The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-11

love and come into my arms, confessing
thy great fault Of today and telling me
where John Qnivil lies hidf'
No. Master Dowdeswell, said
Anne, with dignity. Take me away
pnd immure me In the vilest dungeons,
but for my loves sake will reveal
nanght. "
''But wilt not love me. Nan?'
"Non
He was deeply mortified. The per-
spiration stood upon bis brow. and his
heart was hot within him. He looked
at her again. Then, with an unpre-
meditated gesture he raised his eyes to
the clock face aboye her head. Some
thing In its aspect struck him strangely.
Half past 4l'' he exclaimed. "Half
past 81 Is It always half past 4 here.
mistress?''
"The clook hath stopped. Z falsered
Strange that Ii SHOULD stop even a. !
entered the chamber. = said he. let
me set IL going for thee. e
Nay, she said quickly. why set
it going for naught, since thou art go-
ing 70 take me to jaill Let the clock
be.''
THAT would be indeed an unkind
measure, - said he. Even IL thou be
taken hence, should not the members of
thy household know the timer"
''I have no servants, said she.
None, madam? Beware Dost thou
dwell alone absolutely solitaryf''
My brother Toby is here, she ad-
mitted, "but he never looks at the clock,
and our old servant is half blind and
cannot read the timA.
Nevertheless viii set the clock, |"
said Dowdeswell
And. putting her aside, ne flung the
clock case wide.
by St. Georger' he exclaimed.
Quiyil stepped forth. his plumed has
I'm hand
Good day, Master Dowdeswell, = he
said complacently. I'VE are i'll met =
Il arrest thee, traitor, = said Dowdes-
well Sergeant Fairchild '
he was about to raise his voice TO
call upon his subordinates TO enter and
seize Quivil, but quick a. thought Anne
circumvented him. Snatching one OF his
pistols from the table, she darted up the
fight Of steps into the gallery, and
leaning over the railing she cried TO
Dowdeswell to stay his movements.
'HoldP' Ehe cried imperatively. SEQ
here, Master DowdeswellI / have thy
pistol It is loaded hold it to my
heart. Raise thy voice but one syllable
touch Master Quivil by but one finger
land tire--I fire, hark ye. and ann
dead! And thou lowest me, Master
Dowdeswell; thou lowest mel Nay,
stand where thou artl Stir but an inch,
and die. See, the pistol is at my bosomi
Listeni Make mp thy mind TO depart
In peace and leave Jack Quivil unharm-
ed while / count 10. For Ii when come
20 10 thou be still here FIRE, and die
thy little Nan. whom thou lowest.
diesp'
She began to count, leaning over the
balustrade, with the pistol pressed
against her breast and her finger ON the
trigger and her eyes fixed upon the two
men. They dared not stir. The deter
mination in her eyes held them spell
bound
''One, = she began.
''Stop, Nan, stopi'' entreated Quivil
LET me go with himi care naught.
Stop, dear love, stop counting and take
that pistol from thy breast /"
Two" she proceeded slowly.
Mistress Anne, cannot do the thing
Iwould. But, ohi for the love of God.
take that deadly instrument from thy
breast, /" implored Dowdeswell.
-Four, y she went ON. Five six
Nan, thou art killing me. Icare not
q jot for Imprisonment or death. -
| s'Seyen'---
NAN, my little Nan, think that man
| who loves owes duty too Have mercy
ON me and come down. |"
''Eight''--e-
'.Nan, sweet soul, forbearl''
NAN. In Gods name. cease!''
Nine '-
For loves sakei'' cried Quiyil, point
ing his pistol at his own breast.
For consciencei' exclaimed Dowdes-
well, seizing his other pistol which still
lay upon the table and thrusting it
against his head
simultaneously the two men fired.
tTen!''
It was q mechanical cry. Anne drop
ped the pistol from her hand and rushed
down the steps, and as she reached the
bottom Dowdeswell's troopers hurried
into the room. But the Cavalier and the
Roundhead who had loved Mistress Anne
30 well lay dead, and above them stood
the silent clock pointing to 4:30.- Ar