The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1883-02-01

merry moH udU UW0lG, GIl0 IrOWn
ing castle with its drawbridge an
square towers; the lon,
stretch of moor with the purpl
shadows upon it; the green
straight walks of the village; tn
birds overhead, even the daises a
his feet he saw. But, ali! NOR,
wildly than all, he saw the grea
red sun with its hazy veil linger
ing above the trees, as though i
pitied him with more than human
pity.
He was a God-fearing anc
God-serving man. He had Ions
made his peace with heaven
Nothing stood between him anc
eeath-nothing rose pleading be.
tween him and those who were tc
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 prayer,
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 col
or did not forsake his cheeks. The
dark rings OF his hair lay upon a
warm brow. It'rwas 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 SOL
diers with his clear grey eye upon
them, he waited The crimson
banners in the west were paling
to pink. The kline had ceased
their lowing and had been gather
Ell into the brick-yards.
All nature had sounded her cur
few; but old Jasper was silent.
The bell-ringer with his grew
head yet barred had traversed half
the distance that lay between his
cattage and the ivey-covered tow
er, when a form went fitting pas t
him, with pale, shadowy robes
fitting around it, and hair that
the low western lights touched
and tinted as with a halo.
"Ah, Hulda! Huldap' the old
man muttered; chow swift she
flies! [ will come soon dear. NV
work is almost done" Hulda
was the good wife that had gone
from him in her early life and
for whom he had mourned all his
long life. But the feeting form
was not Hulda's, it was Lily De
We're, hurried by a sudden and
desperate purpose towards the
Cathedral.
so 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"
She entered the ruined arch.
She wrenched from its fastenings
the carved and worm-eaten door
that barred way to the tower. She
assembled with flying and frenzied
feet the steps; her heart lifted up
to God for Richards delivery from
evil. The bats flow out and
shook the dust of centuries from
the black carvings. AS she went
up she caught glimpses of the in
terror of the building, with its
grained roof, it's chevrons and
clustered columns. Up-still up
beyond the rainbow tints thrown
by the stained glass across her
death-white brow; up-still up
past the open arcade and arch, with
griffin and gargoyls staring at her
from bracket and cornical with all
the hideousness Of medieval cary
ing the stairs, flight by flight,
growing Trailer beneath her feet,
now but a slender network be-
tween her and the outer world, but
still up.
Her breath was coming short
and < ping. She saw through an
op..n space old Jasper cross the
road at the foot If the tower. Oh
how far The seconds were treas
r19rs which Cromwell, with all
his blood-bought commonwealth
could not purchase from her.
| Up-ah there Just above her,