Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-01-04
MEXICO MISSOURI THU RsDAY JANUARY 4 1888

head, even the daises at his feet he
saw. But, ah! more wildly than all,
he saw the great red sun with its lazy
veil lingering above the trees, as
though it pitied him with more than
human pity.
He was q God-fearing and God
serving man. He had long made his
peace with Heaven. Nothing stood
between him and death-nothing rose
pleading between him and those who
were to destroy him, but the sweet
face of Lily de We're, whom he loved.
She had knelt at Cromwell's feet and
pleaded for his life. She had wearied
Heaven with her prayers. but all
without avail.
Slowly now the great sun went
down. Slowly the last red rim was
hid behind the greenwood. Thirty
seconds more and his soul would be
with his God. The color did not for
sake his cheeks. The dark rings of
hair lay upon warm brow. 1t was
his purpose to die as martyrs and
brave men die. What was life that
he should cling to it? He almost
felt the air pulsate with the first
heavy roll of the death knell.
But no sound came. Still facing the
soldiers with his gray eyes upon them,
he waited. 'fhe crimson banners in
the west were paling to pink. The
kline had ceased their lowing and had
been gathered into the brick-yards.
| All nature had sounded her curfew !;
but old Jasper was silent.
! The bell-ringer with his gray head
yet barred had traversed half the dis
tance that lay between his cottage
ard the ivy-coyered tower, when a
form went fitting past him, with pale,
shadowy robes fitting around it, and
hair that the low western lights
touched and tinted as with halo.
"Ah, Huldah!' the old man NUT
tered chow swift she flies! 1 will
come soon, dear. My work Is almost
done. Huldah was the good wife
who had gone from him in her early
womanhood and for whom he had
mourned all his long life. But the
fleeting form was not Huldah's, il
was Lilly de We're, hurried by sud.
den and desperate purpose towards
: the cathedral.
$50 help me God, curfew shall
not ring tonight! Cromwell and his
dragons come this way. Once more
l will kneel at his feet and plead"
See entered the ruined arch. Sht
, wrenched from its fastenings thu
carved and worm-eaten door tha
barred the way to the tower. Sh'
ascended with flying and frenzied fee
thesteps ; her heart lifted up to God TO
. Richards deliverance from peril. Th'
!, bats few out and shook the dust O
!, centuries from the black carvings
= As she went up she caught glimpse
b of the interior of the great building
- with Its groined roof, its chevrons ant
= clustered columns its pictured sain
: and carved image of the Virgin
! which the pillagers of ages had spare'
to be dealt with by time, the mos
j, relentless vandal of all.
Up-still up-beyond the rainbo'
s tints thrown by the stained glas
across her death-white brow; up
still up-past open arcade and arc
n with griffin and gargoyls staring s
her from under the bracket and col
- nice, with all the hideousness an
medieval carving; the stairs, fiigl
by flight growing Trailer beneath he
~ young feet; now but slender ne
:, work between her and the otht
. world, but still up.
Her breath was coming short an
- gasping. She saw through an ope
70 space old Jasper cross the road
;, the foot of the tower. Oh, how fal
+, The seconds were treasures whie
- Cromwell, with all bis blood-hougl
commonwealth, could not purcha'
. from her. Up-ah-there, just aboN
- with its great brazen mouth al
ie wicked tongue, the bell hung.
-. A worm-eaten block for step, al
~ one small white hand had clasped
!" self above the clapper-the 9th
=, prepared, at the tremble, to rise al
=" clasp its mate. and the feet to swil
W off-and thus she waited. Jasp
~ was old and slow, but he was sur
"' and it came at last. A faint quiv
and the young feet swung from the
tn rest, and the tender hands clasp
rs for more than their precious life t
an writhing thing. There was a groa
lis ing and creaking of the rude pulle
nd above, and then the strokes cal
an heavy and strong. Jasper's hal
NJ. had not forgot its cunning, nor
Id arm its strength. The tender, 81
IS, form was swung and dashed to a
ell fro. But she clung to and caress
ne the cold, cruel thing. Let one stro
en- come, and thousand might follow
ne for its fatal work would be dor
ng She wreathed her white arms abo
ait it, SO that every pull of the ropes
'ut crushed into the flesh. 1t tore /
re, and wounded and bruised; but ths
M in the solemn twilight the brave v
70, man swung, and fought with the c'
We, few, and God gave her victory.