Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-04

Lansing stepped forth from the case.
are open to your men, bid them
search. search well, that Gordon's S roof
may hide no traitor to his Majesty"
Up the stairs, and down other stairs
through the rambling garrets, and into
holes where scarce mouse could hide.
deep into the cavernous cellars went
King Georges men, but never so much
as a coat-tail OF the hated blue and
tress Esther herself peered down the
cellar stairs, and bade them to search
we'll. lest the rebel should disturb her
household in the midnight hour.
1t 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
paced by his side up and down the long
hall, while he spoke of his home over
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 pur-
pie heather bloomed, of the grim old
castle that frowned 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 in the kitchens of Gordon Hall
where the servants feasted the troop
ers, and the Tory songs rang loud
above the ale cups.
Would the end never come? Verify
she was becoming an arch traitor to
self. to all maidenhood, as well as her
king. And though the old clock kept
its secret well. it could not shut out
from the ears of the man hidden with
in the low musical voice telling the
newest version OF the 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 of prudence. He scorned to
owe his life to her, this Tory Light-o'-
love that but held him there to tor
ture the very heart from his bosom. So
little time, and the glorious head had
lain on his breast and now the darkness
hid what must be repetition with
her Tory lover. OH the Jade. His
hand was lifted to make known his
presence, when again, the blare Of the
bugles sounded across the river. In
stantly there was stir in the hall be-
low, 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, but the darkness hid her agi-
tation, and the gay laugh rippled light
ly as she replied: "Ah. Captain! You
are a sad flatterer, l do protest. That
was very pretty compliment, but the
clock is not to blame. 1t has given
good notice that ii no longer guards
the hour am this day expecting the
smith, but he has failed me, and
twere well, as that mischievous little
page of mine must needs meddle with
the pendulum, and to keep it from his
fingers | have locked il so we'll that |
have lost the key. You will Judge me
careless housewife in very truth. but
there are many thSngs in this vast
house 10 burden thei mind OF one poor