The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-03-06

I
woman cladin strange, fantastic attire. He,
flashing eyes were black as midnight, as also
was the heavy mass of disordered hair that fell
below her waist; her complexion was dark, even
20 swarthinesss Yet, in spite of her weird .un-
earthly aspect there was something in the gen
eral contour of her face which showed that she
had once possessed more than common beauty
Ardee = excla med St. Croix astonished.
i 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
queenn
/ IL thought stammered the earl.
You thought me, as you intended me to be-
dead 7 she said, interrupting him with still
moro bitter laugh But my friend, poison does
not always kill, even when administered by SO
practical hand as yours. l have many an an
tidots to such as you gave me OIL the night of
our last pleeting!'
you are talking a. random, woman said the
earl, sternly, recovering, in measure, his self
| possession. What is it that you want of me-
money?
NOT for worlds would l touch your gold,
Edward St. Croix, exclaimed the gypsy queen,
| with naughty gesture red as it l. 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,
|
of fulfilling the wicked purpose that is in your
heart tonight, mount your feetest steed, and
escape into some far country, and there by a life
of penitence strive to retrieve the past
| Are you mad. W oman, to address such lam
guage to me p exclaimed the earl angrily.
Nay, hear me out said the gypsy queen,
calmly. Tomorrow is to be your bridal day is
it net-that is to witness your marriage with
the benutiful Lady Blanche =
I = Cd bar ;Io
of satisfaction fitting across his face at the
recollection.
Woe to the dove when it mates with the
hawk said the gypsy. Edward ct. CrOix,
was not the earldom enough for thee, that thou
must lay thy blood stained hands also upon the
betrothsd of thy murdered cousin 4
st. Croix fairly reeled upon his saddle
what do you mean !? he gasred.
Nay, be calm, said the woman, mockingy,
as she observed his agitation let not your
craven heart fail you now. Dead men tell no
tales The moon that beheld that deed of blood,
the river that received the body of the victim.
have no tongue to accuse you. Yet there is one
whose eyes were upon you,a and whose vengeance
will surely overtake you. Go! warn you to
fee from the wrath that is coming.
The earl remained some seconds with his eyes
fixed intensely upon the spot where the woman
disappeared. The cold sweat started out in
large drops upOl ldCo1 otlu lluiOS SuOOh
as if seized with an ague fit.
She Is no woman he muttered to himseif,as
he spurred his horse onward, but very fend
But were she twice the fiend that she is, she
should not stand between ME and my promised
bride =
He reached Egberton Hall in safety, and en-
deayored with large draughts of wine TO drown
all recollection of the sceLe through which he
had lust passed. But it was in vain those
black eyes seemed to De burning into his very
soul, and the tones of that strange mysterious
warming still sounded in his ears
'Pshaw = he exclaimed, after Intellectual
effort TO Danish it from his MUD it is mere
suspicion on her part; She can know nothing
about it, But let her too beware for if she
crosses my path again, / viii send her where
her habbling tongue will keep quiet for the flu
tare'
Once more Lord Cantrefs mansion is all bus
tie and activity. The bells ring forth merry
neal for 1t is the bridal day for the sole daugh
ter of his house. the Lady Blanche the Rose of
Glen Valley.
A murmur of mingled pity and admiration
filled the church rs the bride entered. Her face
was almost as pale as was the costly veil, whose
ample folds fell neaIly to her feet, and it bore
the impress of deep-seated melancholy. She
looked more like corpse than bride, and the
than a bridal The bridegroom soon entered,
whose haggard counteDance indicated that he
had passed u seepless night. No Inurmurs fol-
lowed his entrance, even among his own retain
ers for he bore no resemblance 10 the late earl,
his predecessor whose atiable and engaging
manners had made him general favor,e. His
morose, uusocial disposition and naughty
bearing made HIM boz disiked and feared. As
he took his place by Lady Blanche he looked
1;.,Io honnI htidaCrnom his rnaunar waS
distracted, and his eye wore an anxious and
restless expression, and several times he gave
sharp hurried glance around the church as
if fearing to meet some unexpected guest. He
grew calmer, however, when the ceremony COM
menced
When the old rector bade those who knew
cause or Just impeachment why those TWO per-
sons should not be joined together in holy mat
rimony to declare it, it considered by those
who heard 1t as a mere matter of form, and they
were startled by the sound ofa deep hollow voice
in their midst, which said;
Hold forbid the marriage
The bridegroom turned toward the place
whence it proceeded. He started and grew pale,
as his glance fell upon the swarthy brow and
flashing eyes of Cleopatra, the gypsy queen
Unabashed by his angry glance, or the many
eyes fixed upon her, she reclaimed boldly:
L proclaim Edward ST. Croix, falsely called
Earl of Egberton,to be forsworn lover,a treach-
erous kinsmau, and a murderer, and therefore
no fitting mate tor the pure and gentle Lady
Blanche Cantref.'
1T is false-she is mad eaid the earl hearse-
w. Let the ceremony proceed
Fool y muttered the woman, you rush on
your own destruction Walter, Earl of Egber-
ton she added, impressvely, turning toward
man who sat in the back part of the church,
mufled up in large cloak, come forward and
, prove the truth of my assertion
At these words the man arose, and throwing
back the cloak, revealed face which, though
pale and CHASTITY, bore strong resemblance to
the Young earl's. Then walking deliberately
ND the aisle, no approached the altar, and fixed
| his eyes sterniy upon the countenance OF the
guilty man. When st. Crooks eyes fell upon
him, he stood like one transhxed with horror.
Then, throwing his arms wildly above his head,
as if TO protect himself from further approach,
he fell heavily to the floor, blood gushing from
his mouth and nostrils
All but Que among that horror stricken group
supposed it 10 be the spirit of the unfortunate
earl, which had returned to take vengeance Gil
his murderer, and feared to approach him. But
Lady Blanche, rushing forward, threw herself
wildly upon the bosom Of her lover, obtaining
convincing proof as she did so, from the warm
kisses that tell upon her cheeks and lips, that
it was no spirit but her own Walter
i When they lifted st. Crolx from the place
where he had fallen they found that lite had de-
parted 1t seems that the wounds given to the
young earl were not, as his murderers supposed,
mortal His plunge into the river, instead of
rendering his death certain, stored him to con-
! sciousness and when he arose to the surface
he made desperate effort to regain the shore
In this be would not probably, have been sue
cessful, for he was very weak from the loss OF
blood had st not been for the gypsy queen, who
was crossing the river in boat with some OF
her followers. She picked him up, conveyed him
to her tent and with the most devoted and ten
der care nursed him through the long and dan
gerous illness that followed.
The earl on his recovery, became aware OF
his cousins usurpation of his estates and title,
also his betrothal to the Lady Blanche; but re-
tanning a grateful sense of his Indebtedness to
/ the heroic woman to whom he owed his life.
FL -, z