to the edge of the camp fire. Good evening, she said to an old woman who sat by the side of the fire, can you tell me the way to the Livingston Estate? I'Iuh? replied the woman, looking up from the pot she was holding over the fire. HI say, can you tell me the way to the Liv- ingston Estate? You see, Bornby-my dog- and I are lost and we'd like to know the way home. Never heard of such a place, responded the woman and looked down again at her work. IVIarny walked to the other side of the fire where there were three women likewise cook- ing. After repeatedly stating her question and repeatedly receiving vacant stares as an an- swers, IVIarny became impatient. Wait a minute, one woman interposed, I'll get Old Shangham Rue. She arose and walked swiftly back to one of the wagons. IVIarny hadn't any idea who Old Shangham Rue was, but she would hail anyone with joy who knew the road home. She scrutinized the camp and she realized what sort of a camp it was. She was just about to run away when the woman came back with an old man. You wish to know the way to the Living- ston Estate? Old Shangham Rue asked. - Yes, do you know? said IVIarny eagerly. Oh, yes, the man replied, 'ibut not at nightg that is I don't know the road at night and I doubt if I could tell you how to go, he concluded, but if you will remain with us to- night I will show you the way home in the morning. We are traveling that way. Oh-er-err I couldn't stay for the night, said IVIarny clutching Bomby's collar tighter and backing away, I er-a I think I had better go now. But what is your hurry, replied Old Rue, you could have a good meal and a nice rest, then in the morning as we go your way we

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8 THE EASTERN ECI-IO from the road and happened to find your gyp- sy camp. Oh, he replied meekly. She flung back her hair and started away from the camp. I am sorry that I must thrust my company on you-I am sure I do not wish to-but we must obey higher authorities and you know yourself that you threatened to run away. You may have had the chance had you not declared your intentions so freely. HI suppose there is no help for it, Marny sighed, and I simply must get these cramps out of my legs. ls there no other way to travel be- side riding in the wagon? If you care to you could ride beside me on horseback. I could get you a very gentle pony. Oh, you needn't bother about the gentleness of the pony. I have ridden before. As she said it she smiled-she was thinking of the many silver loving cups she had won for steepl-e-chase riding and hurdling. The young man looked at her from the cor- ner of his eye. A pleasing sight she made, too. I-Ie was not finding it so difficult to be her guard. I-Iave you seen Bomby? ' she broke in. Bomby? you mean the dog? Oh, yes, he's around here somewhere, probably getting fed with the other dogs. I-Ie will be well taken care of, he assured her. They walked on for some time then Marny declared that she was ready to return. As they approached the camp they heard yelps that seemed to come from an animal in pam. That sounds like Bomby, Marny said, ex- citedly. She started to run and the young fellow ran by her side. As they came up to the camp Marny screamed when she saw the sight before her, and her companion ran on ahead of her. - A large, burly, ugly man was furiously lash- ing Bomby with a huge whip. I-Ie was holding the dog by the collar so that he could not get away. The dog was whimpering and yelping. The men and women did not seem to notice the dog being whipped but when the youth came up to the scene he knocked the whip from the brute's hand. The man was so surprised that he let go the dog's collar and Bomby ran away. I-le was caught up and petted by lVIarny. The youth thrust out his strong fist and struck the man under the chin. The man staggered back and fell. This caused the attention of everyone to be centered on the two men. A short strug- gle ensued and the ugly-looking brute was soon lying insensible on the ground. Marny had watched the fight with admira- tion in her eyes for Bomby's champion. When the Fight was over the youth went away, amid cheers from the crowd, to a wagon at the other end of the camp. The offender was carried away. Everything was soon packed up again and the tribe was ready to resume its winding way down the dusty road. lVIarny's guard brought two saddled horses to her wagon and told her to mount the black one. She did so and they started off. For a time they rode on in silence then Marny looked up very meekly and said: I'wish to thank you for what you did for Bomby today. It was awfully noble of you. To this there was no answer. I think you might let me thank you, Mar- ny said with an injured air. Oh, he said, of course you may thank me if you wish-although it was nothing--I have had many quarrels with Francois and I am always glad to have an excuse to deal him a blow. But Marny knew that he did not mean what he had said, and she liked him for making up the excuse. I-Ier feeling of anger toward him was gradually decreasing and she was begin- ning to feel admiration and respect for him. Would you mind telling me your name? she asked. What's in a name, he laconically replied. I would just like to know who Bomby's champian is, she replied. I-Ie grudgingly gave her his name. Ramon Lascelle was Bomby's champion and lVlarny's guard. VII For the greater part of the afternoon they rode on in silence. Occasionally Marny would cry out in delight over a beautiful flower or scene but she very rarely received any re- sponses from her companion. She finally stopped talking altogether, although a million questions arose to her mind. She wondered first about the people at home and then she thought of Ramon. That night as she lay in her bed the ques- tions repeated themselves again and again. She was beginning to worry about her position and her parents. She awoke on hearing a tap on the door. It was just daylight. The gypsy band were hav- ing their morning meal. A gypsy maid entered. We're traveling through a small town, 'bout noon, she said, you got to put on these clothes. Those is too tony to look like me. You Continued on page 45