Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-01-08

His wife and his sweet love lifeI Wha
an end to such dreams as theirs had been
His bonny darlingl Oh, to see he
once m0rel Oh, to hear her voice, eve
in sad adieu, to press her lips, her cheek.
to his, even for one moment of agon,
worse than death.
Palmer and palmer grew the remem
brance of her face and form, keener an,
keener the longing for her, more an,
more maddening the thought of the few
brief hours they yet belonged to eacl
other. Then came q sudden, sharp graf
ing noise across the stiffness of the night
Lord Nithisdale started. Was it com
so soon? Was God so near? Again tn
earth and its ties were swept away, as b
rose at the opening of the door.
A CLEAN of light and moving SHADOW
that was all. The door changed to-
suddenly, and the bolts grated harshly
The shadow stood still in the wanin,
moonlight. =
-" You seek me, friend, in all kindness
I trustl' said Lord Nithisdale. en-,
time is short, too short for aught of idl'
meaning"
The shadow moved not, but smoth
cred, gasping sob broke from it. Lore
Nithisdale hurriedly crossed the narrow
cell and laid his hand on the dark mantle
1t was thrown back from the pale fac,
end tear:wasted eyes of the countess O.
Nithisdale.
"My husbandl My own dear lordl'
she cried, extending her arms to him
" 1 have come to save you. Our time il
short, indeed, and 1 have even shortened
it by my weak yielding to the feeling
the dear sight of you awakened.
never, never thought to see your face
again." And 'he chung closer and
closer to him as his trembling lips
pressed her in an agony of love and pain.
g But We must hasten" she exclaimed
suddenly withdrawing herself from hi,
fond arms "No more, Nithisdale; Do
morel Until we meet in happie,
hours"
"In happier hoursl" he interrupted.
"Aias, dear love, I have but one to live.
I fear me. Thou hast come in good
time, sweetheart. I would not have
missed thee-nayl even though thou
maketh death more BITTER.
"Hush, hush, my lordl I have come
to save thee from all bitterness-I will
tell thee quickly. Thou must heed-the
king, thou knOwest, will show no mercy.
We have pleaded for thee, aye! night
and day thy mother and have wearied
the king as one wearies heaven with
heaven is more merciful,
and now l have come to save thee.
must, l will! only be thou my loving
and indulgent lord, az thou hast ever
been. Heaven bless theel See! thou
must lay aside thy ruff and thy doublet"
-hurriedly undoing them with treda-
bling yet skillful fingers. $50. Now,
thou must wear these-quick, quicki
the time is short"
Butstay, sweetheart" said the earl,
bewildered and incredulous, as she strove
to adjust her dainty Golf and veil upon
his flowing locks. "Thou canst not
hope to send me forth in thy robings.
Remember this is the tower"
"Thou hast friends, Nithisdale! Thou
hast friends! Ask me no more-nay, do
not stop me. Let me but pull this curl
: little nearer-it is the very color of my
JWA"Sllu AnoGCA GAo C1OaA oUOub tuc6
thus. Now, bend thy head as if thou
aadst but just left me to die the DEATH"
"And so 1 may" he cried, " the king
will stop at nothing. Thy head may be
the forfeit: Better let it 60! I can but
lie and end it,
"Nithisdale," she entreated, as he
made an attempt to loosen the mantle,
8 hear me, dear Lowell I am in no danger.
And if l were-think of It'll Thou art a
noble of an old and gallant line, and it
nay die with thee. Thou art By hus-
band, and thinkest thou I would pur-
chase my safety from an imaginary
Danger at thy certain peril7 Go, col
God bless thee! l will join thee soon.
Thou wilt find friends, and thou wilt
know them by this token: The day
lawns Now, speed thee! Bend thy
1ead."
She hurriedly folded his doublet
around her and sank into the deepest
corner of the cell, as the door grated on
it's hinges. Lord Nithisdale passed
slowly through the frowning arch, and
followed the jailor in a tumult OF feel.
ing. Hope, fear, love, anxiety, a con-
fused sense of shame, and yet an in
,tinctive adherence to his wife's hurried
Instructions as to the manner of wearing
the disguise, prevented his noticing the
singular silence of his conductor until it
was broken by another voice close at
hand.
"The day dawns, I think" said the
"Ayl The larks will be up ere long,"
answered the jailer, grufly, and paused.
Loru Nitnisdale was quick to under
stand. Without a word, he followed
the first speaker through winding pas
'ages and narrow stairways dark as
night, until they emerged into an open
court, where the cold March wind struck
chill upon his prison. weakened frame,
and it was no mock tremor that thrilled
him, as he crouched, with hidden face
upon the others silently-c fered arm. A
brief whispered parley, an exclamation
IT pity from the guard, and the door flew
open before them. Ten minutes more
md they were without the walls.
"The day dawns," said a voice he
Knew. :.
SAY! The ]arks will be up ere long,"
his companion, quietly, win
7cur ladyship be pleased to take horse
low, or to 60 farther and rest?"
The earl answered briefly, CAS- you
will" and heard, still with bent head,
he slow tramp of steeds. But his COM
,anion hurried him rapidly along the
narrow streets of old London, and
threw him suddenly into a dark, arched
passage.
"Heaven be praisedi We are safe
Here is gear better suited for mans
iding than thou weareSt. Now, mount
nd ride! Remember the password, and
hou art SAFE"
He was gone az quickly as a flash.
The earl, wrapped in a servants mantel
# coarse, brown cloth, and wearing a
SLOUGH hat, stepped leisurely
rom the arch and sprang into the saddle
+ the waiting horse. The leader of it
ode close by his side, but in silence, and
,utting spurs to his horse, dashed ahead.
The earl followed. The day was break.
ng, and the hour of his execution had
'ome when he turned in his saddle to
:ast one look at theavanishiDg spires of
he CITY lvinp. like a shadow. Far hehir3