The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-02-28
Many of the bystanders gathered arount


st. CroiX, anxious to know the cause o
this strange scene. From the narration
be gave, they gathered that the Earl had
disappeared, no one knew whittier. Tha:
there was no clue to his fate, excepting
his horse, which came home a few minutes
after midnight with dark stains Of blood
upon his breast and sides. The grief and
horror with which St. Croix narrated
these circumstances produced favorable
impression OH those who heard him TO:
! he was next of kin 70 the Earl, and upon
bis death would come into possession oi
| the Eardom.
"My child" said Lord Cantrer, few
months after, who was in close and earnest
conference with his daughter, " | would
no. urge you to take this step. were not
assured that it would result in your ulti-
mate happiness"
Il don't doubt it, father" said Lady
Blanche, languidIy. "But somehow the
very thought is repulsive to me- l never
liked Mr.. St. Croix, and cannot say that |
like him any better since his accession to
his new honors. There is. to my woman's
instinct, something t.eaehe-ous and cruel
in the very glance Of bis eye and the sound
of bis voice"
You are prejudiced, my daughter. +"
said her father. Il see nothing in this.
Indeed, believe him to be an honorable
man, and In every respect worthy OF you
You have DO BROTHER he added solsmnly
as his daughter made no reply, "and will
soon have no father. for nv race is nearly
run. !; gTieves me to leave you So unpre
,tcted. and it would take the last sting
FROM d"s'h could see you Lord Egber-
tone wifa''
Let II be "a YOU say father" replied
Lady Blanche indifferenrly ..Snre Wal
ter is dead, care little what becomes of
me-"
THE Earl has been waiting some time
to see YOU. B'srche." he continued ''m.v
ie come in ana receive your consent from
your own lips Z"
Lady Blanche Inclined her head and
in few mousnts the willy man was by
her side.
Il have no heart to give you," she said
in reply to his earnest protestations, lifting
her eyes calmly TO bis face: but my hand
is yours whenever you choose to claim it,"
'i' the most tender and devoted love
can win your heart. it cannot fail to be
mine, dear lady," said the Earl softly.
g. Nay. Lord Egberton, said Lady
Blanche firmly, it will avail little. All
the heart that had is buried in Walters
grave. Yet | promise that all can give
you shall be ours any day you name
The Earl murmured few words OF
thanks, and then raising her hand respect
fully to his lips, turned away, and mount
ing his hore, rode rapidly toward Eg berton
Hail, his heart full of exuItation at his
success. As he was passing narrow de-
file, form wrapped in large cloak sud
denly crossed bis path, startling his borse
so that be nearly threw him off from the
saddle. With mutrered impI ecation he
turned toward the intruder.
1t is |, Edward St. Croix ~ said deep
hollow voice; and throwing back the cloak
the pale light of the moon fell upon the
tall form of woman clad in a strange,
fantastic attire. Her flashing ewes were
black "a midnight, IS aisc was the heavy
mass of di>ordered hair that fell below her
waist her complexion was dark, even to
swarthiness. Yet, IN spite Of her weird
uuearthly aspect, there was something in
the genera. contour Of her face which shows
ea that she had once possessed more than
common beauty.
"Ardelle !" exclaimed St. Crcix aston>
isheG
Nay. Edward," said the woman with
a low bitter laugh, mot the loving and
trustful Ardelle, whom you lured by your
vile arts from her happy home, but Cleo>
patra, the gypsy queen"
IL thought" stammered the Earl
You thought me, as you intended me
t, be, dead ~ she said, in,errupting him
with still r ore bitter laugh. 'I'ut, my
friend. poison does not always kill, even
when administered by so prac,iced hand
| as yours. | have many an antidote such
as you gave me on the night Of our last
meeting"
You are talking at random, woman"
said tie Earl sternIy, recovering, in mea-
sure, his self possession. what is it that
you want Of ne-money
Mot for worlds wonld touch your
gold, Edward ST. Croix," exclaimed the
gpsy queen with naughty gesture "red
as it is with the blood of the innocent =
No, | am come to warn YOU, man, tuat
the cup Of vengeance is nearly full. that
the sword of justice is Ieady, even now, to
descend upon your head Go and in
stead of fulfilling the wicked purpose that
is in your heart 10 night, mount your fleet
est s'eed and escape into some far country
aud here by life of penitence strive to
retrieve the past,
Are you mad, woman, to address such
Language to me 7" exclaimed the Earl an
griIy.
NAY. hear me out" sad the gypsy
queen calmly, "To morrow is to be your
s.r'dal day is 1t not-that is. tn wines.
rour marriage with the beautiful Lady
b snche Z"
1t i-," replied her companion, a grim
smile of satisfaction fitting across his face
at the recollection.
Woe 10 The the dove whsn it mate,
with the hawk y said The gypsy. Edwart
ST. Croix. was not the Earldom enough fol
thee, tha, thou must lay thy blood stained