The Shasta courier., 1867-06-01

! question. Ihe whole OF the gypsy troop
were taken prisoners. Johnnie Muir defend
ed bravely himself and his lady love but
all in vain. They were made captive, and
conveyed back to the Tower of Cassilis
| The earl spake not word ON their home
ward ride, nor did the Lady Jean say aught
to him. She knew his disposition we'll:
prayers and pleading would have been in
vain--what he had resolved, that would he
do. But she turned her head ever *
toward where her lover came. his ha sds
bound tightly behind him, led by two of the
earl's retainers, and with his dark eyes fixed
upon her form. She needed not the presence
OF her husband, but continued to cheer her
knight by afectionate words and gestures,
the tears rolling down her cheeks as she
spoke, her sobs of anguish and despair rem
derlDg almost inartculate what she stroye to
say.
| Reaching the tower the earl selected fifteen
OF the youngest and handsomest among the
gypsy men, and these, with Sir John Muir,
were placed beneath the great plane tree in
front of the house the rest he dismissed
with blows and stripes. They fled in terror,
bowling and lamenting the laughing,
merry maidens weeping-the old men, the
women, the children, all alike feeling that
some terrible consummation was about to
involve their friends, their lovers, their
fathers, their companions, in one common
doom. But they did not dare to ask for
mercy; they knew too we'll the stern earl's
temper--ail turned away in sadness and
dispar.
The earl bid that the fifteen should, one
by one, be hung upon the plane tree, and
that, last Of all Sir John Muir should suffer
the same fate. Then, with strong arm he
/ LODI his l,Iu into u l. IN
entreaties to be allowed to perish with her
lover-spite of her lond, shrieking farewells
Johnie Muir responded to her farewells,
but in firmer tones, mingled with heart
spoken blessings and prayers for her happi-
ness. He reiterated hundred times his
expressions Of undying love and worship,
his thanks for the return she had made him,
his acknowledgment Of her affections. These
two lovers, thus on the brink of separation
of death--of unknown agony, thought
only Of each other and their love. To them
the future seemed nothing, as the past must
soon be; and all that was to come and all
their weight of guilt-all fear Of punishment
IN this world CT in the next--Were lost in
| absorbing sorrow of that parting.
The lady was dragged into the castle. the
rope was around the neck of the first of the
poor gypSles, who was thus to die for the
fault OF others, when voice at the window
of the tower, facing the plane tree, was
heard to exclaim-
Yes. you shall see it all-see all the
misery thy crime has caused, suffer all these
suffer. Think of the condemnation thou has
given these, then live to remember!'
All looked toward the window there were
the countess and the earl
One by one the gypsies were given to their
death; one by one they swung upon the
great plane tree. The countess strove to flee
from the sight, but her lord held her fast,
and all he said was ever and anon:
- See, cruel woman see what thou hast
done!"
The countess writhed and struggled to be
free, but she strove in vain She strove to
shroud her eyes and shut out the dreadful
spectacle, but could not prevent herself from
locking; every time she opened them, she
closed them again instantly with fearful
shrek, for every time some face was turned
toward her own, distorted in the death
agony.
At last came Johnnie Muir. Then the
earl, leaning from the window, shouted
forth
Bring him nigh, beneath, that my lady
may look upon her lover
They followed the earl's words. Then the
countess leaned forward from the easement.
her long hair streaming down she reached
her arms toward her loyer-she called wild
ly upon his name. He could not raise those
fettered hands, but answered her with tender
speeches. Calm, proud, self possessed with
no emotion visible upon his countenance,
save an unquenchable love for herself and
pity for her sorrow, he gazed upward to her
face. Then, murmuring a few passionate
tarewels, he turned toward the gallows tree
The shrieks of the unhappy lady made every
cheek grow pa,e save those of her stern hus-
band and her dying lover these possessed a
constancy which nothing could daunt-these
showed no fear and no remorse.
What a terrible scene That miserable
woman that diving man that stern hus-
band suffering so deeply, inficting so much
Y
The lady lived long-lived in solitude aud
disgrace. She never again saw the children
she had deserted the husband she had in
jured. Through long, long miseral lie years
she fingered, enduring the agony of a re-
memberance, words could not depict or the
heart scarce imagine.