Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-05
THE CURFEW.

IL lacked quite hall an nOuF Oh cuT1eW
toll. The old bell ringer came from un-
Ger the waited roof OF his cottage
stoop and stood with uncovered hear in
the clear, sweet scented air. He had
grown blind and deaf in the service, but
his arm was as muscular as ever, and he
who listened this day marked no falter-
ing in the heavy metallic throbs of the
cathedral bell. Old Jasper had lived
through many changes. He had tolled
out its notes of mourning for good Queen
Bess, and, withtears scarcely dry, he
had rung the glad tdings of the corona
ton of James. Charles I. had been
crowned, reigned, and expiated his
time, and now he who under his army
held all the commonwealth in the hollow
OF his hand ruled as more than monarch,
and still the old man, with the habit Of
a long life upon him, rang the matin and
sorrow.
Jasper stood alone now, lifting his
dimmed eyes up to the softly dappled
sky.
The walls of his memory seemed so
written OVer-sO crossed and recrOSSe1
by the annals of the life that had gone
before that there seemed little room for
anything in the present Little rocked
he that CromwelPs spearmen were
camped on the moor beyond the village
that Cromwell himself rode with his
suardsmen league away; he only knew
that the bell that had been rung in the
CXyh tI,n or ha6
made curfew a law had been spared
by Puritan and Roundhead, and that his
arm for sixty years had never failed
him at eventide.
He was moving with slow step toward
the gate, when a woman came hurried
ly in from the street and stood beside
him-a lovely woman, but with face so
blanched that it seemed carved in the
whitest Of marble with all its rOundness
and dimples. Her great solemn eyes
were raised to the aged face in pitiful
appeal, and the lips were forming words
that he could not understand.
Speak up, lass. I am deaf and can
not hear your clatter."
The voice raised, and the hands clasp
together, palm and palm.
For heavens sake, Jasper, do not
ring the curfew tonight"
What, ma ring curfew! You must
be daft, lassie."
Jasper, for sweet heavens Sake-for
my sake-for one night in all your long
life forget to ring the bell! Fail this
cIa1
Cromwell shall die at curfew toll. Do
you hear? My lover-Richard Temple.
See, Jasper, here is money to make your
old age happy. | sold my jewels that
the Lady Maud gave me, and the gold
shall be yours for one curfew."
Would you bride me, Lily de We're?
Ye're a changeling. Ye've ma the blood
of the Plantagenets in ye're veins as
ye're mother had. What! corrupt the
bell ringer 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. Ava!
awa'r
An out on the village green, with the
shadows of the lindens lengthening over
it, a strong man awaited the curfew to
toll for his death. He stood, handsome,
brave and tall-taller 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 Cromwell
WHO tn oil hot hn
or others had done. He had been scribe
TO the late lord up at the castle, and
Lady Maud, forgetting that man must
woo and woman must wait, had given
her heart to him without the asking,
while the gentle Lily de We're, distant
kinswOman and poor companion to her,
had without seeking found the treasures
of his true love and held them fast.
Then he had joined the army and made
one OF the pious soldiers But a Scorned
woman's hatred had reached him even
there. Enemies and deep plots had COM
passed him about and conquered him
Tonight he was to die.
The beautiful world lay as vivid pic
ture before him. The dark greenwood
above the rocky hill where Robin Hood
and his merry men had dwelt; the
frowning castle, with it's drawbridge
and square towers; the long stretch of
moor with the purple shadows upon it;
the green, straight walks of the village;
the birds overhead; even the daisies at
his feet he saw. But, ah, more wildly
Than all, he saw the great red sun with
it's hazy veil lingering above the trees,
as though it pitied him with more than
human pity.
He was God fearing and God serv-
ing man. He ad 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 moro
and his soul would be with his God
The color did not forsake his cheeks
The dark rings of hair lay upon warm
brow. 1t was his purpose to die rs
martyrs and brave men die. What was
life that he should cling to it? He Ia
ready felt the air pulSate with the first
heavy roll Of the death knen. But no
sound came. Still facing the soldiers
with his clear gray eyes upon them he
waited. The crimson banners in the