The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-11
A Maid of Old Dominion Days9
BY cURRAN R. GREENLEY. '
Copyright 1902. by Daily Story Pub. Co.

z sss.< = S.s.-s.H I igent spy. Mistress Esther herself peer cd down the cellar stairs, and bade them 10 search well, lest the rebel should dis turb her household in the midnight hour.
 It was well done. No tremor of the soft white hands that poured the rare red wine for the Captain, and as the shadows grew soft and the gray time stole over the land, Mistress Esther raced side by siae Up and down the long hall, Nnile h. spoke of his home over the sea, and the old mother that wrote such pitiful loving letters to her boy in this far-off savage land. He told her of the wide moors, where the purple heather bioomed, of the grim old castle that frowncd across the smiling land, from the days of Bluff Hal, and all the goodly heritage that but waited to claim her mistress. There was good cheer i'll the kitchens of Gordon Hall. where the servants feasted the troopers, and the Tory songs rang loud above the ale cups, and there was something more in the with velvet fingers the gold of Mistress Estk CTS curIs and yelled the passionate glances of the Tory Captain, as he whis- pered words that for the first time Mis- tress Esther hardened to, and yet she said no word, but let the white lids flLtter doy1 over the teil-tale brown eyes.
 Would the end never come? Verify. she was becoming an arch traitor to self, to all maidenhood, as we'll as her king And though the old clock kept its secret well. it could not shut out from the ears of the man hidden within the low musical voice telling the newest version of fhe very oldest story on earth. At last, when the voices had sunk to an indistinct murmur, and there had come a little silence to be translated as he would, jealousy got the better or prudence. He scorned to owe his life .l,g, r ;rrk,t ,a th,t hut held him there to torture the very heart from his bosom. So little a time, and the glorious head had lain on his breast and now the darkness hid what must be a repetition with her Tory lover. on! the Jade. Ills hand was lifted to make known his presence, when again. the blare of the bugles sounded across the river. Instantly there was a stir in the hall below, while Lansing held his breath. the mere force of habit rendering him quiet. although the passion of rage was shaking him from head to foot. There was a whispered farewell, and then the Captains voice right beneath him, The clock has stopped"
 Mistress Esther went white to the roots of her hair. and all the blood rushed to her heart leaving her faint and sick, hut the darkness hid her agitation. and the gay laugh rippled lightly as she replied: "Ah Captain! You are sad fiatterer. do protest. That was very pretty compliment, but the clock Is not to blame It has given good notice that 1t no longer guards the hour. l am this day expecting the smith, but he has failed me, and 'twere well, as that mis- chievous little page of mine must needs meddle with the pendulum. and to Keep 1t from his fingers l have locked 1t so we'll that I have lost the Key. You Will judge me a careless housewife in very truth, but there are many things In this vast house to burden the mind of one poor maid" and Mistress Esther sent glance from under her long lashes that rendered the Captain more fain than ever to lift the burden of Gordon Hall from the shoulders of it's fair owner.
 His men had formed in the avenue. and there was no excuse for longer delay, so the Captain backed lingeringly down the steps, his sword a jingle, and the handsome head barred in the gloaming: With deliberate ease he mounted. and away down the avenue as long as the blue brocade trailed over the stones, and Mistress Esther took care to use no unseemly haste, but waited until the red was blended gray. and the last lilt or song had died away ere she mounted the stairs and turned the key. Lansing stepped forth from the case, his eyes blazing with pent-up wrath. but ere he could say the words that must have been fatal to that loyal, loving heart, two white arms were flung about his neck, and the sweet face nestled against his shoulder.
 "For-Sou. for you did 1t, and now may my God forgive me the lies. that I have told this day, and the making shuttle-cock of a good mans heart. I am traitor to all but you. traitor to my self, and my king, for the sake of the sweetest love that ger maid hath known. Thy country be my country. thy Washington my king. or what you will to make of him. long as Guy bans- ings good right arm is mine.
 With prayer of thankfulness for the words left unsaid. he held her close, and there was silence where no word avails. HIS POCKET" by Hays Blackman.