Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-05-17

|
ed into his cheek. He felt for a moment near.
ly suffocated with the violence of his passion.
Since the young recruit had been anxious to
obtain Gideons weary post there could be no
| doubt what was his purpose There, and in
the silence of the night, he would be able, un-
der Mlldred's window, to pour into her ear
those words of love which he dared not open
y profess. 1t was true, then, that Mildred
had bid him try to obtain the post of sentinel
In the inner court. That was their hour of
rendezvous Furious jealousy, joined to rage
at losing that post, on which his fathers whole
fate depended contributed to torture his mind
| Not only would his detested rival find favor
able opportunity of.holding converse with that
| fathlesS girl, but he would be there to pre-
vent his fathers escape-he, of all others-he
that fierce and violent republican, that deter
mined enemy of all adherents to the royal
cause. If the vision of haywood interchang-
! ing soft words with Mildred at her window
tormented the unhappy lover, far more agon-
| izjng were the feelings that represented to him
the stern young sentinel raising his musket up
! on his shoulder to arrest the escape of the old
man-shooting him, perhaps, in his descent
from the tower Window-bringing him bleed
ing to the earth. Horror /! Conyulsed with
these accumulated feelings, he stood for a
time speechleSs, struggling with his passions
When be looked again upon Maywood's face,
that hated individuals eyes were bent on him
with a stern but inquring glance, and in evil
| dent diScomposure. This very look was sufii
cient toconfrm all the young lovers suspicious
and it was with the greatest difficulty that he
con!d control his passion He mastered him
self, however, sufficiently to meet the glance Of
! haywood without giving vent to his wrath,
and turning to Gideon, he called him side
/ The indolent soldier evidently rose unwill-
/ ilgly, but he followed Gerald to a little dis
tauce, grumhling something about an "inter-
rupti0n to the inward outpourings Of the spirit"
! Hark We, Master Gideon" said Gerald
| when they had got to some distance from Mark
" you must not do me wrong in this | own
/ that my request is not wholly diSnterested-
| You know that love our colone's daughter,
that | am ahianccd to her. Her chamber
/ looks into that court, and at midnight -
Now, out on thee. Master Lyle drawled
Godlamb, with an hypocritical upturning of
his eyes. Wouldst thou make my watch a
pretext for ungodly chambering aud profanc
/ love passages g
How now fellow !" exclaimed the young
/ i4eAl III hAtlI' w hdt mean NOu Dl lllS
insoleuce ?" and he grasped Gdeon's collar
with violence. But Immediately afterwards
repeutjug Of his excitement, he continued with
a calm tone, although still in some irritation,
g This is mere foolng, Gideon. | know you
as you are-I know you to be a thorough hyp-
oCrite."
Nay, but of q truth7-exclaimed the pa
ciGc Godlamb, very Su!kily.
Hear me-" interrupted Gerald. at is
lot as YOU thiuk-that haywood loves her
too He also would keep the watch at mid
night, in the hope to see her at the window
by chance, man, by chance-no otherwise :;
/ but | would hinder this, and -
Nay, but Master haywood hath my word,
again began Gideon.
Nay but Master Gideon slept whiIom
upon his post" continued Gerald, mmcking
! him. And if Master Gideon be reported to
! bis colonel, Master Gideon will have a week S
arrest upon bread and water; but Master
| Gideon may do what he liSteth."
For the love of heaven, exclaimed Gideon,
| forgetting his Puritauical mask in his alarm !;
you Wonld not report me, cOmrade =
/ S'wounds, you would not serve poor fellow
so scurvy a trick p
Upon one condition, then" replied Ger
ald "Retract your word to that man give
me up your post at midnight; and will be
| as silent as the grave"
Lord have mercy upon Us Thou art as
the cruel taSkmasterS Of the children of Is
rael and thy heart is hardened even as was
| Pharaoh's,7 whned Godlamb, again resuming
his cantipg tone. But be it ever as thou
wilt"
! Gerald triumphed the midnight watch
was his; and with it his fathers safety and
/ his fathers blessing.
! They returned to the spot where haywood
still stood observing them, Gideon following
! in the rear, mutterng something about " the
hand of the ungodly being upon him"
/ Speak, Gideon, said Gerald as they ap-
peared, and thank your comrade here for his
/ kindly profered barter of hours since it is l
who take your post, you will not need his we'll
meant and diSntereSed civilitieS."
! There was something of a sneer on Gerald's
| lip as he pronounced these words, which prob
ably augmented the feelings Of anger that
now evidently flushed the usually cold face Of
/ haywood and darkened his brow for the
latter appeared to tremble with suppressed
passion as he advanced upon bis rival with
1 the words
"How now, you Master-what's-you name
What warrants you to interfere thus ill-advis-
edly in my concerns? If this man has given
up to me, at the midnight hour, the watch
over that of'Shoot of a rotten and corrupted
stem of tyranny, is for you to stand between
me and my purpose y
Your purpose is doubtless of the best and
truest, and worthiest," replied Gerald with
another hickering sneer upon his lip. But
this watch is mine now, by Master Gideon's
consent, and these hours of the night intend
to devote to the watching of those whose Sc
curity may need my care"
Mark haywood bit his lip, and clenched his
] hands tnrathnr in q vain effort TO snnnreSs his