MUSIC AND MYSTERY

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 19 (Supplement)

MUSIC AND MYSTERY

(By Louise Carlton)

CHAPTER 11. Interrupted Festival In a Hash Roma was out of bed. It’s all right. Zai,” she cried reassuringly. "Don't be alarmed. Her sister's voice had come from the bed the other side of the van, and she knew that she was safe. Her cry of alarm went ringing through the camp the next moment. The dees commenced to bark wildly; lights sprang up in the vans, and in a lew seconds the camp was humming with life. The door of the chief’s van opened and he emerged, having hurriedly thrown on some clothes. "My child,” ne called, in agitation. "What is the matter?” "There was a stranger in the camp, O my father.” she replied tensely. “He was entering our van. i l waked and saw him, and when 1 / called out he Iledl” l "Search the campl” Milos ordered tersely. ~ _ . . . The men scattered whilst the chief went to Roma's van. "Art thou sure of thy words, maid?” he asked gently. "Think not that you were asleep?” "I did not dream it, father, she told him urgently. "I saw the man quite plainly.” She saw the expression on her father's face—an expression that plainly told her he believed she had been dreaming- . "The dogs,” he said quietly. They did not bark until you gave the alarm. Think you they would permit of a stranger within the campl” Roma bit her lip. She had not thought of that. It was quite true —the dogs had not barked at all. The men reported that there was no sign of an intruder having been in the camp and, with a and a wish that the rest of the night might pass in peace, Milos went to his van and, once more, tile camp sank into silence. But there was no more sleep foi Roma that night. She lay with her eves on the door. And as the night missed and grey dawn appeared, creeping dow-n through the leaves of the trees, she knew that she had not been mistaken 1 How the stranger had approached and entered the camp without the dogs giving the alarm she could not fathom. But she was positive that this was what had taken place. What had the intruder wanted. Why had he come to her van their ' a s'he recalled Zai's cry for her—yet apparently her sister had not awakRoma!” she had called, even as the stranger had disappeared. B.c“ into Roma’s mind had come Zei’s strange words and foreboding of . the day before. How she had asked if She were really a gipsy, and how she had peered fearfully about her in the depths of the woods. Grey dawn developed to a golden glory above the tree-tops. Birds sang toy fully in the branches. With the I'eht of the sun and the cheering sounds of Nature, fear va - ished from Romas heart—she forgot her Romany superstitions. "Hallo, Roma, dear —many happy frQm her bed 0 n the V other side of the van and hugged her \ Her clear skin was Hushed unwontedly ' and her eyes were alight with excitement. She kissed Roma warmly. Then, from outside the van, came the strains of fiddles, playing a festive air, whilst voices joined in melodiously— wishing Roma joy on her birthday. Hastily dressing, ißoma threw open her door and waved and kissed her hand to the warm-hearted Romanies who wished her well. Her father, tall, proud, handsomelike a Romany king of old—greeted her as he would a princess, with all the courtly deference of a cavalier. Her mother's eyes were moist as she kissed her and murmured blessings in her eager ears. What of the stranger in the night n °Roma forgot the incident in the constant round of gaiety that followed All day long the glen resounded with the happy laughter of the young members of the camp as games were played. Presents loaded her van—trinkets mostly. Rut her most treasured gift was that from her father and mother —a frold bangle, with ear-rings to match. Excitement grew as evening approached and the time for the toasting grew near. The meal was Prepared as only true Romanies knew how to do so. and many a passer-by on the main road some IRc bundled yards away paused to take in the appetising aroma that drifted temptingly that way. The meal was disposed of amid the ritual and ceremonial observed by the Romany race, and after that the fiddles made their appearance once again ami Roma made a triumphal t-nir ol the camp, preceded by tlm P 1 ‘_ After that came the more games until, as dusk iei.. ani the fires threw their red fcluw o\u the glade, Zai's special dance was an lTw£ tremblinp with excitement. This was the flrsl lime sin" had ever performed by ami l . « m the dance had been , invented by Roma. , / Ready Rcma' zr, .:k.i e, „ . f from behind their van, in she | had dressed as a woodland elf. 1 H run to the end of the glen. That was the spirit of the dance

for Roma's violin to tempt the spirit of the woods, in the form of the little elf, to come out of its hiding place and dance to the gipsies. No thought of danger was in their minds. Zai's forebodings of the dayprevious had entirely gone. She was living for the joy of her. sister's birthday now and had no thought for anything else. Roma walked slowly towards the centre of the glen, a dainty figure upon which the fires sent their warm glow. Above her hung countless fairylamps and lanterns, casting down a suffused light that was in perfect harmony with the proceedings. Tiie violin's plaintive notes throbbed with duleet purity on the scented evening air. The gipsies, seated in a great circle, listened and watched. It was a sigiit that was to live in their memories for many years—as was the dramatic climax to Roma s carefully rehearsed entertainment. she played on until she readied the bar of music which they had arranged should bring Zai dancing shyly, as if half afraid, from the shelter of the gnarled and twisted tree trunks. But Zai failed to appear. ltoma's eyes went quickly to the spot where, by this time, Zai should have been—-but there was no sign of her. Had she been playing too softly? Had the strains of the violin failed to reach Zai ? Roma played them over again, much louder this time. But there was no response! Zai did not come from the wood! Cold apprehension took possession of Roma; back into her mind had come the sinister apparition of the night—that lurking figure on the doorstep of their van. Simultaneously with that recollection came a sound that elaotrlffed her. It was a cry of fear from the wood —a cYy in Zai's unmistakable tones. "'Roma! Oh, Roma I” That was all —then silence. Just the same cry she had uttered in the n.ght—only louder and more fearful. All the tribe heard that startling, alarming cry—and everyone leapt up. •'Zai —Zai—something has happened to her!” cried Roma’s mother, in heartbroken accents. "Oh, save her! Roma had already gained the trees. The next moment she had plunged into the blackness of the wood —only to realise how futile her errand was. For she could not see—the moon had not yet risen sufficiently to give her light. "Zai! Zai!” she called tensely. "Zai, where are you?” And as the rest of the Romanies came running to the spot where she stood, Roma knew the truth. Zai had been stolen from them!

(To be continued)