The Detroit times., 1915-08-14
A Poem a.Day


TONIGHT."
SLOWLY England's sun was setting DER
the hiIltops far away.
Flhins all the land with beauty at
the close OF one sad day
And the last rays kissed the forehead
OF a man and maiden fair
ne with footsteps slow and weary,
she with sunny floating hair;
lie with bowed head, sad and thought
tut she with lips all cold and
STRUGGLING to keep back the muir.
"curfew must not ring tonight"
Sexton" Bessie's white lips faltered.
pointing TO the prison old.
With It's turrets tall and gloomy.
with It's walls dark. damp and
I've n lover In that prison, doomed
this very night to die.
AT the ringing. OF the curfew. and no
earthly help Is nigh,
cromwell viii not come till sunset.
and her lips grew strangely white
AS she oreathed the husky whisper:
Curfew must not ring tonight"
Bessie" calmly spoke the sexton
ssesfft word pierced her young
Like the piercing OF an arrow. like a
deadly poisoned dart
Long. long years I've rung the eur
Few from that gloomy shadowed
Every evening Just at sunset. II has
tolled the sunset hour.
have done my duty ever tried TO
do u just and right.
Now I'm old | viii not falter.
Curfew. IL must ring tonight"
Wild her eyes and pale her features,
stern and white her thoughtful
As within her secret bosom Bessie
made a solemn vow.
She had listened while the judges
read, without a tear or sigh;
AT the ringing OF the curfew, Basil
Underwood must die.
And her breath came fast and faster.
and her eyes grew large and
bright;
In an undertone she murmured:
"COrfew must not ring tonight"
With quick step she bounded forward
sprang within the old church
LIEF, the old man ueading slowly
paths he'd trod so OFT before.
Not one moment paused the maiden.
but with eve and check aglow.
Mounted up the gloomy tower, where
the bell swung 10 and fro;
As she climbed the dusty ladder. on
which fell no ray OF light,
Up and up--her white lips saying;
'Curfew must not ring tonight"
She ha. reached the topmost ladder
DER her hangs the great dark
bell.
Awful is the Gloom beneath her. like
the pathway down TO hell.
10. the ponderous tongue IL swing
ing-tis the hour OF curfew now.
And the sieht has chilled her bosom
stopped her breath and pGled her
brow
Shall she let u ring7 No. never: fash
her ewes with sudden light.
As she springs and grasps IL nrmly'
"Curfew shall not ring tonight.
Out she swung-far out. the city
seemed n speck OF light below.
There 'twiXt heaven and earth sus-
pended as the bell swung TO and
And the haIt-deat sexton ringing
years ne had not heard the belp
Sadly thought she twilight curfcw
rang Young Basils funeral kneh.
SIN ths maiden chung more nrmiy'
and with trembling lips so white
Said 20 hush her hearts wild throo-
bling:
"Currew shall not ring tonight"
n was DER. the bell ceased swayinE.
and tho maiden stepped once moro
Firmly on the dark old ladder where
for hundred years before
Human foot had not been planted.
The brave deed that she had done
rays OF setting sun
Crimson all the sky with beauty,
aesd sires, with heads Of white.
Tell the eager listening children.
"Curfew shall not ring tonight.
Der the distant hills came Cromwell
Bessie sees him. and her brow,
Lately white with fear and anguish
has no anxious traces now,
At his feet che tells her story, shows
her hands all oruined and torn:
And her face so sweet and pleading,
vet with sorrow pale and worn
Touched his heart with sudden pity.
lit his eyes with misty nght,
go YOUR lover lives" said Cromwell
"Curfew shall not ring tonight
Wide they flung the massive portal
led the prisoner forth 10 die
All his bright young life before MIN
Meath the darkcning En~iish SKY
BESSIE comes with flying footsteps.
eyes aglow with loyeltght sweet .
KnceIlng on the turf beside him. lays
his pardon nj his feet
In his brave strong arms ne ciaspeI
her. kissed the face upturned ana
vbisnering. Darling. you have saved
me. ,
curfew will not ring tonight
Rose Hartwick Thorpe.