Arizona republican., 1893-01-17


 lights touched and tinted as with halo. "Ah, Huldab, Huldabr' the old man Imuttered, "how swift she fliesl 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 flecting form was not Huldah's; it was Lily De We're, hurried by a sudden and desperate purpose toward the cathedral.
 So help me God, curfew shall not ring tonightl Cromwell and his dragons come this way. Once more will kneel at his feet and plead"
 She entered the ruined arch. She wrcnched from it's fastenings the carved and worm eaten door that barred the way to the tower. She ascended with flying and frenzied feet the steps; her heart lifted up to God for Richards deliverance from peril. The bats flew out and shook the dust of centuries from the black carvings. As she went up she caught glimpses of the interior of the great building, with it's groined roof. it's chevrons and clustered columns; it's pictured saint and carved image of the Virgin. which the pillagers of ages had spared to be dealt with by time the most relentless vandal of all.
 Up-still up-beyond the rainbow tints thrown ny the stained glass across her death A brow; up--still up--past open arcade a.~ arch. with griffin and gargoyles staring at Ter from under brackets and cornice, with all the hideousness and me- di@val carving; the stairs, flight by flight, growing Trailer beneath her young feet: now but slender network between her and the outer world; but still up.
 Her breath was coming short and gasp ing. She saw through an open space oltl Jasper cross the road at the foot of the tower Oh, how farl The seconds were treasures, which Cromwell, with all his blood bought commonwealth. could not purchase from her. Up--ah--there, just above her, with it's great braxen mouth and wicked tongue, the bell hung.
 A worm eaten block for step and one small, white hand had clasped itself above the clapper-the other prepared. at the trcmble, to rise and clasp it's mate and the feet to swing off--and thus she waited. Jasper was old and slow, but he was sure, and it came at last. A faint quiver, and the young feet swung from their rest and the tender hands clasped for more than their precious life the writhing thing. There was a grooming and creaking of the rude pulleys above and then the strokes came heavy and strong. Jasper's hand had not forgot it's cunning nor his arm it's strength. The tender. soft form was swung and dashed to and fro, hut she clung to and caressed the cold, cruel thing. Let one stroke come and thousand might fol- low for its fatal work would be done. She wreathed her white arms about it, so that at every pull of the great ropes it crushed into the flesh. It tore her and wounded and bruised, but there in the sol emu twilight the brave woman swung and fought with the curfew, and God gave her victory.
 The old bell ringer said to himself: Aye, Huldah. my wors is done. The pull leys are getting too heavy for my old arms. My ears, too, have failed me. dinna hear one stroke of the curfew. Dear old bell. it is my ears that have gone false. and not thou. Farewell. old friend"
 And just beyond the worn pavement shadowy form again went fitting past him. There were drops of blood upon the white garments, and the face was like the face of one who walked in her sleep, and the hands hung wounded and powerless at her side.
 Cromwell paused with his horsemen under the dismantled May pole before the village green. He saw man who was to die at sunset standing up in the dusky air, tall as king and beautiful as Absalom. He gazed with knitted brow and angry eye. but his lips did not give utterance to the quick command that trembled on them, for girl came flying toward him. Pike man and archer stepped aside to let her pass. She threw herself upon the turf at his horse's feet; she lifted her bleeding and tortured hands to his gaze, and once more poured out her prayer for the life of her lover. With trembling lips she told him why Richard still liyed--why the curfew had not sounded.
 Lady Maud, looking out of her latticed window at the castle, saw the great pro tector dismount, lift the faintjng form in his arms and bear her to her k,ver. She saw the guards release the prisoner, and she heard the shouts of joy st his deliver ance; then she welcomed the night that shut the scene out from her envious eye and sepulchered her in it's gloom.
 At the next matin bell old Jasper died, and at curfew toll he was laid beside the wife who had died in bis youth, but the memory of whom had been with him always.-Somerville Journal.