按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on her knees and tremblingly held forth the heavy key。
〃Receive my trust！ take it quickly！〃 cried she； 〃for methinks Death
is striving to snatch away my triumph。 But he comes too late。 Thank
Heaven for this blessed hour！ God save King George！〃
〃That； Madam； is a strange prayer to be offered up at such a
moment；〃 replied the unknown guest of the Province House； and
courteously removing his hat； he offered his arm to raise the aged
woman。 〃Yet； in reverence for your gray hairs and long…kept faith；
Heaven forbid that any here should say you nay。 Over the realms
which still acknowledge his sceptre； God save King George！〃
Esther Dudley started to her feet； and hastily clutching back the
key； gazed with fearful earnestness at the stranger； and dimly and
doubtfully； as if suddenly awakened from a dream； her bewildered
eyes half recognized his face。 Years ago she had known him among the
gentry of the province。 But the ban of the King had fallen upon him！
How； then； came the doomed victim here？ Proscribed； excluded from
mercy； the monarch's most dreaded and hated foe； this New England
merchant had stood triumphantly against a kingdom's strength； and
his foot now trod upon humbled Royalty； as he ascended the steps of
the Province House； the people's chosen Governor of Massachusetts。
〃Wretch； wretch that I am！〃 muttered the old woman； with such a
heart…broken expression that the tears gushed from the stranger's
eyes。 〃Have I bidden a traitor welcome？ Come； Death！ come quickly！〃
〃Alas； venerable lady。 said Governor Hancock； lending her his
support with all the reverence that a courtier would have shown to a
queen。 〃Your life has been prolonged until the world has changed
around you。 You have treasured up all that time has rendered
worthless… the principles； feelings； manners； modes of being and
acting； which another generation has flung aside… and you are a symbol
of the past。 And I； and these around me… we represent a new race of
men… living no longer in the past； scarcely in the present… but
projecting our lives forward into the future。 Ceasing to model
ourselves on ancestral superstitions； it is our faith and principle to
press onward； onward！ Yet；〃 continued he； turning to his attendants；
〃let us reverence； for the last time； the stately and gorgeous
prejudices of the tottering Past！〃
While the Republican Governor spoke； he had continued to support
the helpless form of Esther Dudley； her weight grew heavier against
his arm； but at last； with a sudden effort to free herself； the
ancient woman sank down beside one of the pillars of the portal。 The
key of the Province House fell from her grasp； and clanked against the
stone。
〃I have been faithful unto death；〃 murmured she。 〃God save the
King！〃
〃She hath done her office！〃 said Hancock solemnly。 〃We will
follow her reverently to the tomb of her ancestors； and then； my
fellow…citizens； onward… onward！ We are no longer children of the
Past！
THE END
。