The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-04-21

FAvORITES

Der the hillIops far sway.
FILLING all the land with beauty
AT the close Of one sad day
And the iazt rays kissed the forehead
OF 3 man and maiden fair.
He with footsteps SLOW and weary.
She with sunny floating hair.
lie with bowed head. ssd and thoughtful
She with lips 10 cold and white.
Sad 10 hu~l her hearts Wild ~throtbinS
-curtes must not ring tonight"
-ssrton." Bessie's white lips faltersd.
Pointing 10 the prison old.
With ils tower tall and gloomy.
VIII is w4ils dark. damp and cold.
I've a lover In that prison.
Doo4Sec this very night 70 do
Al the ringing Of the eurfew.
And 20 ssrfhiy help Is nigh
Crom @el viii not come TIL sunset
And her lips grew strangely white,
A she breathe the husky whisper.
"Curfew nust bot rag tonight"
Bessie" calmly spoke the sexton.
Every word pierced her young heart
Like tie piercing Of an arrow.
Like 9 deadly poisoned DART
Long. lonx ye2n i'yJ rung the curfew
From that gloomy Swallowed tower,
EVER evening just ar sunset
II has toiied the twilight hour.
] have done my duty ever.
Tried 10 do il .usr sDd right.
Now I'm old | viii DOT faker:
Curtew IL must ring tonight"
Wld her eyes and pale Der festurex.
Stern and white her thoughtful brow
While within her sacred bosom
Bessie made a solemn vow.
She had listened while the judge read.
Without e tear or sigh.
AT the ringing Of the curfer.
Bassel Underwood must die"
And her breath cane fast and faster.
And her eyes grew large and bright.
In an uncerto1e she mnrnurnd.
-Curfew shall not ring tonight
With quick s.eos she bounded forward
sprsns within the old church door.
Left tie Old nan. i-rsding slowly.
Path 50 of bed trod before
MOI n moment paused the maiden-
But with e,s and cheek sgiow.
Mounted up the gioor- tower.
Where the bell s~uls 70 and fro.
And she climbed hat dusty ladder
On which Eel no ray Of light
Up and Up her white lips saying.
-csrte~ ZzD not ring to-nishl-
Vow she's reached the topDaxt izd6sr.
Ger her hangs the great dark bel
Awful ts the gloom beneath her
Like the pathway down &c he'll
So the ponderO1s ;onsue Is swinging.
It's the hour Of curfeE DOW.
And The sight has chilled her bosom.
Stopped her breath and tiled her brow
Shall she let il rings No. n>Ter.
Flsshed her eyes With sudden light
A. she srrang and graspe1 i firmly.
-Curfes shall nos ring tonight"
Dat she swung. far out
The city seemed a sieck OF light
Below there. twixt heaven and earth
suspended.
"A the bell s~aax 70 and fro.
And the sexton al the bel rope,
Old ard cesf. heard not the bell.
Sadly thought that twilight curfew
Rang young Bassei's funeral kneli:
Sill the maiden clrnx more Arrly.
And with lips Of trembling white.
ssid 10 hush her hearts Wild throb5inSs
-Ccrfew shall not ring tonight"
4 WIS Ger. the bell erased swayfnE.
And the maiden stepped once a<or.
Firmly on the DARK old ladder.
Where for hundred yesn before.
Human foot; had not beea planted
The brave deed that she hsd done
be told hong ages after.
A. The rays Of setting sun
al the SKY with beauty.
Aged s.res with hesds Of white.
'el the eager iisl'ning cAildren.
--Curfew did no; ring that night
Fer the distar; hills comes Cronwell
Bessie SEES him and her brow.
.steiy filed with fear and anguish
Has no anxious traces now.
4 his fecs she feiis her story.
Shows her hSnds al bruised End torn
nd her face 80 swee; and pleSiinS.
Yet with sorrow pale and wora-
his hear with ssitcn pity.
Lit his eyes with misty light
SO. your lover lives says Cromwell. 4.
-Curfev shall not ring tonight
'ide they swung the massive portss
Led the prisoner forth &c de.
Il his bright young life before him
Meath the darkened English skies I
essie corncs with flying footsteps
Eyes ariow with love light sweet .
meeting on the turf beside hin. {,
Lays his pardon az his feet /,
his brave. strong srms he clasps her. :
Kissed the face up~turnei and white.
hispered- Daring. you tave saved me
Curfew did not ring that night
Rose Hartwick Thorpe.
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