The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-10-17
"Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight

Tn the timo Of Cromwell, young
soldier, for some offence, was con. .lemn.d
to die, and the time Of his death was
fixed cat the ringing Of the curfew
Naturally, such doom would be fear
full and bitter to one in the years of his
hope and pride. hut to this unhappy
20 ,;h death was loubiy Terrible since
he was soon to have b.cn married to
beautiful young l,dY whom he had ling
loved. The lady. who loved him ar.lent
ly in return, had used her utmost effort.
to avert his fate, pleading with the
judges. and even with Cromwell himself.
but all i'll vain. In her despsir she
trie'l to brbc the old sexton not to ring
the bell, but she found that impossible
The hour drew near for tho execution.
The preparatipns were completed. The
officers of the laE brought forth the
prisoner, aud waited whilSthc sur3ass
isc;tins ftnr. tho sig,s.l frohntlie itstant,
hell t"wtr. To the .snni,r of every
body, IL did MT rim. Only one humln
being at that mmcnt knew the rev ~.
The pnnr girl. half will with the
thought Of her lovers peril, had rash "a,
unseen. ur the win linz st ,irs. anil
climb'.l tn, la'l,ler int, tha b ,ltr7-l,tt
1n.l sezcd the tongue of the bell The
'll sexton was in his place, prompt {,
the fatal III ,mcit lIc threw hi. wi .ht
NJ on tile rope, md tho bell, obclicnt t,
his pr,cticcd hand, r-cled nn.l swln TO
AMI fro in the tower. But the brave
| girl kept her hold, and no sound issue
i,' III its metallic lips. Again aud again
tho sexton drew The rope. but with
dcsl crate strength the young hsroine
held on. Every movement made her
position more fearful; every sway of the
bells huge weight threatened to fliug
he- through the high tower window;
but she would not let 60. at last the
sexton went away. Old anl dc If, he
had not noticed that the curtew gave no
peal. The brave girl descended from
the helfr", wounded and trembling
Sho hurried from the church to the
place Of execution. Cromwell himself
was there, and was just sending to de-
mund VIII y the bell was client
! Slowly Englnn'l's sun was setting o or th.
hill-tops far away,
Filling all the land with beauty, at the cl ose
of one sad day,
And the last rays kissed the forehead of n
man and maiden fair
He with footsteps slow and weary, she with
| sunny floating hair;
lie with bowed head, shd and though htful,
| she with lips all cold and white
| Struggled to keep back tho murmur-
"Curfew must not ring to night"
'Se1ton," Bcssie's white lips faltcred
pointing to the prison old,
With its turrets tall and gloomy, with its
walls dark damp and cold,
'I'ye lover in that prison. doomed this
very night to die,
At the ringing Of the curfew, and no earthly
help Is nigh;
Cromwell viii! not come till sunset" and
her lips grew strangely white
| hs size brcathed the husky whisper
"Curfew must not ring to night"
''Bessie." calmly spoke the sexton. every
word pierced her young heart
Like the piercing of an arrow, like deadly
poisoned dart,
"Long, long years I've rung the curfcw
from that gloomy, shadowed tower;
Every evening. just nt sunset, it has told
the twilight hour;
have done my duty ever, tried to do it
just and right,
Now I'm old still must do it,
Curfcw it must ring to night"
| Wild her eyes md pale her features, stern
and white her thoughtful brow,
And within her secret bosom Bessie made q
| solemn vow,
She had listened while the judges read
without tear or sigh.
"At the ringing Of the curfew, Basil
Underwood must die"
And her breath came fast and faster, and
her eyes grew large and bright
In an undertone she murmured-G
"Curfew must not ring tonight"
She with quick steps bounded forward,
/ sprung within tho old church door,
Left tho old man threading slowly paths 60
oft he'd trod before;