Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-04

i've lover in that prison, doom'd
this very night to die
At the ringing of the Curfew, and
no earthly help is nigh.
Cromwell will not come till sum
set" and her face grew strangely
white.
AS she spoke in husky Whispers
"Curfew must not ring tonight"
Bessie" calmly spoke the sexton
every word pierced her young
Like a thousand cleaning arrows
Long, long years I've rung the
Curfew from that gloomy shad-
ovid tower;
Every evening just at sunset 1t has
told the twilight hour;
/ have done my duty ever, tried to
do 1t right;
Now I'm ola. I win not miss y; girl.
Wild her eyes and pole her feat
ures, stern and white her
thoughtful brow:
And within her hearts deep centre
Bessie made q solemn vow
She had listen'd while the Judge
read, without a tear or sigh
"At the ringing of the Curfew Basil
Underwood must die.
And her breath came fast and fast
er,. and her eyes grew large and
One lone murmur, scarcely spok en-.
odAAN0 IihSA ilOl iiliE lOIi6hbs
She with light step bounded for
ward, sprang within the old
church door.
paths he'd trod SO oft before;
Not one moment paused the maid
en-. but, with cheek and brow
STAGGERED up the gloomy tower.
where the bell swung to and
fro.
Then she climb'd the slippery lad
der, dark, without one ray Of
Upward still her pale lips say
ing; "Curfew must not ring to-
She has reach'd the topmost lad
der o'er, her hangs the great
And the awful gloom beneath her.
like the pathway down. to Hell;
Ing. It's the hour of Curfew
And the sight has chilled her bos-
ON, sstopp'd her breath and paled
Shall she lot it ring? No, never!
her eyes fash with sudden
As she springs and ,grasps l. firmt
night
Out she swung. far out: the city
There twist v earth sp and heaven elVM sus
pended as the bell swung to
And the halfldeaf sexton ringing.
years he had not heard the
And he thought the twilight Cur
few rang young Basil's funeral
Still the maiden clinging firmly,
chsek and brow SO Pale and
stilI'd her frightened hearts wild
beating, "Curfew shall not ring
tonight
IT was DER: the bell ceased sway
ing, and the maiden steppd
once more
Firmly on the damp old ladder.
where for hundred years before
Human foot had not been planted;
and what she this night had
Should be told in. long years after;
Lit the sky with mellow beauty,
aged sires, with heads of white.
Tell their children why the Curfew
did not ring that one sad night.
Ger the distant hills came Crom-
we'll; Bessie saw him and her
Lately white with sickening ter
or, glows with sudden beauty
now.
At his feet she told her story,
show'd her hands all bruis'd and
torn;
And her sweet young face so hag-
gard, with a look SO sad and
worn, 6fH
Touch'd his heart with sudden pity.
lit his eyes with misty light:
Go, your lover livesl" cried Crom-
well; "Curfew shall not ring to-
night
Wide they flung the massive por-
tails, led the prisoner forth to
die,
All his bright young life before
him. Meath the darkening Eng
Bessie came with flying footsteps,
eyes aglow with love-light
kneeling on the turf beside him.
laid his pardon at his feet.
In his brave. strong arms he claspd
her, lsiss'd the face upturned
Whispered. Darling. you have
saved me; Curfew must not ring
tonight"