The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-01

for mercy, but finding no one to hear her.
g. Just at that time Captain Richard
came home on visit. The Duke of Mon
mouth had just, been beheaded; and he
had been out in the war against him, and
had deal to talk about. Mr.. Edwin sat
listening,. among others. and the Colonel
took occasion of his. brothers example to
try to shame him into being more manly
but Captain Richard, who was generous
with ali his pride, tried to excuse his broth.
er, and said laughingly that two heroes.
meaning his father and himself, were e.
nough for one family. q
3" Well, on that same night, when Edith
Wainflete went up TO her bedroom she
slept in the room that is Mr.. Henry's study
now, } she heard rustling at the window
that induced her to draw the curtain aside;
and there, withher whole weight on one OF
the branches outside, her small hands
prasping the stone cornice, and her pale
face pressed against the latticed panes,
stood Alice Leigh, tho granddaughter Of
the reputed witch. Edith, gentle as she
was had the courage Of her race. She
flew to the door, bolted it, and then open.
ed the window and let the girl in. for she
guessed that she was come to ask her to
plead for her grandmother; and her own
heart had been wrung by what her father
had done, for she disbelieved the tale.
"Alice Leigh fell on her knees, but E.
dith quickly. raised her, and then the girl
told a story she little expected to hear
She said she had been the wife OF Edwin
Wainflete four months; that her grand
father, Captain Leigh. was soldier and
a gentleman, who died in the civil wars
fighting for the king. Her father had lin.
pered after the restoration without notice or
reward for the losses his family nad sus.
tanned, and on the death Of both her pa
rents her grandmother retired. with her.
self and what small property she had LETT,
to the village where they had lived so
many years. All this she said was known
to her husband, who had promised through
his brother to make interest for her grand
mother with tfle king. But he procrasti-
mated; she failed her altogether in this great.
er need. X have seen him twice. said
!, she, ssince that dreadful night. (meanine
when her grandmother was !aken,) and
know loan place no faith in: him notsin
him whom | have loved sos much; he is
fearful, vascillaiing-oh! !the is selfish-he
will make no effort-he will leave her te
4 die .sEsalsg,1 safes@ susSi s8i
yL ..The, girl seemed distracted, and Editl
$ Wainflete was scarcely less so but SHE
!, saw at once what ought to be done. ant
) tried to soothe her, and promised to do he
, best for her. She herself took her dowr
. stairs, and saw her out ofthe house wher
! she imagined every one was asleep; bu
j her sister Helen had heard the noise, ant
$ watcher her, and followed her to her cham
e ber TO demand an explanation of what sh'
d had seen. Edith had nothing TO hide, ant
!. told her sister every thing. Helen listen
y ed in silence, and seemed so unmoyed tina
IS Edith was surprised and delighted, ex
g pecting to see her fall into almighty rage
e whatever view she took Of the subject. tie
:. len said she should best manage the mai
/ ter her own way, and she doubted not
8 do so satisfactorily, and she made Edit
'r promise not to breathe q word on the sui
d liect, even to Edwin himself. KNOWN
q that Helen's influence over both him an
ST her father was greater than her own, sh
e readily consented.
IT, {" But calm as she seemed, Helen's fee
IS ings were raised to quite storm OF pa!
M sion. She resolved that the story shoul
4. 90 no further if she could help it; she ha
rel silenced Edith for the present. and ST
lie doubted not 10 manage her weak-minde
rs brother.
y "She sought him that night, and he COY
ie cred under her fierce reproaches. he WI
IN himself horri6ed at having been related
as a woman convicted of so henious erin
for all his book learning had not taug
at lhim better than to believe in witchcra
re Helen saw her advantage. and half pc
IL suaded him, that he had been drawn, in
,e. the match by the old woman's art, thou'
ed he well knew that the courtship and ms
ng lfiage we're alike secrets to her On que
m tioning him, Helen learned that the Gel
IN, mony had been performed by an
MS school-fellow Of his, just entered into
ell holy orders, who had been al the Gran
ay on a visit some months previous. The
his was no written document to prove the mi
al riage, the young clergyman who promis
1as to Keep their secret, had gone abroad.
1as seemed easy to deny the marriage al
. a gether, and this Edwin consented to do
he "One week after, when the trial cei
at on, old Mrs. Leigh was found guilty a
of condemned to die. Peoples hearts WI
nj SO hardened by prejudice that there w
en-. few to feel pity for the beautiful you
;ot. creature who stood by her grandmothe
no side, ,aloolSing eagerly and wildly round
she see if any were there to come forward 9
a. speak for her as she had hoped. WI
up, the sentence was spoken she iell on
Ter. floor ofthe court like one dead. @'aa >
ing 81 1t was III the month of July, and
dy- that very. afternoon q young woman mi
lite. her appearance at Ellaby Grange
her asked to see the Colonel. Her dress
and fdisordered, her feet dusty, as we'll Y
the might be, for she had almost flown Fl
nd Upton, distance of eight miles, an
heir thick veil was drawn over her face, so
tch. at first the servant didn't know her.
cat Colonel consented to see her, and "
'osk they were alone she lifted her veil and
and on her knees But, seeing who it was
loat, stopped. .Pooh, pooh!' he said. it's
MY: use your coninghsre II can do mott
bed. for you.,j But Alice would be heard,
acs she told him of her marriage with his
nan land his promise that he would interfer
ste save her grandmother.