Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-31

iaoy,' said the earl, softly.
Nay, Lord Egberton," said Lady Blanche.
hrmly, 1T will avail little. All the heart thai
nave Is buried in Walters grave. Yet pro.
mise that oil can give you shall be yours any
day you name"
Inc earl murmured few words of thanks,
ana ana tnen raising her hand respectfully to his
NPs, turned away, and mounting his horse, rode
taplaly toward Egberton Hall, his heart full OF
eAuisation at his success. As he was passing
usitow snIS, oenle, form wrapped In large cloak
!nat be nearly threw him Off from the saddle.
win muttefed imprecation he turned toward
the intruder. 'O""'N
III is |, Edward 81. Croix!" said deep hol
low voice; and throwing back the CLOAK. the
psie light OF the moon fell upon the tall form
OF woman' clad In strange, fantastic attire.
fier nashlng eyes were black as midnight, as
also was the heavy mass Of dlsordered hair that
iell below her Waist; her complexion was dark,
even to sWarthiness. Yet In spite of her wierd :,
nnearthly aspect, there was something In the
general contour of her face which showed that
sne mad once possessed more than common
beauty.
ished. O'A' @0'O"'
"Nay, Edward" said the woman, with a low,
bitter laugh, mot the loving and trustful Ar.
dele, whom you lured by your vile arts from
her happy home, but Cleopatra, the gypsy
IL thought" stammered the earl
"You thought me, as you Intended me 10 be,
deHd:' she said, interupting him with a still
more bitter laugh. "But, my friend, poison
does not always kill, even when administered
by so praoticed hand as yours. l have many
an aDtldote such 40 you gave me on the night
OF our last meeting"
gu are talking at random, woman" said
the earl, sternly, recovering, 10 a measure, bis
self-possession. "What 10 It that you want
money!"
mot for worlds would touch your gold, Ed.
ward St. Croix," exclaimed the gypsy queen, j.,
With naughty gesture; "red as It is with the
blood OF the innocent! No, am come TO warn
you, man, that the cup Of vengeance is nearly
full, that the sword of justice Is ready, even
now, TO descend upon your head! Go! and 10.
stead of fulfilling the wicked purpose that Is
in your heart tonight, mount your Aeetest
steed, and escape into some far country, and
there by life of peniten,e, strive to retrieve
the past!"
care you mad, woman, to address such Ian.
guage to met" exclaimed the earl aDgrily.
may, hear me out" said the gipsy queen,
|
is IL not-that is, to witness your marriage with
the beautiful Lady Blanche7'
"lt is," replied her companion, grim smile
OF satisfaction fitting across bis face at the
recollection,
"Woe to the dove when 1t mates with the
hawk!" said the gipsy. edward st. Croix
was not the earldom enough for thee, that thou
must lay thy blood-stained hands also upon the
betrothed Of thy murdered oousin7"
St. Croix fairly reeled upon his saddle
"What do you meant" be gasped.
"Nay, be calm," said the woman, mocking
ly, asshe observed his agitation; 'let not your
craven heart fail you now. Dead men tell nc
tales! The moon that beheld that deed o.
blood, the river that received the body of tht
victim, have no tongue to accuse you. Ye
there is one whose eyes were upon you, ant
whose vengeance will surely overtake you
Go! warn you to fee from the wrath that II
coming"
The earl remained some seconds with hi
eyes fixed intently uDon the spot where the wo
man disappeared. The cold sweat started ou
in large drops upon bis face, and his limb
shook as If seized with an sgue fit.
"She is no woman" he muttered to himself
as he spurred his horse onward, "but q yer,
fend! But were she twice the fend that sh
is, she should not stand between me aud m
promised bride!"
He reached Egberton Hall in safety, and en-
deavored with large draughts of wine to droWI
all recollection Of the scene through which b,
had just passed. But it was In vain; thos,
black eyes seemed to be burning into his very
soul, and the tones Of that strange, mysterou
warning still sounded in his ears.
"Pshaw" he exclaimed, after an ineffectua
effort to Danish 1t from his mind; sit is q mere
suspicion on her part; she con know nothing
about it. But let her, too, beware; for If sht
crosses my path again, will send her wher,
her babbling tongue will be quiet for the fu
ture!"
Once more Lord Cantref's mansion is al
hustle and actively. The bells ring forth mer
ry peal for it is the bridal day of the sole daugh
ter of his house, the Lady Blanche, the Rose O.
Glen Valley.
A murmur of mingled pity and admiration
filled the church as the bride entered. Her fao'
was almost as pale as was the costly veil, who's,
ample folds fell nearly to her feet, and bore tn,
impress of deep seated melancholy. She look
ed more like corpse than q bride, and tn,
whole proceeding resembled far more funera
than bridal. The bridegroom soon entered
whose haggard countenance indicated that b,
hadp assed sleepless night. No murmurs fol
lowed his entrance, even among his own retain
: ers, for he bore no resemblance to the late ear
his predecessor, whose affable and engsgin
manners had made him a general favorite. Hi
morose, unsocial disposition and naughty bear
, ing made him both disliked and feared. As b.
took his place by Lady Blanche be looked littl
like happy bridegroom; his manner was al
stracted, and his eye wore an anxious and rest
less expression, and several times he gave
sharp, hurried glance around the church, as
fearing ito meet some unexpected guest. H
grew oalmer, however, when the ceremony CON
menced.
When the old rector bade those "who kne
i cause or just impediment why those two pc
e sons should not be joined together in holy ma
: rimony to declare it," it was considered
those who heard 1t as mere matter Of form
], and they were startled by the sound of
Y deep, hollow voice in their midst, WhiC
!, said:
"Hold forbid the marriage"
: The bridegroom turned toward the plat
i whence it proceeded. He started, and gre
! = pale, as his glance fell upon the sWarthy bro
and flashing eyes of Cleopatra, the gypl
queen. Unabashed by his angry glance,
the many eyes fixed upon her, she exclaim'
8 boldly:
Q "I proclaim Edward St. Croix, falsely call,
g the Earl of Egoerton, to be forsworn lover,
Il treaoherous kinsman, and a murderer, al
therefore no fitting mate for the pure and gen:
Q Lsdy Blanche Cantref."
s "It is false--she is mad" said the ear
:, hoarsely. "Let the ceremony proceed"
% "Fool!" muttered the woman, "you rush {
% your own destruction. Walter, Earl of Egbe
s ton," she added, impressively, turning toWA
. o man who sat in the back part of the churc
muf1ed up in a large cloak, "come forward al
II proye the truth of my assertion"