Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-06-20
A Story Of The Culfew.


word is formed Of two French words
couUre fen or cOuUrir feu covered fire.
and came into use when William the
Norman, the first monarch of England,
of the present lire, made law that all
fires should be extinguished at the
sound Of the evening bell.
To many hearts i'll the old country,
that cherish its traditions, the curfew
recalls a story of loves devotion.
III the time Of Cromwell a young
soldier, for some offence, was condemn
ed to die, and the time of his death WAS
fixed at the ringing OF the Curtew.
Naturally such a doom would be fear
ful and bitter to one in the years Of
hope and prime, but to this unhappy
youth death was doubly terrible, since
he was soon to have been married to
beautiful young lady whom he had long
loved.
The lady, who loved him ardently in
return, had used her utmost efforts to
avert his fate, pleading with the Judges
and even Cromwell himself, but all in
vain. In her despair she tried to bribe
the old sexton not to ring the bell, but
she found that impossible. The hour
drew near for the execution. The pre-
parations were completed The officers
of the law brought forth the prisoner,
and waited, while the sun was setting,
for the signal from the distant bell
tower.
To the wonder of everybody it did
not ring Only one human being at
that moment knew the reason. The
poor girl, half Wild at the thought Of
her lovers peril, had rushed unseen up
the winding stairs and climbed the lad
ders into the belfiy loft and seized the
tongue Of the bell.
The old sexton was in his place
prompt to the fatal moment. lie threw
his weight upon the rope, and the bell
obedient to his piacticed hand, reeled
and swung TO and fro in the tower
But the brave girl kept her hold, and
no sound issued from lis metallic lips.
Again and again the sexton drew the
rope, but with desperate strength the
young heroine held on. Every mo-
ment made her position more fearful
every sway of the bells huge weight
threatened to fling her through the
high tower window but she would
not let it 60.
AT last the sexton went away. Old
and deaf. he had not noticed that the
curfew gave no peal. The brave girl
descended from the bellry, wounded and
trembling. She hurried from the
church to the place Of execution. Crom-
well himself was there, and was just
sending to demand why the bell was 81
lieut.. She saw him
----and her brow,
Lately white with sickening horror, glows
with hope and courage now;
At his feet she told her story, showed her hands
all bruised and torn,
And her sweet young face still haggard, with
the anguish il had worn,
Touched his heart ith sudden pity, lit his eyes
with misty light
go, your lover lives" cries Cromwell, "Crr-
few shall not ring tonight"
A SNGULAR RoBEERY-A YOUNG La
DY SnoRN OF BRAlD-In the family
of Mr. Leszinsky, living at No. 30S
Market street, near Shelby, there is a
daughter Miss Pauline, about 8 years
Of age, prominet among whose other
personal attractions is an unusually fine
suit Of hair In fact its great beauty
was the occasion Of common remark
among the people of the neighborhood
with whom she was acquainted. 1t was
long, reaching below the waist Of a rich,
dark brown color, abundant very heavy.
Being yet a school girl, and very fre-
quently passing through the streets,
this growth of hair did net escape the
notice of parties, who determined to pos
sess it. Miss Pauline was accustomed
to wear the hair in two long braids,
and it was so arranged when she, with
a younger sister; retired Monday night
The two slept in the rear room of the
second story, in which was window
looking out in the back yard Below
the window was the roof Of the kitch-
en-, so that approach from the ground
was comparatively easy. The night
being warm and very pleasant, the sash
was raised, although the door leading
into the hall was locked. At some
time during the night, the exact hour
she does not know, she suddenly awoke
with feeling of oppressiyeness and
semi-conscious that something was
wrong. Hastily arising and going to
the window she looked out into the
yard, but could discern nothing. Then,
after getting into bed again, she heard
faint whispering below, and once more
arose and tried the door. This she
found locked as she had left it on retir-
ing. 1t was at this .juncture that she
first discovered that the braid on the
right side of the head had been entirely
severed and stolen. So terrified did
she become at learning her loss that
was utterly unable to speak for time,
and remained quiet until morning when
she hurried to her parents room and
told them Of the occurrence. An ex-
animation Of the premises was at once
instituted, but no traces Of the villains
were found. The braid taken is of such
a texture and of such length as is val
ued at very high price among hair
dealers, and will Of course realize
large sum if disposition Of it can be
made. For an act of colsumate yillainy
this can hardly be surpassed. The girl
vas nrond of her fresses. as She had a