The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-10-04
and tears upon your tender feelings" :"

ed the governor. "But it does not alter
my views Of the matter. consider the
laws far too severe. A IN ller code would
am fully satisfied, be much more cffcctu-
al in the prevention of crime. So brlicv-
ing, AID from good grounds, interposc
upon principle the executive ccmcncv. to
break the vindictive force of penal stat
utes."
But you did not make the laws"
"WelI-what thenl"
"Nor are you in any way responsible
for the severeity of their action, as YOU
are pleased to term it. 1t is your duty to
sec the laws executed, not to hinder their
action"
"But | cannot bear to see men punish
ed so severely, when it is in my power to
prevent It,"
Then you regard your own feelings
more than the good of The whole TO save
which, YOU are ready to turn villain
loose upon the world, who, in an hour aC-
ter, may rob and burn your neighbor's
house, or take tire life Of your fellow man.
! Spurious charity this-that regards one
above the many! The tnan who truly
and honestly loves his country, looks to
the good OF the whole andwere he plac-
el upon the bench, and his own son ar
raigned for crime, would AZ 4risidly inflict
upon him the penalties of the law as upon
a stranger And this, under the stern
conviction, that it would be As good for his
SON to lie restrainsa from doing evil, as it
would DC for society to be saved its infiic.
ton" w
sAs for me, ! don't profess 70 be quite
so good patriotasdbat," The governor
rejoined. half sfssriSg al ihs old mans
distinct enunci stio,5 Of & mol 4 ruth.
Ttis scemed to oifend tfe Stranger, for
he Instantly arose, looked The governor
sternly in the face for lew moments, and
then left the apartment without uttering
II word. .....
No sooner had the old man closed the
door after him than it was opened by the
woman who had presented the petition in
favor of her son. She came forward has
tiIy, and falling upou her knees, urged her
Suit with the eioqucncc Of tears.
"Pardon my poor boy. o, pardon him
as you nope for pardon YOURSELF urged
The afflicted mother.
Unable to withstand the pleadings
backed as they were by the tender sus-
capabilities of "A tender heart, the Cover
nor took the petition aud signed it, with
out It's having once occurred TO him that
he had promised an answer to the petition
in the morning. The overjoyed mother
snatrhed the paper from his hand the mo.
inent he laid his pen aside, and bounded
wildly from the room, without so much AS
waiting to acknowledge the kind act.
~ queer set, anyhow" muttercd tie
governor. She might have at least thank
ell mo"
And then he leaned back laziy in bis
chair. When next conscious, he was star
tied by loud crash, which seemed TO
come from below. Rising up and rubbing
his half scaled eyes, he discovered himself
To be in to;al darkness, while there reign
ed around him the most profound si-
|
lence.
II must have been dreaming" he at
length muttercd, sinking back into his
armchair, in order to collect and compose
his mind. He had been seated thus for
only minute or two, his eyes beginning
oget accustomed to lie surrounding dark
ness, when his ear caught the sound of
footsteps moving stcaIthily along the pas
sagcs. While still irresolute in regard 70
action, his door opened, and man enter.
ed, carrying dark lantern in his hand.
lie could readily distinguish the form and
features of this midnight intruder. II twas
Godfrey GliEner, the pardoned criminal,
who had thus made so free with the ex-
| ecutive mansion.
Seemingly aware that he should fiGd
the governor in that room, he did not hes.
itate moment after closing the door be.
hind him, but threw open his lantern, in
order 10 render objects distinctly visible.
A grin Of malignant pleasure distorted his
evil impressed counten nee, as his eyes
fell apon the frightened old man, now so
parslyzed by alarm as to be unable TO
rise. The next movement Of the robber
was to draw pistol, the sharp click Of
which seemed almost like the passage ol
a knife through the goverm'rs heart
Then advancing he placed il at his ear
with look and air Of determinations tha,
made The trembling victim close his eyes