Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1880-01-08

the thought of the past that God had Civ
en- him. 1t had been gracious and no.
be past in many things apart from him
self. His home, his people, his long line
OF ancestors whose glory and whose
strength had been his from his birth, and
OH his wife! His wife and his sweet love
e What an end to such dreams as
theirs had beenl 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 agoay worse than death.
Palmer and palmer grew the remem-
brance Of her face and form, kecner 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 a sudden, sharp, grating noise
across the stiffness OF the night. Lord
Nithisdale started. Was it come so soon? ?
Was God go near2 Again earth and its
ties were swept away, as he rose at the
opening Of the door.
A gleam of light and moving shadow
that was all. The door changed to sud.
denly, and the bolts grated harshly. The
shadow stood still in the waning moon
light.
"iou seek me, friend, IN. all kindness,
trust" said Lord Nthisdale "My time
is short, 200 short for aught of idle mean
ing"
The shadow moved not, but smother
ed 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 and
tear-wasted eyes of the Countess of Nithis-
dale.
my husbandl my own dear Lord!"
she cried, softly, extending her arms to
him. 81 have come to save you. Our
time is short, indeed, and | have even
shortened it by my weak yielding to the
feelings the dear sight of you awakened.
never, never thought to see your face
again" and she Clung 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
more, until we meet in happier hours"
ain happier hours" he interrupted,
"Alas, dear love, have but one to live, |
fear me, Thou hast come in good time,
sweetheart. would not have missed
thee-nay! even though thou. makest
death more bitter"
,."Hush, hush, my Lord! have come TO
save thee from all bittencss-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 wearled the King
as one wearies heaven with praycrs-only
heavens is more merciful, and now have
come to save thee. must, | will only
be theu my loving and indulgent Lord,
as thou hast eyer been, Heaven bless
thee! See! thou must lay aside thy ruff and
thy doublet et'-hurricdly undoing them
with trembling yet skllful fingers. $50.
now thou must wear these-quick, quick;
the time is short. "
"But stay, sweetheart" !" said the earl,
bewildcrcd and incredulous, as she strove
to adjust her dainty Golf and vail upon
his flowing locks. Thou canst not hope
to send me forth in thy robings. Remcm-
Der this is the tower"
Thou hast friends, Nthisdale! thou
hast friends! Ask me no morc-nay, do
not stop me. Let me but pull this curl a
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"
"And so may" he cried, "the King
will stop at nothing. Thy head may be
the forfeit. Better let it 90. can hut die
and end it,"
"Nithisdalc," she entreatcd as he made
an attempt to loosen the mantle, hear
me, dear love! | am in no danger And
if | were-think of it! Thou art a noble of
an old and gallant line, and it may die
with thee. Thou art my husband, and
thinkest thou | would purchase my safety
from an imaginary danger at thy certain
peril Go, go! God bless thee! will Join
thee soon. Thou wilt find friends and
thou wilt know them by this token: The
day dawns, Now speed thee! Bend thy
head"
She hurriedly folded his dopblet around
her and sank into the deepest corner of
the cell as the door grated on its hinges.
Lord Nithisdale passed slowly through the
irowning arch, and followed the iailcr in a
tumult of feelings. Hope, fear, anxiety, a
confused sense of shame, and yet an in
stinctlve adherence to his wifes 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, think" said the
newcomer.
"Ay! The larks will be up ere long
answered the jailor gruiiiy, and paused
Lord Nithisdale was quick to under
stand. Without word he followed the
first speaker through winding passages
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 9TH
er's silently OHered arm. A brief whis-
pered parley, an exclamation Of pity from
the guard, and the door flew open before
them. Ten minutes more and they were
without the walls.
"rhe day dawns," said a voice he
knew.
"Ay! The larks will be up ere long"
answered his companion quietly. "Will
your ladyship be pleased to take horse
now, or to 20 farther and restH"
The Earl answered briefly, "As you
will, and heard still with bent head, the
slow tramp of steeds. But his companion
hurried him rapidly along the narrow
streets OF old London, and threw him sud-
denly into dark, aIched passage.
Heaven be praised! We are safe!
Here is gear better suited for a mans rid.
ing than thou wearest. Now, mount and
ride! Remember the password, and thou
art safe.
He was gone as quickly as a fash The
Earl, wrapped in a servants mantel OF
coarse brown cloth, and wearing COM
mon, slouch hat, stepped leisurely from
the arch and sprang into the saddle of the
awaiting horse. The leader of it rode
close by his side, but in silence, and put
ting spurs to his horse dashed ahead. The
Earl followed. The day was breaking,
and the hour of his execution had come
when he, turned In his saddle to cast one
look at the vanishing spires of the city ly-
ing, like shadow, far behind him. He
was saved.
When they came to his cell at the ap-
pointed time they found in his place the
senseess form of a lovely woman, folded
in his doublet and crouched in the darkest
corner Of the dungeon. The long curs of
her hair tell over her white face. The
Warden stepped hastily to her side, and
parted them with tender touch.
at is the Countess of Nithisdale," he
said, briefly.
'Is she deadp" questioned by.stander.