The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-03-17

Lansing stepped IOTLn from tue Case.
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. Sc
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. 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 fatterer, l do protest. That
was a very pretty compliment. but the
clock is not to blame. 1t has given
good notice that tt-na longer guards
the hour. 1 am this day expecting the
smith, but he has failed me, and
'twere we'll. as that mischievouS little
page of mine must needs meddle with
the pendulum, and TO keep it from his
fingers | have locked it so well 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 linger-
| ingly down the steps, his sword a
| Jingle. and the handsome head barred
| In the SlOamlnS. Win dSAIUeIdte ease
| he mounted. and AVA down the ave-
nue., turning in the saddle 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 Tilt of 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 you, for you l did it, and now
may my God forgive me the lies that
l have told this day and the making a
shuttle-cock of good mans heart.
am traitor to all but you, traitor to
myself. and my king, for the sake OF
the sweetest love that e'er maid hath
known. Thy country be my country.
thy Washington my king, or what you
will to make of him, so long as Guy
Lansings good right arm is mine"
With a prayer of thankfulness for
the words left unsaid, he held her
close, and there was silence where NO
word avails.