 | The Baroness of New York |  |
XXVI.
The lady at her window kept
Her watch all night, nor waked or slept.
She felt Sir Francis yet would come
To her for mercy. And she knew
The tiger nature then would rise
And light the fury of her eyes,
And that her lips would not be dumb.
Her watch all night, nor waked or slept.
She felt Sir Francis yet would come
To her for mercy. And she knew
The tiger nature then would rise
And light the fury of her eyes,
And that her lips would not be dumb.
One time she rose with hands clasped tight,
And leaning looked far out the night,
And longed that he would come, that she
Might throw her at his feet, and be
Forgiven. Then she turned away
In tears and terror, and did say,
“No, no! man's hand hath ever been
Against me. To the bitter end
Must I bear all, without one friend,
Or one to lean upon. Yet, when
All's won; well done ... My heart, what then? ..
And leaning looked far out the night,
And longed that he would come, that she
Might throw her at his feet, and be
Forgiven. Then she turned away
In tears and terror, and did say,
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Against me. To the bitter end
Must I bear all, without one friend,
Or one to lean upon. Yet, when
All's won; well done ... My heart, what then? ..
“I love poor Doughal, love him true
As lioness with lolling tongue
That crouching licks her fondling young,
Sprawled on his lithe back fanning her,
The while she glares the forest through.
My curse it crushes him. ... and yet
It was deserved. Shall I forget?
No! No! Now let my mad blood stir!
My strong hand clutch the coronet!”
As lioness with lolling tongue
That crouching licks her fondling young,
Sprawled on his lithe back fanning her,
The while she glares the forest through.
My curse it crushes him. ... and yet
It was deserved. Shall I forget?
No! No! Now let my mad blood stir!
My strong hand clutch the coronet!”
Sir Francis sat alone. His friend,
A strong, brave and accomplished man,
Had come with compliment, and plan
Of meeting in the Park at dawn;
Had done his work in haste and gone
To speak his fellow; to the end,
That no man sighted through the night,
Two dark-winged ships, like birds in flight.
'Twas nearing dawn. Yet still alone
Sir Francis sat. His brow was calm,
His face was in his lifted palm,
And all things seemed as still as stone.
His thoughts were all of her.
The Day,
The unboxed freightage there that lay,
Just landed from the ship To Be—
The ship that now had crossed the sea,
That lonesome sea that ever flows
Twixt day and day, that no man knows—
This unpacked freightage there that lay
Held unto him strange merchandise,
And yet he would not lift his eyes.
A strong, brave and accomplished man,
Had come with compliment, and plan
Of meeting in the Park at dawn;
Had done his work in haste and gone
To speak his fellow; to the end,
That no man sighted through the night,
Two dark-winged ships, like birds in flight.
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Sir Francis sat. His brow was calm,
His face was in his lifted palm,
And all things seemed as still as stone.
His thoughts were all of her.
The Day,
The unboxed freightage there that lay,
Just landed from the ship To Be—
The ship that now had crossed the sea,
That lonesome sea that ever flows
Twixt day and day, that no man knows—
This unpacked freightage there that lay
Held unto him strange merchandise,
And yet he would not lift his eyes.
His thoughts were all of her. No care
Or thought of self intruded there.
His world was all in her. Her name
Was on his lips; like the blown flame
Her form was ever floating there,
More mobile, more majestic, fair,
Than she had ever been before.
She filled all space, possessed the air,
She stood before as to implore,
Yet still as silent she did seem,
As star-born beings of a dream.
Or thought of self intruded there.
His world was all in her. Her name
Was on his lips; like the blown flame
Her form was ever floating there,
More mobile, more majestic, fair,
Than she had ever been before.
She filled all space, possessed the air,
She stood before as to implore,
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As star-born beings of a dream.
“Sir Francis Jain! the night is gray
With age. Behold the grizzly dawn
Comes driving up to herald day;
And we must instantly begone.
With age. Behold the grizzly dawn
Comes driving up to herald day;
And we must instantly begone.
“All's well! due preparation made
And wise precaution. It is laid
Within the Park, on new ploughed land—
Aye, mind the step! give me your hand—
There! sit you close, draw tight your cloak.
Now as we drive—no! will not smoke?
Ah, yes! this field as I have said—
A splendid place to hide the dead;
And wise precaution. It is laid
Within the Park, on new ploughed land—
Aye, mind the step! give me your hand—
There! sit you close, draw tight your cloak.
Now as we drive—no! will not smoke?
Ah, yes! this field as I have said—
A splendid place to hide the dead;
“And has been used, as it appears,
For this same thing for years and years.
A splendid thing. But, then, no doubt
The gentlemen take ample care
To not entomb too many there,
Lest some reporter smell them out.
For this same thing for years and years.
A splendid thing. But, then, no doubt
The gentlemen take ample care
To not entomb too many there,
Lest some reporter smell them out.
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“The weapons, pistols. This you know,
I swore to have, or else to fight
The man and bully him all night;
And this, Sir Francis, saves for you
The least of care. For, were you not
Through all, the champion pistol shot,
With half-ounce derringers?
Well, I
Do now confess I had to lie;
Protesting all the while that you
Were as a stranger; that I knew
Not anything about your parts,
Or least attainment in the arts
Of war. But that I did prefer
The stubbed, bull-dog, derringer
—The good saints keep my soul from harm—
Because it was a gentlemanly arm.
I swore to have, or else to fight
The man and bully him all night;
And this, Sir Francis, saves for you
The least of care. For, were you not
Through all, the champion pistol shot,
With half-ounce derringers?
Well, I
Do now confess I had to lie;
Protesting all the while that you
Were as a stranger; that I knew
Not anything about your parts,
Or least attainment in the arts
Of war. But that I did prefer
The stubbed, bull-dog, derringer
—The good saints keep my soul from harm—
Because it was a gentlemanly arm.
“The time is dawn, when we shall see
The first gray sparrow in his tree.
The distance twenty steps; advance,
And shoot, as suits your choice or chance.
But drive, Jehu! The time flies fast.
'Tis evil sign to be the last,
Besides, 'tis scantest courtesy.”
The first gray sparrow in his tree.
The distance twenty steps; advance,
And shoot, as suits your choice or chance.
But drive, Jehu! The time flies fast.
'Tis evil sign to be the last,
Besides, 'tis scantest courtesy.”
| The Baroness of New York | |