The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-11-23

to his new honors. There is to me
something treacherous and cruel in the
very glance Of his eye .aud the sound
of his voice.
"You are prejudicel, my daughter
| see nothing Of this Indeed, | be.
love him to be sn honorable man. in
every respect worldly Of you. You
haze no brothei.' added Lord Vernon,
solemnly, m his daughter made no
reply. "and will soon have no father
for my race is nearly run. 1t grieves
mo to leave you so unprotected, aud
1t would take the last sting from death
could Sc you the earls wife
Let IL DO as you say father" re.
piled Lady Blanche, indiiIercntly.
Since Walter is dead, care little
what becomes of me
"Th. earl has been waiting for
some time to see you. Blanche may
he come in aud receive your ccusent
lrow your own lips -
Lady Blanche inclined her head.
And IN few nomeu,S the willy man
was by her side.
Il have no heart TO give you" she
said, in reply TO his earnest protesta.
rioas, liftinR her ewes calmly, "bu,
my hand is yours Whenever you choose
to claim tt"
If the most devoted and teuGcr
love eau win your heart, il cannot fail
to be mine, dear lady," said st. Croix,
softly.
NAY, my lord said Lady Blan-
che, firmly, lit will avail little. All the
Leart that have is buried ~ Sir
Walters grave. Yet promise that
all can give you shall be yours any
day you name
jason. ST.. Croix murmured few
words Of thanks, then, raising her
hand respectfully to his lips, turned
away, aud, mounting his morse, 70 10
rapidly towards ErDgton Castle, lis
hgart full of exuliation At his success.
As he was passiuG through mar
row dcfie form wrapped in II large
cloak suddenly crosscl his pith, start
linz hls horse 80 that ho ucarly throw
him from the saddle. With q nut
tered mprecatlon he turncl towards
the intruder.
at is ], Jason st. Croir said a
duep, hollow voi,c.
Tho cloak was thrown back, and
the pale ght Of the moOu fell upon
The tall form o. woman, clad in g
strange, fantastic a,tirc. Her ilishin.
ewes wcro black as midnight, as also
Was the heavy mass of dsordercd hair
that fell below her waist, snd her con-
plcxiou dark even TO swarthiuesa.
Yet, in spite Of her weird, uncarlhly
aspect, there was something in the
general contour OF her face which
showed that she had once possessed
more than common beauty.
"Ardellew exclaimed St. CrOix as
tonished
Nay, Jsson," said tho woman,
with q low, bitter laugh. mot the |,
wing aud trustful Ardcllo Slencia
whom you lured by your vilo arts
from her happy homo, but the gip'y
queen -
IL thought -
"You thought me, as you intended
me TO be dead !" she said, interrupting
him with a still more bitter laugh.
But my dear friend, poison does not
always kill. even when administered
by so practiced hand as yours, |
have many an au.idote for such as
you gave nle on the night of our las,
meeting !"
"You are talking at ramdom, wo-
man." said st. Croix, s'oruly. recover
,ng 10 n measure his se!ipossession
What is it that you want of me
uouey p
Not for the world would | touch
your gold Jason ST Crolx,' exclaimed
the Gipsy quesa with a hsush'y ges-
ture "red az it is with the blood oi
the innocent! No, came to warn
yon. ,pan, that the cup Of vengeance
il nearly foil, that the sword OF justice
is ready, oven now, to descend upon
your head Go, and instead Of full
filing the wicked propose that is in
your heart, mount your acetest steed
and escape into sIne far country, and
there by life Of psn't'nc' strive to
retricve the past
Are you mad, woman, to address
such language to mo p exclaimed
ST. Croix, angerly
Nay, hear me out Jason,' exclsim'
a IL Ni--.. .-.... IN l.,,l.. IL