The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1861-12-21

fNNJIE o. f,isss 5.s91ls isi5,iss
msut did mot escape the observation Of Lady
whose cheek grew pale with fear.
1t is from Walterm she exclaimed, break
ing from her attendants and following her ia,
ther. ""Tell me,p sheIadded, wildly, address
ing St Croix, :" is he ill---dead Pr : ~,
n. Be calm, my dear child" said Lord Can
tref, soothipgIy, whose countenance betrayed
great agitation; "the young earl is not dead,
only missing, It is 70 be hoped be will yet
be found" ,p,,a.,ets ~. fsI.....,,f I'd zlb'a,IE
Lady Blanche made no reply, but fell pale
and gasping into her fathers arms, who quick
ly cdnveyedihcr to the carriage y = / '
Many:.of the by ISLANDERS gathered around
St. Croix, anxious to know the cause of this
strange scene. From the narration he gave,
they gathered that the earl had disappeared,
no one knew whittier. That there was no clue
to his fate, excepting his horse, which came
home a Eew minutes after midnight, with dark
stains Of blood upon his breast and Sides
The grief and horror with which St. Gfoix
narrated these circumstances produced a very
favorable impression on those who heard him,
for he was next Of kin to the carl, and upon
his death would come into possession Of The
earldoih. 70 '1 '"'.l it5i. .l' !.'' ''aas'i''l'
ii f0 y u &ra &.ine ~ T2.%55 49,
any child" said Lord Cantref, few months
after, who was in close and earnest conference
with his daughter, II would not urge you tt
take this step, were hot assured that it woult
result in your ultimate happiness" '''. 'a' b
"I do not doubt it, father" said Lady
Blanche, languidly "But somehow the verj
thought is repdlsiye to me. 1 never liket
Mr.. st. Croix, and cannot say that like hin
any better since his accession to his new hon
ors. There is, to my wonan's instinct, some
thing trcacherous and cruel in the very glanc'
of his eye and the sound Of his voice" 50 -
"Youare preiuiiced. my daughter" said
her father. Il sec nothing of this. Indeed
| believe him to he an honorable man, and il
every respect worthy of you You have nc
BROTHER" he added, solcmnly, as his daughte
made no reply, "and will soon have no father
for my race is nearly rum 1t grieves me tt
leave YOU so unprotected, and it would tax,
the last sting from death could see you Lor,
Egbertof's wife" sf N.' a't!h@. '' s5's. ''
ale it be a,you 50 4 he - 70 lied Lad,
Blanche, imditferentlv. Since Walter is dead
I care l,ut little what becomes of me-"
"Fhc carl has been waiting some time I,
sec Won, Blanche" he Continued; "mav HI
CONS III and receive your consent from you
own ljps?" ."si ia' =. '''' ., .'' -.i' Al"
" Lady blanche inclined her head; ard in
few moments The willy man Was by her sitlc
II have no heart to give you," she said ii
rn,,l r., hic ~pnut L;nrI, l. ..
Ieyas calmly to his ftcc; "ba' my hand is your,
whenever you choose to claim it, 81 ~ '.f,
iii the most d,yosed and tender love cal
win yoar. hearts1it cannot fail. TO be mine, dea
LADY, said the carl, softly. (, a., ,s.,,,o.l.l
t"Eay, Lord Egberton," said Lady, Blsnch
firmly, sit will avail little. All the hear
that have is bpried il Waters grave. Ye
Il promise that all can give you shall be yours
any day YOU name.'',sq yf.s...7,, l,.sw, =, ~
The cari mufmurcd afew words of thanks
and then raising her hand respectfully to hi
lips, turned away, and mounting his horse
rode rapidly toward Esberton Hall, his hear
full of exultaton at his sue cess. AS he wa
passing through narrow dc6le, form wrap
ped in large cloak suddenly crossed his path
startling his horse so that he nearly threw hin
from the saddle. W;tha muttered impreca
ton he turned toward the intruder. - ,..}.
ut is l., Edward St. Crox." said deer
hollow voice; and throwing back the cloak
the pale light of the moon fell upon the tai
form of woman, clad in strange, fantastic
attire. Her flashing eyes were black as mid
night, as also was the heavy mass of disorder
cd hair that fell below her waist; her complex
ion was dark, even to swarthincss. Yet, il
spite of her weird, unearthly aspect, there wa
something in the general contour of her fac
which showed that she had once posscsset
more than common beauty. W -., .,, ...,.
".Ardclle!"' exclaimed St. Croix, astonishcd
"Nay, Edward said the woman, with
low, bitter laugh, mot the loving and tr,,stfu
Ardelle, whom you lured by your vile art
from her happy home, but Cleopatra, the gyp
sy queen" t.g7 e5 ,g.a,ngo. 4.ad1 ..u
"I-I thought" stammered the carl. -,
you thought me, as You intended me t
be, dead." she said, interrupting him with
still more bitter laugh. But, my friend, poi
son does not always xiii, ,-even when admins
tered by SO practised a hand as yours. | hav
many an antidote for such as you gave me O.
the night of our last meeting! eslt 5aaa
"You arc talking at random, woman" sal
the earl, stcrnly, recovering in measure, hi
self possession. "What is it that you want Z
mc---moneyH, sa sI al..a .ra
:, "Not for worlds would / touch your golt
Edward st. Croix,' exclaimed the gypsy qree
with naughty gesture; ''red as it is with tn
blood of the innocent! No, I am come I
warn you that the cup of vengeance is nearl
full, that the sword of justicejis ready, eve
now, to descend upon your head! Go and ir
stead of fulfilling the wicked purpose that
in your heart tonight, mount your fcetes
steed, and escape into some far country, an
there by alife.of penitencci strive to retriev
the past!' d Is5i t. a5i1T aa 3 syft
b, "Are you mad, woman ,todaddress sue
language to me?'i exclaimed the earl, angril,
may, hear me out" said the gypsy queer
calmly. To.morrowwis 'to~be your brid;
day, is it not-that is to witress your ma
riage with tho beautiful Lady Blanche?' ri
ut is" replied her companion, agrim smi
Of satisfaction fitting across his face at ii
Frceollection. .f'2' . 1'f''e o' - 'fl2t.'7
"NVoc to the dove when it mates with II
hswlz!" said the. gypsy. Edward 81. Croi
was not the earldora sufficient for thee, TIL
thon must lay thy blood stained hands al,
upon the betrothed of thy murdered cousin
s.. Croix, fairly. reolSd upon his sadele.
, f"What do you lneanN he gasped. '''.I ~. ~
'"Nay,o be calm, y said the woman, mockin
ly,, as she observed hisagtation; 'let not yo
craven heart fail you now. Dead mon Il
, no tflesi The moon that beheld that deed
, blootl,e the river that received the body Of Il
victim, ihase no tongue To accuse ,S6u.iG, Y
there ieRpne whose eyes were ppon you, Al
! whose vengehee will surely overtake you. q
, warn you to flee from the wrath thatis col