The Gypsy Queen's Vow

Absalom! Would to God, I might die fo

-three hours later; in a narrow, dark, noisome cell, with grated window and iron-barred door, with a rude pallet of s

erce, flashing eye of fire; thick, clustering curls of jet; a daring, reckless air, and an expression of mingled scorn, hatred, defianc

Villiers-his handsome face l

he said, sorrowfully. "Can

atherly care, going to clothe, feed, and provide for me during the

er, mocking laugh

"My father, like all the rest of the world, believes you guilty, and I can do nothing. But if it

rdly believe I have taken to petty pilfering, your father and the

that, Ge

moth

ng her to you?" said Lor

. "My mother is probably in Yetholm with her tribe. You don't need to be told now I a

t short, sarcastic l

t. Gipsy or Saxon, I cannot forget you once saved my l

last hour will be cheered by the thought," said the young man, drawing a deep breath. "If ever you see my mother, which is not likely

face flushed, and then

ge I can carry for you, you have only to

muttered the prisoner, half to himself. "I thank you for you

, Germaine, how

is queen of her tribe. It is something to be a queen's

y?" repeated Lord V

has surpris

act that I saw her

her!

s house. She c

while his eyes fiercel

to see him? Villiers, you do not mean to s

father returned among his guests, looking very much as if he had just seen a ghost. In fact, I never saw him with s

th, through his clenched teeth; "but no, my mother was too prou

n and wild; very wretched, in a wo

ips, as he bowed his face in his manacled hands, an

, with tears in his own eyes, "your

wrung his han

to discover her, and se

hoked, and

and send her to me before I leave England to-morrow, you would be conferring the greatest possible favor on me. Th

er," said Lord Villiers, rising and taki

Ernest. God

e gipsy met in a strong cla

lady's, doomed now to the unceasing labor of the convict, when a noise as of persons in altercation in the passage without met his ears. He raised his head to listen, and recognized the gruff, hoarse voice of his jailer; then the sharp, passionate voi

the

my son!" he was clasped in the arms of his mother-clasped and held there i

mother, that I

ver mention it again! What is heaven, and God, and mercy

oor m

ed in sin and born in iniquity, even as I was; yet the God you call upon permits him to live happy, rich, honored, and prosperous, while I-oh! it maddens me to think of it! But I wi

r! Do not talk

raging in my heart and brain? Oh, for the hour

the young man, almost sternly. "

ll the thieves, and murderers, and scum of London, and I-I will live for re

while her eyes grew unnaturally brigh

e hardest blow of all! Try and bear up, for my sa

that he, that any man, should hold my son's life in the hollow of his hand, while I am here, obliged

es glaring, blazing, like those of a wild beast; her long, talon lik

for me tonight?" said the young man, wh

I kissed the dust at his feet, and he replied by a cold refusal. But woe to thee, Earl De Courcy!" she cried, bounding to her feet, and dashing back

elf up to such a pitch of passion; you only

ge of eruption," she said, looking

sive, forbearing

iving as a tiger robbed of its young-forb

ng smile on his lip. In that fixed, iron, relentless look, she read a strong, determined purpose, relentless as death, or

e these mad threats and curses of yours are. They will effect nothing but to have you impriso

niac look of passion that had hitherto convulsed her face, gave way to one

y sole earthly pride and hope! Oh, Reginald! would to

ionate, despairing cry of a mother's utmost

h tears in his dark eyes, "do not give way to this w

clasped round her knees-her dry, burning,

yet meet again. Who knows?" he

flamed eyeballs on him

s as breaking chains

d, straining ga

wer of man, I shall escape

his last look of heaven, might have worn just such a look-so

," said the gipsy, in a voice so deep, hollow a

sacred trust to leave you, for whic

st, my

You shall hear my story, mother. I would not trust any li

ginald. Though I should have to wade t

hands the better. My advice to you is, when I am gone, to return to Yetholm, a

ly with invincible determination

n his handsome face; "but I suppose it is necessary I should tell you all. I thought never to rev

pacing to and fro his narrow cell, while the dark, stern woman, crouching in a distan