, 1862-10-16

Shading his eyes q moment, his follower ro-
piled, "Ay by my fathers head, can II Il is
that Of the dark Italian, kho Iefl Hereford
week AgOne. But what, ip the name Of plaques
and devils, does he do here, On the IOad kOu
Cardigan Oastlei" t.i..t Ia
was the reply Of the moody prince, whose
blanched face, and the spism of agony that
writhed his lips, proclaimed epangof the barbed
shat that bad gone, poisoned with quick knAw.
ing Jealousy, right into his heart ,s.. n
The cavalcade rode up-the Italian decked 10
al bis haunting bravery, at It's head, and smiling
minciIgly, like one who had conquered unheard
Of difficulties. .5rf sd g. l- s.fui.s4al
"Sohl Prince Meredith" he said, al greet
you, You are on your RETURN Gee. YOd be-
bold me, also, on mine"
They had advanced to meet each other, and
were out Of earshOt Of their iolloWerA 4 c
%YOu have made 4 long stay" grimly re-
marked Meredith. 80.
q And who could help III Egeria was dot
fairer, Vents not more lovely, Gree not more en-
ticingl" exclaimed the Italian In tones Of rapture
"TsEs care /" sAid Meredith, d.rkly frovuinug
upon the Italian.
"Nay, do not but acknowledge that have
lost my wager lH--and he took his golden chain
from of bis neck, with his old, cold smile, and
handed i to Meredith" and thus pay back
TIE glance Of the Prince lighted on his band.
His cheeks became ashy-hs eyes fame. a@a
"WheFe got you that ring that's on your
hand Z" be hoArsely asked bis enemy. A.o
"0h that" said the other carelessly, It's
. pretty toy, Is Il nOt3 I told you that ! had
many gage from fair lady, an this-Why,
what ais your" ~ .'m us
"Do you tell me that my--wile-eave you
this |" gasped Meredith, with an air 50 appalling
that the other invOluntsFily shrunk back, placing
bis hand on bis sword 'a'
"No viOlencel Remember your own safe
conductp be exclaimed. b idI,.- -sssf .es.1
"Do not fear. will not lay hands on you
now I" said the prince, between his grinding
teeth. "But, speak iz-did she give Il you :"
"You'see have Il and We DO not deprive
women Of their trinkela especially prihcesssa, In
their own palacesH t..,,f.,. t...,l \
Z "Liarl" thundered the tortured Meredith.
"But Il Il be 50, Woe-woe to herl Woe toyon
But to me, woel-double woe I and everlasting
nissFyl Ride on, for your life l-Fide on. now
But we shall meet agaih IL tsr Do r,af7r1I
And once again they parted. .u t.s, ~ I
He had flung himself of bis ioaming stsed,
thrust those retainsrs assembled TO meet him
aside, and with brow black ns night, and he
toam on bic ilipy slrods towards the chamboR,
where he beheld bright radiant smiling erea-
ture fastening 70 meet him on the threshold, ut
tering exclamations OF welcome and delight
With an awful sObi horrible sense oppFess-
ing him Is be looked 6n the thing that was 80
beautiful and yet deemed her p be 90 black and
sinispotted, be held her back with his hand, say
ing, The riDgi the. ring with which be.
trOthed thoe-WheEe Is i'll"
II have Il mott" she said, shrinking back In
fear from him.
Then thou didst give Il to himY cried Prince
Meredith
III did" she said "you bade me-" ia
She never spoke word more. -bsl 1rgll
There fell on that forehead, 90 pure, blow g
from an AZ, from bis iron-gloved hand. crash,
scream, . collapsed burden, al white and
bloody, on the hoor. And two ccrpses were
borne away By the horror stricken handmaidens
tho mother and the babs=-in that death agony,
neither Of which would smile upon him, Or bless
him more win their presence, their smiles, their
embraces i'I
From that day he became Meredith Goch, or
MeFedith the Red si'oli
For time, his fifst stnpor vanished IN the
storm that broke upon bis head. The t6thes Of
Ada made head against bin, and much other
blood was shed IL the sanguinary ffays that iol-
lowed. IN one Of these be took the lgeklesS
Italian prisoner. The vile wretch confessed ths