The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-09-20

| " III "a II CAS o IL
roundings-th9 great prccipico leading
down a hundred feet or 40, the beautiful
river below glinting 10 ttpo rays of tlre
sun, the majestic trees and huge frowu-
Ing rooks-all these only gave additional
power as @ setting to what was already q
most wonderful picture.
The gypsy girl. with har wondrou9
face and peculiar rich garments, stood
with her form drawn up like tragedy
queen.
Her intensely black eyes were bent
upon the form OF the man before her, as
though she would scovch him with the
fire that was contained In them, whllo
her right hand was raised and the index
finger pointed at her enemy as Ii she
would send poisoned dart to his heart.
The expression upon her face was @
most remarkable one, boing mixture OF
cEazed delight and trembling eageEness,
you are the mani"
Tho one to whom this was addressed
stood there, u very fair representation
of sneerlng Satan In his most pleasing
dress.
His left hand. glovod as 1t was, had
been held out for her inspection, and no
seemed to have little fear OF her, to thus
invite discovery but then she had recog-
nized him before this, and 1t had only
been "a act Of bravndo In oil probability.
He was dressed In black, and, standing
thus, there was, indeed, something SO
suggestive of Mephistopheles about him
that one would naturally glance down
ward for the cloven hoof
The tableau remained uubmlen for
perhaps q full minute, and then 1t was
Barbara Merrles herself who disturbed
the spell that seemed 10 have fallen upon
them.
Eyes, You are the man, the fend, the
demon who destroyed my peace, and
made me the lost ouc l am. Deny II ii
you daref'
The man laughed sneerinSiy,
II have no choice left me, only to pro-
test against tho cndearing adioctivca
you apply to my poor self. If you ask
me plainly, am 1 the man who once
thought he once loved you, and,
finding out his mistake, deserted you
rather than remain and bring you to
more pain, l answer. I am he"
"Then you have pronounced youy
doom. Your words are plausible enough,
md at one time might have deceived me.
but now they como to late. Think you
[ have not mado many discoveries since
you basely left me whom had made every
sacrifice q woman could make for the
man she loves, leaving my gypsy home.
my mother, my all, to become your wi!e
AS l thoughts Aye, when / followed
your track, burning with hatred, 1
learned how you had deliberately planned
my ruin had even made q wager that
you could lure away the daughter of the
Gypsy queen.
"Among the peaks Of the Pyrenees |
made my terrible VOW to hunt You down
to the death, even II it took years to ao-
compllsh it, and have never forgotten
that vow in tho long time that has
elapsed since then. knew that fats
would bring US faco to face again, and
time has proven how wlso was In my
belief
"Here we stand, face TO face, Roger
Darrell of the past, and tho shadowy
wings OF death are darkeninS tho skies
above ue. have sought you long. and
now my own arm shall avengc the past.
IraltoEi uccSlVef, villain, prepare to
meet your Makcrt"
Tho keen stiietto OF the gipay Girl
flashed in the sunliSht.
To many man tho sight would have
been one full of horror, for the captain
stood SO close to the odgc Of the proci-
pico that 1t seemed as though touch
would send him over, and the enragcd
girl was half-crouchod, ready to ly 90
him like panther,
Nota nerve of his frame tre4nfied, aud
yet he knew full we'll his danger. AZ
such a time every faculty was needle d to
save himself, and the soldier could nct
Afford to give way to trembling.
He even smiled In her face.
Perhaps this was done To show Barbara
Merriles that he feared her not, or It