The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-09-30

Oh, no, no, 1t could not be! She was
dreaming, insane, perhaps. Lionel was
waiting for her on the beach beyond
the rocky headland, and she would 20
and meet him, just as she used to do
in their happy, younger days.
But who was this Lionel Hope they
were going to hang? Marion shudder-
ed from head to foot. and for the first
time in all her life faced sorrow that
she could not conquer.
Gov. Page, stern-browed and pitiless
as fate, sat at his desk, in the act of
signing stiff, official-looking state pa
per, when the servant entered and de-
ferentially announced that lady was
waiting without to see him.
It was plainly manifest even to a
casual observer, that Roland Page was
in no mood to temper justice with mer-
cy, which argued i'll for the success of
Marion Eyerett's mission, if it did not
preclude. her from being heard altogeth-
er.
But if his was Il hard heart to soften,
hers was as hard a one to turn from q
righteous purpose; and if he had deign-
ed to look up when the servant, accept
ing Il curt nod as authority to do so,
ushered in the lady, he would have
seen that it was no ordinary woman
who confronted him, or one whose
wishes it would be easy to set aside.
! What Is your business, madam ?"
ne sharply Intercepted without the
slightest show of interest, or a pause in
his rapid writing.
when you are at leisure, sir, and
can give me proper attention, I will
state il" she calm " replied.
"Be so good as to make known your
business, if you please, and be as brief
us possible. My time is precious" he
coldly rejoined.
"And so is mine, and my business
more precious STILL" was her low, firm
answer
III your mission be important or 9TH
erwise, [ am ready to hear it, impa-
| tiently exclaimed the governor.
III am here to ask Of you the life of
Lionel Hope"
"You ask that of me which it is i'm
possible for me to grant" he freezingly
replied evincing not the least surprise.
| He was used to this poor, piteous,
imploring cry for life, and was deaf
to the prayer, SO much SO that not
q single death-sentence had ne ever
reprived during his two guber-
material terms.
The large gray eyes came slowly to
his face, and rested there, soft and I'M
impassionate, as if she were but telling
a pleasant story:
'Gov. Page, you must not-you
shall not -tritlc with this fearful ques-
ton of life and death! 1t is no paltry
GRAND that brings me here; it is the
hanging of Lionel Hope. He killed Il
man-yes; but it was no more that the
jury who decided their verdict against
him, or the judge who sentenced MIN,
or the governor who refuses to pardon
him, would have done, maddened by a
similar provocation.
The governor laid down his pen and
regarded her searchingly.
What is this man to your
Nothing"
The saddest expression that ever
Swallowed Il woman's eyes accompa-
MED the one low-uttered word. It did
not escape the governors notice.
| "What has he bcen@'
"My ALL"
81 thought So" was his frigid re
joinder.
"You did? Then know also that the
love which pleads for him now is the
one love of my life, and I declare to
you and all the world that will fight
this CHASTITY fate, this hideous thing
you call justice, till he is safe from
it's cruel clutches, or I will die with
him."
She stood before the unmoved gov
ernor, proud and still, with her calm.
pale face, almost holy in its earnest
ness, and Il solemn light in the clear
gray eyes, that more than proved to
Roland Page, harsh, stern man though
he was, her right to battle for the life
of Lionel Hope; but he only said, in his
coolest tones:
"Your wish is quite natural, but
can do nothing"
"Nothing?' she repeated, taking a
step forward and gazing hard at the
governors shapely hand, as it rested on
the edge of the table. "You can do
everything. I know that-a gladiator
might envy you its nerves of iron and
sinews of steeEbut if it ever signs the
death warrant OF Lionel Hope, may it
Wlther! If it ever sends forth the man
date that strikes him out of existence,
l pray Goo that it may perish, and with
it the soul that guides it"
Roland Page WINGED, and we'll he
might, for never had Marion Everett
been SO wrought up; and in a voice
that did not falter she told him the
story, which, if told earlier, would sure
~ have saved Linton Ainsley's slayer
from the impending ignominy of a
| death on the scafold.
His Excellency evinced great interest