Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-10

"Would yc bribe me, Lilly de We're ?
Ye're changeliDg. Ye've ia the
blood of the Plantaganets in ye're
veins as ye're mother had. What,
corrupt the bell-ringing under her
Majesty, good Queen Bess? Not for
all the gold that Lady Maud could
bring me What is your lover to ME ?
Babes have been born and strong
men have died before now at the
ringing of my bell. Awap
And out on the village green, with
the solemn shadows of the heavens
lenghthening over 1t, strong man
awaited the curfew to toll for his
death. lie stood, handsome and brave
and tall-tallcr by an inch than the
tallest pikeman who guarded him.
What had he done that he should
die? Little it mattered In those days,
when the sword that the great Crom-
well welded was so prone to fall,
what he or others had done. lie had
been scribe to the late Lord up at the
castle and Lady Maud, forgetting
that n man must WOO and women
must wait, had given her heart to
him without the asking, while the
gentle Lilly De We're, distant kins-
woman aud poor companion to her,
had, without seeking, found the treas
ures of his true love and held them
fast. Then lie had joined the army
and made one of the pious soldiers
whose passions were never stirred
but by sign or symbol of popery.
But scorned woman's hatred had
reached him even there. Enemies
and deep plots had compassed him
about aud conquered him. Tonight
he was to die.
The beautiful world lay as vivid
picture before him. The dark green
wood above the rocky hills where
Robin Hood and his merry men had
dwelt; the frowning castle with its
drawbridge and square towers; the
long stretch of moor with its purple
shadows open upon il; the green,
straight walks of the village; the
bird overhead, even the daisies at his
feet he saw. But, all more vividly
than all, he saw the great red sun
with its hazy veil lingering above
the trees, as though it pitied him
with more than human pity.
lie was a fearing and God
serving man. lie had long made his
peace with heaven. Nothing stood
between him and deaih-nothing
rose pleading between him and those
who were TO destroy him, but the
sweet face of Lilly de We're, whom
he loved. She had knelt CromwelPs
feet and pleaded for his life. She
had wearied heaven with her pray
ers, but all without avail.
! Slowly now the great sun went
down. Slowly the last red rim was
hid behind the green wood. Thirty
seconds more and his soul would be
with God. The color did not forsakc
his cheeks. The dark rings Of hair
lay upon a warm brow. 1t was his
purpose to die as martyrs and brave
men die. What was life that he
should cling to il. He almost felt the
air pu!sato with the first heavy roll
of the death knell. But no sound
came. Still facing the soldiers with
his clear gray eyes upon them he
waited. The crimson bann ers in the
west were paling to pink. The kline
had ceased their lowing and had
been gathered into the brick yards.
All naturehad sounded her rcurfcw
! but old Jasper was silent.
The bell-ringer, with his gray
head yet barred, had traversed hall
the distance that lay between his cot
, tage and the ivy-covered tower,
when form went fitting past him,
with pale, shadowY robes fitting
around it, and hair that the low wes-
5 tern lights touched and tinted as
with halo.
"Ah, Huldah, IuldahW the old
man muttered "How swift she flies
/ will come soon, dear. My work
is almost done."H Huldah was the
good wife who had gone from him
in her early womanhood, and fol
whom he had mourned all his long
life. But the flceting form was moi
Huldah's, it was Lilly de We're, hur'
ried by certain and desperate pur'
, pose toward the cathedral.
5 90 nelp me uou, curiew sna,i M no %
: ring to-hignt CromWeii anu III
+ will kneel at his feet and plead"
She entered tho ruined arch. Sht
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