camp, Bessie was startled and frightened by the sudden appearance in
their path of the good looking young gypsy for whom the girl they had
been talking to was decorating the jacket.

His keen eyes devoured Dolly as he stood before her, and he put out his
hand, gently enough, to bar their way.

"Will you marry me?" he said, in English much better than that of most
of his tribe.

Dolly laughed, although Bessie looked serious.

"Oh, yes, of course," said Dolly. "I always marry the first man who asks
me, every day; especially if he's a gypsy and I've never seen him
before."

"You're too young now; you think you are, I suppose," said the gypsy,
showing his white teeth. "You come back with me and wait; by and by we
will get married."

"Nonsense," said Bessie, decisively. "He means it, Dolly, he's not
joking. Come, we must hurry."

"Wait, stay," said the gypsy, eagerly. And he put out his hand as if to
hold Dolly. But she screamed before he could touch her, and darted past
him. And in a moment both girls, running hard, were out of sight.