Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-05-05

monk, as the fugitive appeared driven III.
to corner OF the building, and he made
plunge forward to grasp her. lie was
disappointed. \ loW-browed door stood
open III the wall leading 10 a spiral stone
staircase, and up il she flew like the wind
As Mabel put her foo, upon the first ster
"a loud clang ran throu IN the cath edraI
it was the first chime OF twelve struck
by the great clock. Up-up-up-wenl
pursuer and pursued. Fear gave uuaat-
ural swIftness 10 Mabel, and she rushed
upwards-round aud round the spiral
staircase -as though her feet felt not the
stone steps. The priest was close behind
with clenched teeth and glaring eyes
maddened by passion and disappointment
he made desperate efforts to oyerlake his
victim, and sometimes Mabel heard his
loud pating close behind her. Up-un
they went, higher and higher; the gyra-
tlons of the s:airs seemed endless, and all
the while the clock rang slowly out the
iron chime of midnight. The place was
dark, bat then there was nothing to I'M
pcde ones progress; and here and there
bars Of white moonlight, shining through
looD-holes, checkercd the gloom Up
that her limbs were failing her-she
made one more eiiort-one frantic bound
and 10, she saw above her. IN the space
Oh which the moonbeams fell, the compIi-
Gated works OF the great clock. She had
no breath 10 rise an alarm which could
be heard by those below She listened
to the rapidly mounting footsteps of the
priest, and her heart sunk within her
Just then the great iron hammer which
struck the hours, rang the last stroke of
twelve upon the bell. A thought daued
like lightning through MabcI's brain
she might make the iron tongue speak for
her. Gliding through the machinery, she
mounted among It's frame work, and gras-
ping the hammer with both hands, she
strained every nerve and muscle OF her
white arm, aud slowly raising the pond
erous weight, let 1t fall upon the bell,
and with a clang which rung through
Eer very brain THE THIRTEENTH
CHIME" fell upon the sleeping civ
Breathlesslv was the monk preparing 10
seize her, when the iron peal for mo-
ment arrested his hand. He looked up
there stood the gentle creature amid
the throbbing mechanism-her white
hands conyulsively clasped the iron, and
her face distorted with terror and fatigue.
The moonlight showed him all this, and
showed him, moreover, the hammer again
waving under the malden's grasp. The
danger of his position Immediately fash
cd across him; he knew that there were
many within the chapels and cells attach
Cd to he cathedral sleepicss watchers o.
- -.
al number of chimes would attract imm
dIate attention. iulering deep curse,
he turned, and Mabel heard hiIn hurry
lug down the staircase. Cautiously she
followed, and on reaching the bottom,
heard his voice Communing with Il broth
er monk.
Il am certain" said The latter, " that
the clock struck thirteen"
il" SO | deemed, Brother Peter" repliep
the low tones OF the monk, and | have
come forth TO inquire how 1t could be so. -
Cautiously keeping in the shadow, Ma
bel gIided past the speakers: she saw
the door opposite her, and flew towards
it. As she ran, Father Francis caught
glimpse of her rotreating form, and
made wild gesture Of rage and dIsap-
pointmenment. In a moment Mabel was
in her own litlle room. Sinking on the
floor, she cried bitterly, and then rising,
she SAID, " have no friends here; VITA
the first blush of morning will procure
good paIfrey, and fare forth to Windsor.
Mark must know all.
4 bright breezy morning had succeed
ed the fair calm night, and the sun was
vet low in the horizon, when Mabel Lorne
mounted upon a spirited paIfrey, left be-
hind her the western outskirts Of London,
and pushed merrily on through green
fields and hedges IN the direction Of
Windsor. SoreW disquieteG as she had
been bv the events of the past night, the
iocund influence of the fresh breath Of
morning, and the merry sunshine, the ra-
pid motion through Il fair country, and,
above all, the thought OF meeting her
lover, made Mabels checks bloom, and
her eyes sparkle. She caressed the
clancing neck Of the bounding animal
which carried her, and the palfrey an
swered the touch Of its mistress by a loud
and ioyful neigh, and pressed merriIy and
speedily onward; and away they went,
amid leafy hodgerows sparkling withdeW-
uTOlS anu lltluS VI lt4l l hStlIIle AOl II
and by clumps of guarled old trees, and
iungles of sprouting saplings; and anti
que, red brick-built old farm-houses; and
halls embosomcd in ancestral
trees; and the peaceful walls Of distant
monasteries. And the smoke was begin
ming TO aise from mems dwellings, III long
spiral columns into the clear morning air;
and laborinr people were already afeld,
and now and then the fair traveller caught
a glimpse of the broad river, with green
trees bending oser It's waters, and sedges
upon It's banks, and swans floating upon
its bosom. Ever ything looked calm, and
bright and happy. Mabefs eye wander
ed over lhe grand panorama Of hill, and
dale, and brake, and copplce, stretching
on. in all their green loneliness before
her; and the ma sslve towers Of Windsor
Castle, rose over the rich expanse, her
heart was so full and yet 50 light, that
she felt as if she could raise her voice and