The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-08-29
OLD
FAvORiTES

He with footsteps slow and weary
She with sunny floating hair.
He with bowed head. sad and thoughtful,
She with lips 50 cold and white,
Said to hush her hearts Wild throbbing.
''Curfew must not ring tonight
'Sexbon." Bessie's white lips faltered,
Pointing TO the prison old,
With its toweS tail and gloomy,
With its walls dark, damp and cold,
eve a lover in that prison,
Doomed this very night TO die
At the ringing of the eurfew,
And no earthly help Is nigh
Cromwell viii not come till sunset"
And her lips grew strangely white,
As she breatked the husky whisper,
''Curfew must not ring tonight"
Bessie" calmly spoke the sexton,
Every word pierced her young heart,
Like the piercing Of an arrow,
Like a deadly poisoned dart.
"Long, long years I've rung the curfew,
From that gloomy Swallowed tower,
Every evening just at sunset
II has tolled the twilight hour.
! have done my duty ever.
Tried 10 do Il just and right.
Now I'm old l will not falter;
Curfew il must ring tonight"
wild her eyes and pale her features,
Stern and white her thoughtful brow,
While within her sacred bosom
Bessie made a solemn vow.
She had listened while the Judge read.
Without a tear or sigh,
AT the ringing Of the eurfew,
Razsal Underwood raur4f die
And her breath came fast and faster,
And her eyes grew large and bright.
in an undertone she murmured,
"Curfsw shall not ring tonight"
With quick steps she bounded forward,
Sprang within the old church door,
Left the old man, treading slowly,
Path 50 oft he'd trod before.
Not one moment paused the maiden,
But with eye and cheek aglow,
Mounted up the gloomy tower,
Where the bell swung TO and fro.
And she climbed that dusty ladder
On which fell no ray Of light.
Up and up her white lips saying.
'Curfew shall not ring tonight"
Now she's reached the topmost ladder,
Ger her hangs the great dark bell,
Awful Is the gloom beneath her
Like the pathway down TO he'll.
30 the ponderous tongue Il swinging,
IT'S the hour Of curfew now,
And the sight has chilled her bosom,
Stopped her breath and filed her brow,
Shall she let 1t ringl No, never!
Flashed her eyes with sudden light,
As she sprang and grasped it firmly,
''Curfew shall not ring tonight"
Out she swung, far out,
The city seemed a speck Of light,
Below there, twi1t heaven and earth
suspended,
As the bell swung to and fro.
And the sexton at the bell rope,
Old and deaf, heard not the bell,
Sadly thought that twilight curfew
Rang young BassePs funeral knell;
Still the maiden chung more firmly,
And with lips Of trembling white,
Said to hush her hearts wild throbblnSs
"Curfew shall not ring tonight"
1t was DER, the bell ceased swaytng,
And the maiden stepped once more,
Firmly on the dark old ladder,
Where for hundred years before,
Human foot had not been planted.
ne uEdNe uEe0 lAdL ldA 0Ouo
Should be told long ages after,
As the rays Of setting sun
Crimson all the sky with beauty,
Aged sires with heads Of white,
Tell the eager list'ning children,
"Curfew did not ring that night"
Ger the distant hills comes Cromwell,
BESIDE sees him and her brow.
Lately filed with fear and anguish,
Has no anxious traces now.
At his feet she tells her story,
Shows her hands all bruised and torn
And her face 30 sweet and pleading,
Yet with sorrow pale and worn,
Touched his heart with sudden pity,
Lit his eyes with misty light,
'Go. your lover lives" says Cromwell,
''Curfew shall not ring tonight"
Wide they swung the massive portals
Led the prisoner forth to die,
All his bright young life before him
Meath the darkened English skies.
Bessie comes with flying footsteps,
Eyes aglow with love light sweet,
KneeIing on the turf beside him,
Lays his pardon at his feet.
In his brave, strong arms he clasps hen
Kissed the face upturned and white
Whispered, Darling, you have saved me
Curfew did not ring that night"
Rose Hartwick Thorpe.
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IMpRESstONa IN VENICE