-
Articles/Ads
Article MASONIC REMINISCENCES. ← Page 3 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Reminiscences.
mixed feelings of tenderness , and sorrow ; a loud whistle resounded through the hollow vaults , and startled Mary into an attitude of listening terror . "Be not alarmed , Mary , " said De Courcy , risings "it is only Hugh , who has some gossip to relate from the village , whence , I suspect , he is but now returning ; I shall just see him and be back in a moment . "
Maurice soon returned , with an anxious and excited look , holding a letter in his hands , on which he gazed with intense curiosity ; he recognized not the handwriting , but the seal seemed to concentrate his attention ; again and again he examined it , with deep emotion , then reverently applied it to his lips . Mary , seeing this , said with a sweet smile in which there mingled no fear nor doubt , " What , Maurice , a love letter to the gallant Captain Starlight ! and , on my truth , most gallantly acknowledged . "
" Yes , my Mary , a letter truly awaking memories of love , behold it is the impress of the square and compass , it is my father ' s seal ; look here ! " and he drew forth from his bosom a signet attached to a chain , curiously wrought by Mary , of her own rich brown hair ; "it is the facsimile of this , that impressed the seal on that letter . Once in my boyish days I . took a fancy to this signet , and asked my father if I might have it ; he said , ' Boy , you will but lose it , you know not the meaning- of the device : I hone vou one dav will , but till then it
would not be right for you to use it . ' I promised faithfully to keep it safe till then ; he gratified my boyish wish ; gave it to me , and had exactly such another made . "You know , Mary , how fondly , how faithfully I cherish that gift , and though I still am ignorant of the meaning of the symbols , yet shall I treasure it to my dying hour ; and one of my last wishes will be that it may yet be worn by our boy , who will be more worthy of it than his father ; for , alas ! I despair of ever again seeing the day
when I shall deem myself . worthy of that much-coveted knowledge which alone would justify its use . " Maurice now proceeded with trembling care to open the mystic letter . His wife observed , as he silently perused it , how deeply he was affected by its contents ; the cold dew stood upon his forehead ; his broad chest heaved ; the pure recollections of early days fell upon his softened heart with thrilling tenderness ; tears gushed forth , and covering his face with his hands he groaned aloud .
In a moment she was by his side , her soft hand pressed his throbbing temples , and in that gentle pressure was a healing balm beyond the leech ' s art ; she poured the sweet oblivious antidote" of her musical and soothing words upon his troubled spirit ; the storm of his soul was hushed , and the highwayman became calm as his sleeping child ! He handed the letter to Mary , saying , " I know you'll ask mo to accept this good man ' s offer , but I feel it is impossible ; how can I desert those poor fellows who have risked every thing to follow me ; who have shown faith and truth often sought in vain among those
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Reminiscences.
mixed feelings of tenderness , and sorrow ; a loud whistle resounded through the hollow vaults , and startled Mary into an attitude of listening terror . "Be not alarmed , Mary , " said De Courcy , risings "it is only Hugh , who has some gossip to relate from the village , whence , I suspect , he is but now returning ; I shall just see him and be back in a moment . "
Maurice soon returned , with an anxious and excited look , holding a letter in his hands , on which he gazed with intense curiosity ; he recognized not the handwriting , but the seal seemed to concentrate his attention ; again and again he examined it , with deep emotion , then reverently applied it to his lips . Mary , seeing this , said with a sweet smile in which there mingled no fear nor doubt , " What , Maurice , a love letter to the gallant Captain Starlight ! and , on my truth , most gallantly acknowledged . "
" Yes , my Mary , a letter truly awaking memories of love , behold it is the impress of the square and compass , it is my father ' s seal ; look here ! " and he drew forth from his bosom a signet attached to a chain , curiously wrought by Mary , of her own rich brown hair ; "it is the facsimile of this , that impressed the seal on that letter . Once in my boyish days I . took a fancy to this signet , and asked my father if I might have it ; he said , ' Boy , you will but lose it , you know not the meaning- of the device : I hone vou one dav will , but till then it
would not be right for you to use it . ' I promised faithfully to keep it safe till then ; he gratified my boyish wish ; gave it to me , and had exactly such another made . "You know , Mary , how fondly , how faithfully I cherish that gift , and though I still am ignorant of the meaning of the symbols , yet shall I treasure it to my dying hour ; and one of my last wishes will be that it may yet be worn by our boy , who will be more worthy of it than his father ; for , alas ! I despair of ever again seeing the day
when I shall deem myself . worthy of that much-coveted knowledge which alone would justify its use . " Maurice now proceeded with trembling care to open the mystic letter . His wife observed , as he silently perused it , how deeply he was affected by its contents ; the cold dew stood upon his forehead ; his broad chest heaved ; the pure recollections of early days fell upon his softened heart with thrilling tenderness ; tears gushed forth , and covering his face with his hands he groaned aloud .
In a moment she was by his side , her soft hand pressed his throbbing temples , and in that gentle pressure was a healing balm beyond the leech ' s art ; she poured the sweet oblivious antidote" of her musical and soothing words upon his troubled spirit ; the storm of his soul was hushed , and the highwayman became calm as his sleeping child ! He handed the letter to Mary , saying , " I know you'll ask mo to accept this good man ' s offer , but I feel it is impossible ; how can I desert those poor fellows who have risked every thing to follow me ; who have shown faith and truth often sought in vain among those