Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-06-27
and with the clock that still pointed TO
half past behind her.
tsMiSfraSS Anne Zane - he heoan SEN

ana ScnOOi tny ln1uu W TlSHG uHluK1uS.
To my sorrow, thou dislikest me, and l
withdraw But ere quit thee I con-
jure thee to tell meas thou fearest
God and as thou lowest virtue and de-
sirest the rewards of heaven-dost thou
conceal here in some secret chamber or
in some hidden vault the person of the
rebel whom seek?"
''No," said Anne.
Gas thou dreadest the fires of hell,
mistress, l conjure thee to speak the
truth. -
81 do speak the truth, sir. y
without quibbling, mistress, l bid
thee inform me if one lie hid here in
some secret chamber whom account
REBEL
''There is no secret chamber, Master
Dowdeswell. !"
Mistress Anne, is John Quivil here?"
''Master Dowdeswell, thou hast
sought throughout the house, and thou
hast not found him, and tell thee there
is no secret chamber here.
"Then to whom appertaineth the
wearied nag in the outer stable?'
'sHow can I say? Our stable door
hath no key, and he who will may place
his beast there
Mistress, fear the Lord and speak
the truth! To whom appertaineth the
kerchief embroidered J. O."
''Master Dowdeswell, thou hurriest
to conclusions. May no man own the
initials J. @. save one?"
"Parley not with me, madam. love
thee, Mistress Anne, but my conscience
condemns me even while handy words
with thee. Tell me, lest drag thee to
the seat Of justice, where hidest thou
John Quivil:''
She was almost at her wits end. But
she held firm.
elbow knowest thou that Master
Quivil was at the i'll fated field of
Naseby?" she asked.
elbow know I? Because saw him,
madam-saw him in the rear company
of the man Charles Stuart, whom thou
callest king. saw him, and I know
that he fled in this direction. Madam,
the evidence of his presence here is cir
cumstantial. Here are his wearied
steed and his lzerchief Yield him up. ="
"Were it in my power, Master Dowdes-
well, never would 1 yield him up!
The kings loyal servants are my true
friends, and I deliver no faithful friend
to foe. "
because thou lowest him, mistress?"
''Not so. Because I love the king"
Dowdeswell gave short laugh,
IT'S a woman's wile," he said.
"The traitor is here, madam. Thou
hast as good as admitted his presence.
I must away with thee to the seat Of
Judgment.
But he did not order her to prepare
herself to depart. He stood looking at
her with blazing eyes.
"Vain and trif1ing woman" he burst
forth at length ''Thinkest thou to dis
semble with me? Thinkest thou to de-
ceive the Lords elect? Know that
see thy wicked endeavor; that perceive
thy bold purpose, and that despise thy
shallow deceit. The man John Quivil
is here. Madam, he is here, and for
bid thee to conceal him longer. Ac-
quaint me where he is!'
"Master Dowdeswell, thou.saidst but
now that thou lovedst me-, - said Anne.
eff thou hast ever loved me, ask no
more, but depart i'll peace. !"
petuously. eyes, and I do love thee!
Even as Jacob loved Rachel, love I
thee! Even as the hart desireth the
water brooks, even so I desire thee! Ny
sole desire in life is to content thee,
and if needful would shed my blood
for thee. Dear Nan, wilt not return my
love and come into my arms, confessing
thy great fault of today and telling me
where John Quivil lies hid?'
'No, Master Dowdeswell, said
Anne, with dignity. ''Take me away
and immure me in the vilest dungeons,
but for my loves sake I will reveal
naught." "
'But wilt not love me, Nan?"
"No."
He was deeply mortified. The per-
spiration stood upon his 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 above her head. Some
thing in its aspect struck him strangely.
"Half past APP he exclaimed. 'Half
past 4! Is it always half past 4 here,
mistress?''
"The clock hath stopped, faltered
she.
"Strange that it should stop even as I
entered the chamber" said he Let
me set it going for thee"
"Nay,' she said quickly. "Why set
it going for naught, since thou art 60
ing to take me to Jail! Let the clock
be-
"That would be indeed an unkind
measure said he. ''Even if thou be
taken hence, should not the members Of
thy household know the timer
81 have no servants" said she.
.'None, madam? Beware Dost thou
dwell absolutely solitary"
''My brother Toby is here, she ad-
mitted, "hut he never looks at the clock,
and our old servant is half blind and
cannot read the time.
Nevertheless will set the clock, ;"
said Dowdeswell.
And, putting her aside, he flung the
clock case wide
''By st. George!" he exclaimed.
Quivil stepped forth, his plumed hat
in hand.
'IGood day, Master Dowdeswell, F" he
said complacently. ''We are i'll met. !"
st 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 as thought Anne
circumvented him. Snatching one of his
pistols from the table, she darted up the
flight of steps into the gallery, and
leaning over the railing she cried to
Dowdeswell to stay his movements.
"Hold!" she cried imperatively. "See
here, Master Dowdeswell! I have thy
pistol. 1t is loaded. 1 hold it to my
heart Raise thy voice but one syllable
touch Master Quivil by but one finger
and I fre--I fire, bark ye, and am
dead! And thou lowest me, Master
Dowdeswell; thou lowest me! Nay,
stand where thou art! Stir but an inch,
and 1 die. See, the pistol is at my bosom !!
Listen! Make up thy mind to depart
in Deace and leave lack Ouivi1 unharm-