Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-06-01
cuRfEW MUST NOT RING TO NIGHT.

England's sun was setting DER the hills so far
Filled the land with misty beauty at the close
And tn. last rays kissed the forehead Of man
and maiden fair
He with steps so slow and weary, she win sun
II. with bowed heal sad and thoughtful; she
with lips cold and white.
Struggling TO keep back the murmur. ''Curtew
must not ring o-nIght.'
'.SeXtor," Bessies white lips fsltered pointing |
With its walls 80 tall and gloomy. walls so dark,
and damp and cold
..pve lover in Inat prison. doomed this very |
night 10 die,
AT the ringing of the curiew; anu no eartuiS
help Is nigh.
Cromwell will not come till sunset and her
face grew strangely white,
| As she spoke in husky whispers, 'CurieW must
not ring to-nlght.'
| '.H,s,i. - carnlv spoke the exton, tevery word
| pierced her Young heart, :,
| Like a thousand cleaning arroWs--like deadly
| poisoned darD-
Long, long years I've rung the curiew. from
| that gloomy. Swallowed tower;
! twilight hour;
have done my duty ever, tried to do 1t Just anu
Now I'm old. will not mss it; sirI the curfew
| rings tonight ~
Wild her eyes, and pale her features, stern anu
| whit. her thoughtful brow;
And " ithIu her hearts deep center, Bessie
| made solemn vow.
| She had listen wnlle the judges read, without
| Il tear or sigh ,., - .oe {,
"At the ringing of the curiew Basil uderwoou
And her breath came fast and faster; and her
| eyes grew large and bright;
One low Iuurfuur, 6carcely spoken, Cuiie"
must not ring tonight
she with light step bounded forward, sprnng
within the Old church door;
Left the old man coming slowly. path she'd tfoo
SO oft before. ;,,
% | sel he
cheek and brow aglowr il,
. | staggered UP the gloomy tower, where the Dell
| swung tn ami fro:
And sh,. climbed tho Shiny ladder dark. without
! one ray Oi light. .,.
| Upward sttII. her pale lips saying. Curie"
| shall not ring Tonight
| She has reached the topmost ladder; DER hei
hangs the great, dark bell;
And TN. aw tul gloom beneath her. like the path
way down 10 he'll;
see thu pOnd.rOu= tongue Is swinging, us th
hour OF curiew now;
And the sight has chilled her bosom. stoppe'
her breath, and parI nslr h.r nrS~. Ssr eyes n,s
with sudden light, .
AS she springs and grasps II hriniy; ''urie'
shall not ring tr-nSht
out she swung-iar out; the city seemed TIN
There "twiSt heaven and earth suspended. a
the bell swung to and fro -.
And the halt-deai sexton ringing years ne ha
And he ot th"usht the twilight curfew. rang youn
| Basil funeral kncll.
still the maiden. clingipg tirIniy. cheek and pro
SO pale and white. 80
,,ili.d her frightened hearts wild oeatihs
''Curiew shall not ring to- night
I, WAS DER; the b"il ceased swayins, and Il
maiden stepped once more.
Firmly on the damp old ladder, where Tor hui
Human foo, had not been planted; and what 81
this night had done.
SHOULD he told long ages after As the rays
sitting sun
Light, the sky with mellow beauty. aged sir
with heads OF white.
Tell the children why the curiew did not rii
tina, one sad night.
o,er the distant hills came Cromwell; Bess
saw him, and her brow.
Lately white with sickening horror, glo~s WI
sudden beauty now;
A, his eet she told her story, showing her han
nll bruised and torn; -
| And her sweet white face haggsrd. with
look sad and worn,
Touched his heart with sudden pity. lit HE ey
with misty light;
go! Your lover lives,' cried Crom"e
bali r,,,t rtn IN n Vh