Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-01-07

IL was Inc last ulgnt OIL llIo III Nltu'
isdale. In the gray of dawn, in the
sweet yet solemn hour when earth seems
more at peace, while it waits for the
blessing of the Lord upon new day, he
was to die. And die, moreover, an
awful, doubly awful death. He had
received the tidings with that gracious
and gallant courtesy which belonged to
his order. His cheek had not paled nor
his eye dropped, nor his deep, sweet
voice trembled as he thanked the bearer
of the news, and craved, in gentle terms,
the necessary quiet to prepare his mind
for the most Hateful event of time and
eternity to him. But now that he was
alone, now that the dark shadows of his
gloomy cell were barred by the holy
light of the moon, now that the future
seemed so near, the past so far of, SO
vain, so useless, his proud heart sank and
trembled. Not before man, but before
the Highest and the purest, before that
One, so tender and SO just, in whose
sight there is no distorted ray, no vary
ing CLEAN. Lord Nithisdale buried his
face in his hands and strove to reduce to
order the teeming horrors of his brain
and to summon to his aid the holy lessons
of his ancestral faith. He knelt humbly
and reverently before the only Judge he
feared, and found him less Judge than
Father. Peace returned to him, and
from the thought of the future, which
he could leave in the hands of God, he
turned to the thought of the past that
God had given him. It had been q
gracious and noble past in many things
apart from himself. His home. his peo-
pie, his long line of ancestors whose glory
and whose strength had been his from
the time of his birth, and oh his wifel
His wife and his sweet love lifel What
an end to such dreams as theirs mad been
His bonny darling! Oh, to see her
once more! Oh, to hear her voice, even
in sad adieu, to press her lips, her cheeks,
to his, even for one moment of agony
worse than death.
Palmer and palmer grew the remem-
brance of her face and form, keener and
keener the longing for her, more and
more maddening the thought of the few
brief hours they yet belonged to each
other. Then came sudden, sharp graf
ing noise across the stillpess of the night.
Lord Nithisdsle started. Was it come
so soon9 Was God so near? Again the
earth and it's ties were swept away, as he
rose at the opening of the door.
A CLEAN of light and moving shadow
that was all. The door changed too
suddenly, and the bolts grated harshly.
The shadow stood still in the waning
moonlight.
"You seek me, friend, in all kindness,
I trustP said Lord Nithisdale. "My
time ia short, too short for aught of idle
meaning"
The shadow moved not, but smoth-
cred, gasping sob broke from it. Lord
Nithisdale hurriedly crossed the narrow
cell and laid his hand on the dark mantle.
1t was thrown back from the pale face
end tear-wasted eyes of the countess of
Nithisdale.
envy husbandI Ely own dear lordl"
she cried, extending her arms to him.
have come to save you. Our time is
short, indeed, and I have even shortened
it by my weak yielding to the feelings
the dear sight of you awakened. l
again" And che chung closer and
closer to him as his trembling lips
pressed her in an agony of love and pain.
"But we must hasten," she exclaimed,
suddenly withdrawing herself from his
fond arms. No more, Nithisdale; no
morel Until We meet in happier
hours"
In happier hours" he interrupted.
" Alas, dear love, have but one to live.
fear me. Thou hast come in good
time, sweetheart. I would not have
missed thee-nay! even though thou
maketh death more bitter"
"Hush, hush, my lord! / 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, ayeI night
and day thy mother and have wearied
the king as one wearies heaven with
prayers-only heaven is more merciful,
and now have come to save thee. /
must, will! only be thou my loving
and indulgent lord, as thou hast ever
been. Heaven bless thee! Seel thou
must lay aside thy ruff and thy doublet''
-hurriedly undoing them with trem-
bling yet skillful fingers. $50. Now,
thou must wear these-quick, quick !!
the time is short"
Butstay, sweetheartp 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
own-and fasten the cloak about thee
thus. Now, bend thy head as if thou
hadst but just left me to die the DEATH"
I" And SO I may" he cried, the king
will stop at nothing. Thy head may be
the forfeit. Better let it gol I can but
die and end it."
Nithisdale," she entreated, as he
made an attempt to loosen the mantle,
"hear me, dear love! am in no danger.
And if I were-think of it'll Thou art q
noble of an old and gallant line, and it
may die with thee. Thou art nny hus-
band, and thinkest thou I would pur-