The Gypsy Queen's Vow

pake no

statues or bre

other and looke

ksp

life! Oh, Lady Kate! isn't she charming?" And little Miss Clara Jernyngham, in an outburst of enthusiasm, earnestly c

d daughter of an impoverished Scottish

rides, looks doubly so now. How many of the

, or do something else equally dreadful, for carrying off the reigning belle! I really don't see how any man in his proper senses could help falli

dressing-table near, she might have seen a sudden flush in the dark, handsome face of Lady Kate as she

not care?" said Lady Kate,

ever was in love in his life, and never will be, so far as I can see. He will, most likely, die an old bachelor, if some rich heiress does not take pity on him, marry him, and pay his debts, before long. Did yo

replied Lady Kate, her handsome face growing proud and pal

been in love with you before, he must certainly have fallen into that melancholy predicament this evening," said little Miss Clara, dancing off on a

uquets, laces, gloves, and tiny satin slippers, that would scarcely have fitted Cinderella herself. Lady Kate McGregor, proud and stately, in white satin, and point-lace, and pale, delicate pearls, stood leaning against the marble mantel, her handsome eyes growing cold and scornful whenever they rested on Miss Clara Jernyngham. Th

her like a summer cloud, three glistening folds of richest lace, so light, so gauzy, so brilliant, that it looked like a flashing mist. Diamonds that blinded the eyes with their insufferable light rose and fell on her white bosom with every tumultuous throb of the heart beneath. Like a floating clo

with so severe a headache that she was unable to leave her room. Therefore, the ceremony had been necessarily delayed until the evening, when the august bishop of C-- himself was to come and perform the nuptial rite at the Percy mansion. Some were inclined to look upon this interruption in the light of an evil omen; but Lady Mau

ions, and liked ancient customs kept up, had determined his daughte

ewhere, as if they wanted change of scene to reconcile them to what they have done," said the old gentleman, in strict confidence, to Lord De Courcy. "It wasn't so in my time. Then we had all our f

t saloons of the stately hall were thrown open, and now they were filled wit

of the most distinguished politicians of the day-his eyes now and then wandering from the faces of his friends, to rest proudly

soul-savers," as Captain George Jernyngham irreverently called them, was the

turning of many bright, impatient eyes towards the door where the bride and her attendants were presently expected to make their appearance. Ladies coquetted, and flirted, and turned masculine head

aw them, were Lord Ernest Villiers and his

ore so now than ever. What man does not look well when happy, fa

the young gentleman himself was well aware; and lounging in his usual listless attitude agai

une-consequently, the toadying jade shows you a face all smiles, and gives the cold shoulder to poor devils like me, who really stand in need of her good graces. This world's a humbug! Virtuous poverty, illustrated in the person of Captain George Jernyngham, is snubbed and sent to Coventry, while potent, rich,

you would have me believe," said Lord Villiers, laughing. "Young,

oned will exactly supply me with that useful article. I intend trying the matrimonial dodge, some day, if I ca

e, being out of

en I fell in love with our cook, a young lady of six-and-thirty. My father forbade the banns; she ran off with a

been heart who

t up a chandler-shop, there would be a paragraph in the Times headed: 'Melancholy death by starvation. The bodies of an unfortune couple were found yesterday in the attic of a rickety, six-story house, and the coroner's inquest returned a verdic

mustache complacently, wh

shouldn't wonder if it's what 'l

is moment, and whispered s

nyngham," he said hastily. "

ircase he was joined by Jernyngham and Howard, the second groomsman

and Lady Maude was met at the foot of the stairs by Lord Villiers,

beautiful Maude! never so beaut

earnestly said, looking up in his f

a most unaccountable manner beneath her light touch. Young Howard took possession of our gay Miss Clara, whose whole heart and soul was bent on

d the bishop. Book in hand, that reverend personage stood, patiently awaiting their coming, and looked approv

undest silence, the marr

ell. Lady Kate's handsome eyes stole quick glances now and then at the gay, young guardsman, as she thought, with a thrilling heart, how much she could love him, but for the humiliation of loving unsought. Little Miss Clara, with her head poised on one side, and her finger on her lip, wa

breathless silence Ernest Seyton, Viscount Villi

offer their congratulations, when pealing through the silence came an unseen

a life for a life! My curse, and the curse of

or was this awful interruption; so terrific was that deep, hollow voice, that the shrieks they would have uttered were frozen to the lips of the terrified women.

Courcy! May their bridal robes turn to funeral-palls! may their hours of rejoicing end in blackes

esounded through the room and the

ied hither and thither in wildest confusion. All was uproar and dismay. Lord Villiers, with his senseless bride in his arms, was

doors, and look for the intruder. This is the tric

ts and all. Each room was searched-every corner and crevice was examined. If a pin had been lost, it mus

with wonder, they gave up the fruitle

as told; and then, chill with apprehension, the guests began rapidly to disperse. And in less than an hour the stately house of Maude Percy was wrapt in silence, solit