Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-07-24
copYRnnT Isoe By ThE eo6a3-kERRILL CO.

the argent way COulu Ue AlauSAI OHAJ
with visibility.
To reach the point he had in mind,
however, no choice remained; the
steps had to be mounted, and, lower
ing his head and looking down, dellb-
erately he started. AS he proceeded
his solitary figure seemed to become
more distinct; his presence more OBJ
| trusive and his echoing footsteps to
resound louder. No indication he had
! been seen or heard, however, reached
him: to all appearances espionage OF
his movements was wanting, and only
the saint with the sword at the top OF
! the steeple-guardian spirit of the
rock-looked down, as if holding high
a cleaning warning of that unwonted
! intrusion.
| Yet, though he knew it not, mortal
| eye had long been on him, peerlng
from a window of the abbot's bridge
spanning the way and joining certain
| long unused chambers, next to the
Governors palace, with my lady's
abode. Against the somber background
of that covered passage of granite, the
| face looking out would still have re-
manned unseen, even had the young
man, drawing near, lifted his glance.
This, however, he did not do; his eyes,
with the pale reflections dancing in
them, had suddenly fastened them
selves lower; toward another person,
not far beyond the bridge; some one
who had turned in from a passage on
the other side of the overhead archi-
tectural link, and had just begun to
come down. An old man, with flow
: ing beard from afar the newcomer
looked not unlike one of the ancient
Druids that, in days gone by, mad
! lighted and watched the sacred fires
of sacrifice in the rock. He, too guard
ed his light; but one set in the tall,
pewter lamp Of the medieval watch
man.
Twelve o'clock and alls-" he be-
gan when his glance, sweeping down,
caught sight of the ascending figure,
and, pausing, he leaned on his staff
with one hand and shaded his eyes
with the other.
A half-savage exclamation of disap-
pointment was suppressed on the
young mans lips; had he only been
able to attain that parallelog1am OF
darkness. beneath the abbot's passage,
he would have been better satisfied,
his own eyes, looking ahead, seemed
to say; then cleaned with holder
| light.
"a sword and blade
A drab and jade;
| Ais one to the Kings men of the army!
he began to hum softly, as with
more reckless swing, quickly he went
I'D in the manner of man assigned
some easy Grand At the same time
the patriarch slowly and rather labori-
ously resumed his descent, and just
| below the bridge, without the bar OF
shadow, the two came together.
Think you it is too late for his Elk
cellency, the Governor, to receive
message?" at once spoke up the young
en-, breaking off in that dashing, but
| low-murmured, song of the barracks.
That you may learn from the guard
at the palace" was the deliberate an
swer as, raising his lamp, the watch
man held it full in his questioner's
face.
Thanks! l was going to inquire"
AS he answered, at the old abbot's
window in the bridge above, the face,
looking out, bent forward more in
tently; then quickly drew back. Good
night"
But the venerable guardian Of the
inner precinct was not disposed thus
lightly to part company. Il don't
seem to know you, young man." he
observed, the watery, but keen and
critical eyes passing deliberately over
the others features.
MOI" Unflinching in the bright
glare of the lamp, the seeming soldier
smiled do you, then, know all at
the Mount-even the soldiers?"
Il should remember even them.
was the quiet reply.
Those, too, but lately brought from
st. Da1ard?"
True, true! There may be some OF
those" uncertainty
mo doubt! So if you will lower
your lamp, which smells rather vile
ly-"
From the miscreants 1t has smelled
out" answered the old man grimly,
but obeyed; stood as If engrossed In
the recollection his own response
evoked; then turned; walked on. and,
a few moments later, his CALL sudden
" remembered, rang, belated, in the
drowsy air: Twelve o'clock and ais
we'll! A new day, and st. kGScrt
guard us all
A sword and a blade;
A drab and a jade
The words, scarcely begun, above his
breath, died away on the seeming sol
diers lips, as the watcher on the
A.l iool,;n, doun to follow first