The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-05-11
A CRY 70 R II ELP
C0NCLCD DED.
CHAPTER III,

bloody grave-slept, and the mystery OF
his death with him; and, in the old jail
, at Danbury, Dirck Cuyler, tried, con-
demned, and under sentence of death,
lay waiting the day Of his doom.
Meanwhile, autumn came. The Wild /
Octobe. storms raved and roared ZIP the
valley.
1t was twilight in that narrow cell in
the Danbury Jail. Two figures stood
there, clasped in each others arms, gazing
into each others stricken faces. Dircll
Cuyler lifted the face dropping on his
breast-put back from it the rich hair.
Barbara he said steadily, even calm
ly, sit is best you should come no more.
You see how strong l am before the
world-how weak, how very weak, with
you" 49,
The suppressed anguish Of his face
was something terrible. She cried out
as if he had struck her:
"No! !nor'
Barbara, hear mer'
She clung to him in an agony of tears.
"Let me die with you!-let me die
with you! Oh, Dirck, Dirck! do not
drive me awayn'
All was silent for time. He could
not speak, so he held her pressed con-
vulsiyely to his side. The waning sun
shine slipped through the bars Of the
window, and touched the face of each
with sort of glory.
Dirck Cuyler thrust his hand suddenly
into his breast and drew forth plain
gold wedding ring.
Glove" he said, solemnly, standing
there with that light upon him, sit would
have been yours. Win you wear it in
the years to come, for my sake? Will
you let it seal you to me for all time and
eternity :" ~
Mutely she raised her hand, and he
slipped upon it the ring.
"Dsar child" said Dirck Cuyler, ''nev-
er be ashamed to wear it. l have lived
like mani snail die like one
Before he was aware, she had moved
back pace. He saw her press the ring
to her lips. Then she laid that hand on
his breast and crossed the other hand
upon it.
'sDirck,' she cried, in a voice that
pierced him to the heart, ''you have elu-
ded all others-you have turned deaf
ear to the entreaties of all others-will
you do the same to me? Will you still
refuse to tell me what dreadful thing it
was that passed between you and Colonel
Basil that night at Hammell's tavern p
fDirck, Dirck, l entreat you, beg you, l
pray you to tell me! On my knees I
pray you-I, your poor, poor Barbara"
He caught her as she would have knelt
to him. He was frightfully agitated.-
The veins on his forehead stood out like
cords His great chest heaved.
Barbara" he forced himself to say;
'this from you, Barbara ~
She shuddered
"Do you still ask me if / am innocent
or guilty? Look you in my face You
heard me tried for murder and condemn
ed. You heard ali the defense that /
could then make-all that l can make
still" ..T
Barbara wrllng her hands.
ssYou will not tell me, then ?"
Darling, no! 1 cannot! The dead
holds my promise-I will not break 1t
1t was nothing dreadful, but it was that
of which l will not speak now; no, not
even to you! Believe me, had that in
terview been made plain to my judges, it
would have ayailed me nothing. No one
would have believed me-least of all,
John BASIL
He spoke the name slowly, and with
an effort -.-.....-.-...
"Oh, Dirck! oh, Dirckr'
l The creaking of the heavy door of the
cell made both start The turnkey had
Icome to see Miss Peale out.
"For the last time, darling" muttered
| Dirck Cuyler, pressing her passionately
to his breast
"Let me come once more-only once
more she prayed.
But he, firm for himself and for her,
still answered:
1 Darling, for the last time!n'
/ His tears rained ON her face, his kisses
on her lips. He tore her arms from his
neck more dead than alive, he thrust her
AWAY. - ...-f
"Remember the ring" she heard him
say. Then he walked to the window
As the door swung to upon him, she
saw that he had laid his forehead down
upon its iron bars-that the tall figure
stood dark and motionless, as without
life. "
| Hurrying through the dark, dank cor
ridor, Barbara reached the carriage. She
flung herself into its darkest corner, and
went rolling away from the jail yard
home
1t was dark when she reached the
farm. Martha Swans tea-table stood
spread under the cedar rafters of the
kitchen Martha Swans wood-tire burn
ed brightly on the kitchen hearth. As
+, Barbara came shivering to this fire, the
, old woman dropped the brown flake o.
toast she was buttering and looked a
. her. .-.a '..~ g.
The girls face so utterly, so fatally
beautiful, shone out like a star through
a its folds of loose, rich hair. But it wa!
face marked now with some desperate
resolve.
t $50 you've been to Danbury Jai
again." muttered Martha Swan. ''Lud
y and your eyes as wild as a hawks"
!, Barbara answered nothing. She was
turning Dlrck Cuyler's ring round anC
round upon her hand.
ga handsome girl like you might b'
spending her time BETTER" Martha said
), taking courage. "Barba, why will you
It's time to give him up now. He's hat
his trial and his sentence, and next montl
: he'll be-"
"Hungn' said Barbara.
eLudr p mlttered Martha Swan, "ho'
< the word sounds! Let's have tea"
e The night grew intensely dark. Th
Y Y wind rising and rising, walled an
4 screamed through the apple trees like
It lost spirit. Barbara rose up from he
:, untasted supper and went to the window
;, Without all was pitch black chaos. N