The Gypsy Queen's Vow

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cave her shr

the lonel

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ke a lost soul returning to Hades. She stood on London bridge, and, leaning over, looked down on the black, sluggish waters beneath. Many lights were twinkling here and there upon the numerous barges rising and falling heavily on the long, lazy swell, but the river elsewhere lay wrapped in the blackness of Tartarus. One plunge, she thought, as she looked over, and all this gnawing misery that seems eating her very vitals might b

e misery mine has felt," she thought; and then a dark, lowering

lamp, and then were gone, if any of them had ever felt anguish like to hers. While she stood clutching the parapet, a female form, in light, flowing garments, was borne on, as if by the night wind, and stood gazing down into the gloomy waters beside her. One fleeting glimpse she caught of a pale young face, beautiful still, despite its look of unutterable woe; and then, with a light rustle, something we

ervals with her dark, horny fingers, as if she would tear thence the anguish that was driving her mad, she still flew on, until once again she found herself before the brilliantly lighted mansion of Earl De Courcy. Swelling on the night air, came borne to her ear strains of softest music, as if to mock her misery. Gay forms went flitting past the windows, and, at intervals, soft musical peals of laughter mingled with the louder sounds of gayety. Folding her arms ove

hands, pleading vainly for the mercy he could not grant. Amid all the glitter and gayety of the brilliant scene around him, he could not forget the pleadings of that strong heart in its strong agony. He thought little of her threats-of her maledictions; yet, when some hours later he missed his son from the gay scene, dark thoughts

deal of a delightful Satanic old sorceress! I would have given anything-my diamond ring, my French poodle, every single one of my lovers, or even a 'perfect love of a bonnet'-to have had her tell

collected that dark, impassioned woman pleading for her only son; but

urse, little bright-eyes.

it? Oh, how delightful! W

, 'With pleasure, my lord!'-that I was to indulge her with 'lov

know the old Duke of B--, my lord!" she added, in a mysterious whisper. "Well, he is not quite right in his mind, poor man! and I am going to propose to him the very first chance! The family diamonds are supe

th smiles, Miss Clara danced away to a window n

gravity, to preserve the young lady's secret inviolate, and was now turning away,

dark, dreadful gipsy we were talking of, herself. Only look at that awful face; it is posit

urdle. It rose before him so unexpectedly, as if she had risen from the earth to confront him, that even his strong heart grew for a moment appalled. Her tall form looming up unnaturally large in the uncertain light; her unsheltered hea

finger pointed upward, her ominous gaze never for a single instant wandered from his face. So wild, so threatening was her look, that the shriek she had opened her mouth to utter, froze on little Miss Jernyngham's lips; and the earl, wi

clouds of night rolled sullenly back, and morning, with

r, passed up and down the thronged thoroughfares. On the river, barges, yachts and boats ran against each other in the gloom, and curses, loud and deep, from hoarse throats, mingled with peals of gruff laughter, from crowds of rowdy urchins on the wharves

ts tortuous way to the vessel's side, amid the laughter, scoffs and jeers of the crowd. Yet there were sad faces in that crowd, too-faces hard, rough and guilt-stained-that grew sorrowful as better men's might have grown, as some friend, son, husband or brother went by, straining their eyes to take a last look at the land t

e very heavens. And "Hurrah! for the gentleman gipsy!" "Hurrah! hurrah!

falcon eyes flashing with a scorn that made more than o

ard, despairing woman-rushed through the crowd, and greeted him with the passionate cry: "My son! oh, my son!-my son!" a silence like that of death fell over the vast throng. Unheed

rf. The crowd was dispersing; and the officer, at last, who was guarding Ketura, moved aw

g might intervene to restore him yet. With parted lips and heaving breast, she stood there, as any other mother might stand, and watched the sods piled over her child's grave; and still she would not believe he had gone forev