The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-05-14
THE GIPSY's CURSE.
~ suE ACrHOn OF ~GuILTY WITHOUT
cRiME,n UTuE wRgCKERs or
ERNA DOOM RTC.


( bad brought 70 . dreadful death.
Rolsnd first broke the terrible silence,
He advanced step towards his victim,
"Ilma," lac said--and his voice sounded
hard and changed, as changed as bis aspect
---"you have nothing worse than death TO
fear. There is but one way 10 escape
open 70 you"
The giyl did not answer him but he
cav she look OF terror pass from her eyes,
and a deep long breath Of ine6able relief
made her breast hoaYe for second The
horror OF the situation was too new 10 be
yet fully oomprehended, and the thought
OF death as something 10 shrink from had
yet 70 come; IL was as an angel Of light
that it came just now.
Before Roland could speak again, job
STROBE towards the large trapdoor that
gave admittance 10 the loft.
~Tm of, SIR" he said. "Tain't safe 10
stay here long; and, II you'll take my ad.
vice, you won't stay long. The floods may
be up any hour, with the rain falling In
the mountains as 10 is 9ood-by, missy.
You breed your own weird when you let
Dark Darrell catch your fancy with his
handsome face aud glosing tongue"
He uttered harsh laugh, perhaps to
hide some gloam OF better feeling in his
hardened nature, Us he left the hapless
girl 10 her fate; and the next moment he
had disappeared through the trap door and
descended the ladder, whistling loudly.
Roland sprsng TO tbs vindow--ior lima
did not stir N step or move her ashen
iips-and looked out. Was II the CLEAN
q water that he saw Immediately below
Was the river, In the few minutes that
had elapsed, up TO the door Of the hills
IL had almost washed their feet AZ they
entered, but now He turned, and
suddenly grssped llma's wrist, with
grip SO strong that at any other time she
must have cried out; now she seemed
beyond feeling physical pain.
ssllma,' lie cried hoarselY, uhere are
not many moments 70 lose; the foods may
be on US directly! Do you understand?
Come with me- Fly with me--be my wife !;
refuse, snd | leave you here 70 perish.
There is no escape; and there Is no relent-
ing 10 me- would Kill you With my own
hand"--he said those words through his
teeth, his face close 70 hers, his hot breath
on her cheek--"sooner than see you In
Philip Darrelps arms--his bride. Now
choose; there Is no mercy. brought you
here tonight 10 choose between life with
me and death with him"
Steadily, calmly, with the awful roar
Of the swelling waters in her ears, the
young girl looked into the face that seemed
scarcely human. Low and firmly she spoke,
the first words she had uttered In her fatal
prison.house.
81 viii die, am not afraid to die II
my time Is " short, leave me alone 10 pray
Cor am not sinless, though have done
you no wrong"
Roland relaxed his grip and fell back
"Are you madW he said In q hoarse
said 'die with him'i You shall not die
saone--no, no--that were cruelW
He laughed till the rafters rang, and the
GIRL reooiled with new and fearful ter.
Foy 10 her heart Roland's wild wor6
when he parted from her that morning
oame back 10 her. Was he madf
"Ho, no." he said again more calmly,
but with concentrated ferocity In toha
end look almost more terrible than his
Frantic outbreak; "you shall see your
handsome lover once more. lie shall clasp
you 10 his heart again and give youa part
ing kiss. DO you understand meP--
stopping before her, and folding bis arms.
1If you choose death. Shall seud "
Philip Darrell and tell him whore you are;
and know him and his race well enough
10 know what he will do He will come p
With a cry Of agony the girl flung her
self at her captor's feet
"Roland, you csnnot--you will not do
hisl XIII me with your own hand-drag
me from here and fling me into that tor.
rent--but, oh, spare him? Spare your
own soul that added guilt, RolandW She
wed 10 clasp bis hand In the passion Of
net pleading, as she saw that the very
PROOF q her deep love for his rival hard.
ched Sill. more the heart she strove To
snteh' "lsink what his grief will be
Wnen am lost % him, and by 80 awful a
iatel 10 not that worse punishment than
DEATH Is IL not enough TO have my guilt
tess blood on your headf"
ale must fulfill the curse" answered
Roland, evading her clasp; and, with d
wild CLEAN In his eyes, he stamped VIC
lently on tho floor. "What does It sayY
It'll the waters, rising, rising,
Bring the bounden sacrlfeing--
LILO for life for traitor's deed;
when the hoods are out. take beeii'
spare him, whom every word and look Of
yours show how you love htmi No PRAYER
ior your own ltfe--but for his you 20 on
. svu, t HIM If ven choose Sopyl You cat
minute 70 make that choice"
lima rose from her knees. AS che stooC
areet before her would.be murderer facing
Tho narrow easement, tho moon broke GU
suddenly from behind bank OF clouds
and shot broad shaft OF light into The
dreary loft,.shedding pale glory upon the
marble features aud the cleaning COLDER
hair.
al will die with himp' said the girl.
There was silence. The two---murdere
md vctim--sesmed scarcely TO breathe
koland's face WAS shrouded now Ia gloom
Tho girls uplifted " the light, which seem
Cd 10 come w an omen from Heaven; anC
etse breathed prayer for the man she love,
IA prayer for time--only time--thgt dc
struction might come to her 10 swiftly a
70 shatter even tho hope Of his dying will
Der, and 70 save him.
Hush, above the roar Of the weir, and
The rushing river, what was that othel
sound distant End faint, but recognized bl
Che girls quick ear, She had heard II OF
tbe great ~. Lawrence when the Ice brok,
up. Too late! Philip was saved III,
Goods wero upon them
But Roland heard nothing. He Lnpu