The Gypsy Queen's Vow

wither from thy

ter! earth, a

, his light! and

yr

g which the wild, black eyes of the woman were fixed immovably o

lead for her son," said the strange woman, sinking on

and feeling himself obliged, as it were, to use a resp

y son! my first-born! Oh, spare him!" said t

derstand," said the earl, kni

ent-as innocent of the crime for which he is to suffer as

derstand. Who is your son?" said

Reginald-my only son! Oh, my lord! spare hi

am,

ou have pard

ery, and has been very justly condemned. I can do nothing for him,"

!" almost shrieked the w

has been proven guilty,

fiercely exclaimed the gipsy; "he is innocent of this crime, as innocent of it as th

command yo

stooped to actions I loathed, that he might be happy and free from guilt. And, when he grew older, I gave him up, though it was like rending soul and body apart. I sent him away; I I sent him to school with the money that years and years of unceasing toil had enabled me to save. I sent him to be educated with gentlemen. I never came near him, lest any one should suspect his mother was a gipsy. Yes; I gave him up, though it was like tearing

hrieked out that frenzied appeal for mercy,

er the face of the earl,

is guilty. I ca

ed the gipsy, dashing fiercely back her wildly-streaming black hair. "He my proud, glorious, kindly-he

e! Once again I

pardon fo

. Heaven knows I do! but he

espair. "Oh, Earl De Courcy! you, too, have a son, handsome, gallant and noble, the pride of your

again say he deserves it. Nay-hear me out. I know you do not believe it; you think him innocent, and, being his mother, it is natural you should think so; but, believe me, he

your heart, do not kill me! For, Lord De Courcy, it will be a

event it. And once more, madam, I beseech

hrowing up her arms in the impotence of her despair. "Oh, lord earl, I have never knelt to God or man before;

you I

can have his sentence annulled. By your soul's salvation, by your hopes of heave

wild, lurid, blazing with anguish and despair; her clenched hands upraised in passionate prayer for pardon. A fearful

ht; but his stern determined look passed not away. His face s

w the iron-heart would soften!" she cried out, wit

urself. I can do nothing for y

annot be! I am going mad, I think! T

no power over y

ingle day among those with whom you would send him? As y

in vain. Ri

ref

o. R

, and, awful in her rage, like a tigress robbed of her young,

whole life to revenge on you! Living, may ruin, misery, and despair, equal to mine, be your portion; dead, may you never rest in the earth you sprung from! And, when standing before the judgment-seat of God, you sue for pardon, may He hurl

t convulsive, terrific face-that face of a fiend, and not of mortal woman. A moment a