Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-01-28

Howard Stanley had never heard the pratt
tie of his child had never even seen its
beautiful blue eyes: no holy ties had
grown up between him and it. If he
thought OF his offspring at all, it was with
modification for himself and anger 70.
ward it but, in truth, he did not wish to
think of it; and he tried to Danish it from
his memory entirely.
Oh blind human soul, that COULD toll
in thousand schemes of philanthropy,
yet neglect its own flesh and blood, nor
think it wrong.
The man is very importunate, sir +
The speaker was the turnkey of the ci-
ty Jail, who had come to the governor,
with request for an interview, from a
prisoner under sentence of death.
i have already said.' replied the gov
ernor, resolutely, that cannot accede
to the request, 1 have laid the case be-
fore the attorney general, who tells me
that the prisoners guilt is undoubted. l
have, therefore, refused a pardon. After
this, to grant an interview, would be to
hold out hopes which / can never real
ize.'
But there is something more than
common interposed the jailer, in this
man. don't think he fears to die; for
a more hardened, or rather more deter
mined character, l never saw: and his
desire to see you arises from no unmanly
terror of his doom, your excellency may
rely
why, You seem interested in this
man?'
Il am. He is a peculiar character /;
wicked and desperate, indeed but with
many noble traits. 1t is the wreck of
what might have been, often think,
useful and even distinguished citizen
What clergymen visits him?
Several, but not at his request, He
laughs at their concern for him, and says
they have come too late: that his destiny
is decided, and that he wouldn't be mean
enough to smuggle himself into heaven
now, even if he could
This is frightful,' interrupted the gov
ernor.
L know it; / repeat his own words,
however. He told them, the other day,
to go into the alleys and cellars Of the ci-
ty, among the beggars, thieves and wan
tons, and there labor; and not to wait
till years of outlawry from society had
done their work, till the ripe criminal;
those were his very words, was in prison,
and the gallows being built
He has strange name,' unused the
governor, referring to a paper in his
hand
'Ishmael, your excelleney means. l
once asked him if he had Arab blood in
him, when he answered with scornful
laugh, and said that he was the original
Ishmael, whose hand had been against
every man and every mans hand against
him.
Il don't wonder you are interested in
him, answered the governor, after pause.
He is evidently man of superior mind,
but with a certain saYageness OF ideas,
like many criminals who think society has
done them wrong. But can't break my
rule, which is never to allow my judgment,
in cases where psrdons arc sought, TO be
influenced by personal considerations
He has taken mans blood {: and the law
must have its course
With these words the turnkey was dis.
missed. But, the next day, what was
the astonishment Of the governor to find
that officer again soliciting an audience
on the same errand.
His excellency slightly frowned, for he
did not like his decisions, when once pos
itively announced. to be appealed against
i beg your pardon said the jailcr
noting the governors countenance. But
the prisoner made me promise to come tc
you again, and though l told him you
rarely revoked resolution, he insisted or
my compliance. And yet, to speak frank.
", don't think he cares much whether
l obtain pardon or not it is an inter
view with You that he chiefly wishes. He
told me to say that he demanded it fol
your sake more than for his own; and
that beg pardon for what say, but
they are his very words-if you did moi
grant it, you would repent it through al
eternity
The frown deepened on the inacxiblC
brow of the governor. am not to be
alarmed, he said, by such miserable
shifts. The man must die
And your cxcellency will not see him?
No., said the Governor, positively, ri
sing to show that the interview was at ar
end. / am less inclined to it than ever
The wretched man must dismiss all hope
and bethink himself of his soul. Hav'
clergymen about him, whether he will o.
not, for even at the eleventh hour he may
repent. 1t would be horrible il he should
die in the frightful mood you described
yesterday, ike wolf guashing his teetl
in the trap
The multiplicity of affairs, demanding
the attention Of the newly installed gov
ernor, absorbed his mind for the remain
der of the day and dismissed him so "a
tigued to bed, that he thought no more o
the prisoner. But, on the morrow, whel
the death-beu began to toll, and he recol
lected that the condemned murderer wa
] nho,,t 70 nrn;ate his nhence a sirann