The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-09

was dead-an' If only you'd bide away,
I'd have no fear"
I'm stay with you till the last" said
Hester; - tbs l that should be hanging,
not YOU"
Janet shook her head.
1.-The baby's death lies at my door,"
"but I've thought of something ASH
made 1t less lonely for you when Pm
gone; that child you told me of last
night-steal it,"
"Janet!" cried Hester, drawing back
from the woman in horror.
"Ay," said Janet, lawless In every
thing that concerned her mistress's
welfare; "she's got another, she can
we'll spare him; let her suffer bit, an
when they as we knows on, sees her
look as white and whisht as see you,
he'll know better what he's done than
he knows now"
''She called me sister," said Hester,
slow tears rolling down her cheeks, ''she
kissed me. I'll not harm her any more
than I've done already; l can't be like
her, but I'll never forget it, how good
she's been to me. I'd like to show her
that a bad woman can sometimes be as
see the child sOmetimes-she said that
/ might love him, and that he would
love me, but that was before"
"Then bide here, MISTRESS" said
Janet, eagerly, knowing that the worst
of death would be over if she could leave
her mistress with some interest in life
that would draw her out of herself. and
keep her from thought. you've got
O bit of money, an can live where you
please; just pity her, and love the child
to your hearts content, an after awhile
you'll forget the other; and you don't
love him nowp"
mo" said Hester, in a whisper;
somehow mothers love seems to swal-
low up all other love; from the moment
my child was born l put ham second. If
he'd loved me it might have been differ
ent; but there was shame bet ween him
and me, but none toward the baby; and
I'll always think that the woman who's
missed motherhood, having the moth
ers's heart, has missed the purest, in
tensest JOY God ever gave, and the most
lasting; it's made me better woman
than I'd ever have been without"
Then if you can bear to see him."
said Janet, slowly, you'll stay; you
won't harm herr"
mo" said Hester, in whisper; 81
promised Lord Lovel I'd go away, but
Il u llNC VII Cluob IL nllRhO oCC Uu0
child sometimes. feel his arms around
my neck now, and hear his little voice
calling me-"
"Then feel them in flesh an blood
tomorrow" cried Janet; Ego to him,
mistress; sure there's none 'ud have the
heart to come between you, an you'll
forget about mean after bit know
ing I'm at rest, you'll give over fretting
for the little baby"
The gathering darkness almost hid
the women from each others eyes, as
by sudden impulse they turned and
chung together, -" Janet Mistress"
and in the darkness a kiss was exehang-
ed that spoke the perfect reconciliation
and peace that lay between these two
miserable: faithful hearts.
A great crowd had gradually assem-
bled without the prison gates, but it
was quiet and conversed little. All eyes
were turned in certain direction; all
ears were strained to discover the first
sound Of carriage wheels from the di-
rection of the station, for the last train
was now due, by which, If Lord Lowell
did not arrive with the reprieve, the
last chance would be over.
At nine o'clock low hum rose, and
swelled gradually to roar, as car
riage was heard approaching, and there
came gradually within the eager ken Of
the crowd the conveyance that was wont
to convey strangers to and from the
station.
A deep groan of disappointment went
up from the assemblage, the driver was
half dragged from his seat by dozen
eager hands, while his speech was lost
in the universal howl of anger that rent
the airl To have waited here in the
chill evening for whole hour, conf
IDENTIFY looking forward to the spectacle
Of Lord Lovel dashing up in his own
carriage at full speed, waving the re-
prieve out of the window, and to be put
off with sorry one-horse chaise, and
Jim Pipes, the one-eyed driver-it was
beyond human patience; and only by
degrees was it gathered that Lord Lovel
had not arrived at all by that train.
Within the prison, that savage shout
had awakened the two women from an
uneasy doze into which they had fallen.
For moment they chung together wild
ly, thinking that it was morning, and
they were on their way to the place OF
execution.
The stiffness that followed seemed to
those within to last hours. Neither
spoke, and only the loud beating of
their hearts was heard in the silence of
the cell. But presently footsteps were
heard approaching, the door was thrown
back, and the turnkey entered bearing
lantern, and followed by the chaplain,
who, approaching the two women, told
Janet briefly, but in words of strong
feeling, that hope was over, and only
resignation to the will of God left
to her. Then he kneeled down, and
prayed. and the women clasping hands,
kneeled, and prayed also, losing the
sense and the sound of the clamOr with
out, as they followed, word for word,
and from their hearts, that simple, rev.
erent voice.
The extreme favor that could be
granted to Janet on earth was permit
ted, and Hester allowed to spend with
her the last few hours of her remaining
life. Toward the dawn they fell asleep,
and were awakened from that fitful
slumber by the loud unbarring of the
door, through which came several peo-
pie, hurrying on each others heels, and
while Hester thought 1T is day." Janet
saw not the awaiting gallows, felt not
the approaching death-pangs for her.
self, but only as Hester, as spectator,
WINGED and drew back.
Then from out of that crowd of faces,
one singled itself and advauced-it was