Litchfield enquirer., 1857-03-05
EDWARD .. GOODWIN, Editor and Publisher.
The Thirteenth Chime.
4 LEGEND OF OLD LONDON.

IT was ln one Of the earliest years Of tht reign of Henry the Eighth, and on g!oriou! summers day, that two men sat in earnest con versation together ill the oak-panaelled parlo1 of a small house nbntting upon St. Paul's Ca thedr,l yard. The one was hahittd as an officer of the ycomen of the guard--his morion, sur mounte d by plume of feathers lay before hirn on the tab.e, aud his rch SC ir'et aud gold uni form shone gay aud glistening ill the sunshine He Was a young man, but vice and unbrd!ed passion were stamped like C,1n's mark upon his face. His eyes were bloodshot his mouth coarse and sensual, aud his whole bearing fierce and swaggering. His priestly companion had thrown back his eowl, probably for coolness. and disclosed features, the expression of which, like that ofthe captain of the guards, was evil, but which unlike his, was partly redeemed by all appearance of intellectuality. The priests forehead was high and massive, and his eye deep set and bright. As he glanced at his companion, his thin, pale lip cullcd invo'uutarily and the scorn of his smile was whitening But the soldier perceived it not, as he carclessly set aside the silver stoup from which he had been imbibing plentiful draughts of sack, and remark cd jeeringly, .., "And so Bully Frar /! Thou hast absolved all my sls-truly their name was iegion--but that boots net now ; they arc rubbed away like rust of sword blade. /"
 Doubtless, tlrou art rardored. Have not said it 1" returned the priest And his lip curled lEore palpably than ever.
 :" Int swaggrr.r, pinned by the cross-bow bolt at Thames y said he of the yeomeu of the guard, beginning anew the mustcr-roll of his transgressons.
 Think not of it. replied the priest.
 And the murder done at the Baikside
 Forgiven
 And the drspolng of tho AlLigdon mer- cer ? - *--r
 | have .bsolved'
 And the VOW broken to Sir Hlvebrard Grcy?'
 | will not count agailst thee
 !" And the carrying eff tlc pretty Mistress Mar;ory
 And oatlls and mprecations nnumerablt 2 rejonrd the captain. Not so much that care about such petty matters, but when onc is at confession, ,n may as, vel male clean breast oft
 In the name of the church, absolve thee And HOW Caltain Wyeklammc, thou must per form d wee for me- It is Lut reasonable. Tlou art my helper
 
 ttrs We stlye each other, Father FtunciS.' The worthy Futl'c, Francis smiled It is oSSibe that he drt med his arrangement bet ter one fr himself than his military freud
 Tlr r''orr, say tEr word,' continued Wyck hammc, q d To !ny LountiIuI fi ,ivcr of t.a gressions, am thine for good or eyil.'
 Father Fra:c,s bent his keen, black eye stead y upon is compan o',-g; EinS, as it were, into his soul. At leugth he spoke, slowly aud calmly,
 Thou hast yeoman iu thy company of the guardS-one Mark Huntly' Marry, yes A fine stalwart fellow h draws a bow like Robin Hood and would ili abide the brunt of his partisan. What of him ?
 The priest started up aud catching Wyck- hamme's arm with his brown, si,.ewy hand and cu ching it convulsiyey in, he Said hoarsely, Ruin him ?
 Ruin him ? repeated the officer Of tie guard somewhat surprised at this unexpected ou,- burst Ruin him Marry, man, bethiuk thee lIc is tn" flower of my company
 say ruin him. cried the priest. Thou art his officer, and there are thousand ways. Plot, plot, so that he may rot in dungeon, or swing on gallows. He is a calker in any heart'
 But wherefore art thou set against the ycoman, father ]? asked Captain Wyckhammc. He has crossed my path said the priest, moodily.
 Crossed thy path---h how 2 demanded the soldier.
 Father Francis looked wistfully at his ques- tioner, and muttcred, In love-
 Captain Wyckhamme struck the table with his fist, until the wine flasks danced again, aud then starting to his feet. with coarse roar of laughter, exclaimed; :.Ho, 10 hath it come to this And so neat ankle, aud buxom cheeks, and gimp waist, were more than match for thy sanctty And thy cell Was solitary and cold, was it not, Priest ? And maa, even though monk, cannot be always praying, and so thou wouldst take to woong for an intcraudc. Brave Sir Priest! Credit me, thou art man of mettle-a bold friar--an honor to thine or der. Nay, thou shalt be the founder of an or der--of a family, mean and Ly my halidome there will be rare spice of the devil in the breed But Issay, father, who is she :? Dc her checks sparkle, her che, ks glow--h.r'
 Silence, babblcr, said the priest her very name is too pure thing for thee to take with in thy lips; for thee to speak of her, mere bias phemy'
 'Ha r csclaihed Wyckhamme. Priest | sa, , unto thee bewarr.'
 Hush love her, love her with depth o passion which things like thee cannot Geel Q, comprehend have wrestled--fought with n, stnven m the darkness Of my cell to crush il but cannot she is my Eght-my air--my Hfe--my God! have said it-I have sworl if--she shall be mine. although I give bod, . and soul to purchase the treasnrei ' Tho catkain looked surprised at this ou, 5 break. Wilt thon remove this man?' continne6 . the priest after Q sase, and speaking in Yoc, of frightful calmness. .s.