The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-04-27

squirting down Ludgnte Hill, on his wa,
westward, while Father Francis, cnveloped
in bis cowi, paced slowly and thoughtful,
back to the cathedral. The people made
way for him rcverontly and bowed low; the
father had the reputation Of being rich in
the odor OF sanctty, aud many counted
themselves happy in his 'Bcnedictc.'
The hours pissed awnv and i, became
night--a fair, cnlm, summers night, in
which the moon and stars seemed striving
TO outshinc each other. A deep hush was
upon London. The last lot ot the crew Of
'prcnticcs, who had been willing away the
lengthy twilight BY a noisy game Of foot.
boil in Cheape. had been summoned with
in doors by his vigiInnt mnster, and the
streets were left TO the occnsionsl home re-
turning rcvclIcr, who either paced along
with typsy gravity, or made the old houses
ring with snatches OF the drinking songs
which still buzzed in his enrs. The state.
ly mass Of old Paul's rose msjestcally
above all humber tcncmenis-i,s qnnint
Carvings and scnlp,ured pinnaclcs here
standing out clenr and palpable in the star.
~ mir, and there broken by broad muses.
Of deep black shadow.
Il was near the hour Of midnight when
the light figure Of woman closely snnflled
in its draperics, glided cautiously aud tim
idly along the quiet pavement, and trpped
up the steps towards ono ri the side cntran-
ces Of the cathedral. Tho door OF Gimp.
clry, from which ndmit,ancc might he had
into the main portion of the binding. was
open. AZ she crossed the threshold the
damp chill Of the mir, So different from the
genial atmosphere without, made her pause.
II was but for moment, and then she en-
tered the cathedral. Il was al arfi:lv
solemn place. No work of mems hands
could be more grand; lis shadowy vnsincss
seemed not OF the earth. The eve could
only dimly trace iis proportions by the cor.
gcouslv colorcd light admitted bv the
painted glass, and imagination supplicd the
rest. Here were the yns, clustered pillars.
the cchoing nislcs, the groincd md nrci,ed
magniicence Of the roof, md over all ST.
lencc like the silence of the dcnd the in
truder crossed her arms upon her hosom,
Tor the place wus chill land the next mn
mcnt Mabel Lornc knclt bciorc the shrine
Of the Virgin. She Ind hardly passed
minute in devotion when heavy l,and wns
iaid upon her shoulder; with fu,teriag
heart she started to her feet, mud l,c.,eld
the face II Father Francis, dimIy seen.
close 10 her.
.Father!' she exclaimed.
Daughter returned tho priest. in n
voice trembling with passionate ea:ernes<,
tnr he thought he had his victim in his
clutch, thou must 60 with me : and nj the
same instant. before she could make n mn.
,ion TO prevent him. he slipped kerchiet
prepared for the purpose over the lower
part 81 her face. md she was unable /, "
ter n sound.
Como, sweet one. como. said Father
Francis, in n low. ,rcmulnus Voice. as he NJ
tempted 10 seize her arm md waist SIR
prise and despair, however, gave Mabel
strength, -making frantic effort, she
freed herself from the rude grasp. and ilrd.
Uttering n mns,ercd imprcca,inn. the priest
pursued, bnt his 1uwin. robes hindered his
progress. With reeiiny l,ead, md almost
inscnsiblc Of what she did, Mabel flew over
the pavement; she tried 10 make for the
door. but her confusion was too great to en-.
able her to discover ii,--shc heard the foot
steps Of the priest close TO her, and lied IN
whiting whittier she went.
Fla! now have tLce,' painted the nnnnk.
ns the fugitive appeared driven into cor
ncr Of the building, nnd he made plunge
forward to grasp her. lie was disappuin,-
ed. A low browcd door stood open in tho
wall lending to spiral stone staircase. and
up il she flew like tho wind. As Mabel
put her foot upon the first step, y loud ching
ring through the cathcdral--i. was the
first chime Of twelve struck by the great
clock. up--np-up went pursucr md
pursued. Fear gave unnatural swiftness
TO Mabel, and she rushed upwards, round
and round the spiral staircase, ns though
her feet felt not the stone steps. The
priest was close behind, with clenched teeth
and glnrinQ eyes; maddened BY passion and
he made desperate cffiwts
To overtnke his victim. md sometimes Mn.
bel heard his loud painting close behind her
Up they went. higher and higher; the gy-
rations OF the stairs seemed endless, and
all the while the clock rang slowly out the
iron chime ri midnight. The pIace was
dark, hut there was nothing 10 impede ones
progress; md here and there bars Of white
moonlight, shining through loopholes, Chez
qnered the gloom. Up! up! higher and
faster, but Mabel felt that her limbs were
failing hcr-ahs made ono more effmt--one
frantic bound, md 10! she saw above her.
in space on which the moonheams fell,
the complicated works Of the grent clock
She had no brenth 10 rnise m alarm = h;~h