The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-07-09

the stars seemed endless, and all the whli
the Iron clock rang slowly out the irol
chimes of midnight. The place was dark
but there was nothing to impede ones pro
gress and here and there bars of whit
moonlight, shining through loophoIes
chequered the gloom. Up! up! higher an(
faster-but Mabel felt that her limbs
where failing her-she made one mor'
etfort-one frantic bound, and 10 ! she saw
above, on a space on which the moon
beams fell the complicated works OF I
great clock. She had no breath to raise al
alarm which could be heard by those below
She listened to the rapidly mounting foot
steps of the priest, and her heart sani
within her. Just then the great iron ham
mer which struck the hours, rang the las
stroke of twelve upon the bell. A thought
darted like lightning through Mabel.
braln,-she might make that iron tongue
speak for her. Gliding through the ma.
ch'nery, she mounted its frame WORK, anC
grasping the hammer with both hands, she
strained every nerve and muscle of hel
white arm, and slowl y raising the weight
let 1t fall upon the bell and 10, with clane
which rung through her very brain, THE
THIRTEENTH CHIME fell upon the sleeping
city. BreathIcssly was the priest preparing
to se.ze her, when the iron peal for mo
ment arrested his hand. lie looked up,
there stood the gentle creature amid the
throbbng mechanlsm-her white hand
convuisiveiy ciasping the iron and her face
distorted with terror and fatigue. The
moonlight showed him all this, and showed
him moreover, the hammer again moving
under the malden's grasp. The danger of
his position immediately flashed across him
he knew that there were many within the
chapelS and cells attached to the cathedral,
sleeplcss watchers of the hours-and be
feared the unusual number Of chimes would
attract immediate attention. Muttering a
deep curse, he turned, and Mabel heard him
hurrylng down the staircase. Cautiously
she foil owed, and on reaching the bottom,
head his voice committing with brother
monk.
81 am certain" said the latter, that the
clock struck thlrteen.''
$50 | deemed, brother Peter," replied the
low tones OF the monk; and have come
forth TO enquire how it could be So"
Cautiously keeping in the shadow, Mabel
gllItd past the speakers she saw the door
opposite her, and few towards it. As she
ran, Father Francis caught glimpse of her
retre"t'ns form, and made wild gesture
Of r~ge and dissappoutmont. The next
moment Aabe! was in tue open air, and was
locked and bolted in hcr own little room.
Sinking on the floor, she cried bitterly, and
then rising, she said, have no friends here
with the first blush Of morning, will set
forth tor Windsor. Mark must know all"
bright breezy morning had succeeded
the fair calm n ght, and the sun was yet low
in the horizon, when Mabel LOrne. mounted
palfry, left behiEl her the western outskirts
Of London, aud pushed on nerrllv through
green fields and hedges in the direction of
Windsor. Sorely 1isquietrd az she had
been by the events Of the past night, the
jocuni influence Of the fresh breath Of
morning. the merry sunshine, :hn rapid
motion through Il far country, and above
all. t:e thought Of meeting her lover, made
Nabc. checks; and hex eyes sparkle. She
carcs,rd the glHncing neck Of the bounding
anlnG. winch carried her, and th4 palfrv
answered The touch Of lis mistress bv 4 loud
and .,oItul neigh, and pressed morrilv and
speedily onward; and away they went amid
IcaiN "".iSrrUws, sparkling with dew drops
and h..1e OF IicA rust!!H., corn; and ciumrs
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