The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-28

a magistrate, )" she added suddenly;
couldn't you give an order that no.
body's to be let come and see me before
! / die, not if they begged ever so? and if
/ die between this and Saturday-for
folks sometimes die as quick at home
as ON the gallows-couldn't you make
them bury me quick, so as them that
come, mightn't be able to take look
at me?"
Mr.. Eyre glanced round at the tall
narrow grating, the straw pallet, the
wooden bowl and spoon; no, there was
no instrument of self-destruction here
not even beam whence she might
simulate that awful leap in the dark
which in all human probability awaited
her.
"And so you would commit second
crime rather than face some unknown
person-probably the MOTHER" he said,
looking at her fixedly.
mo, mol" she almost screamed; ''if
anybody came alter Pm dead it couldn't
be the mother. Tell her that twas my
own child drowned in the pool. You'll
have more on your soul than you know
of If you tell her any different. Pm
mad, she muttered, Ito tell you this,
and may be you'll tell her, and I'll have
died for nothing, and she'll live on be-
"YOu did not hate this woman" said
| Mr. Eyre, still watching her, 'vet you
killed her child; what then, was your
motive for the deedY"
Love-" she said. I'D have given my
hearts blood for her, and I'd have lost
my soul to punish him." Her eyes had
the fixity of tigers, her body the
spring and crouch of one, as she looked
| straight before her, seeming to see what
to Mr.. Eyre was invisible.
| $50 it is the old story,"he said. "And
| you poor wretch, thinking to revenge
yourself on him, have only called down
| punishment on what you loved. But
what brought you to Lover" he added
suddenly.
~ got clew," she said, shut twas a
false one. It's been black, bitter mis-
take like my name) from the begin
ming"
"You came here in search Of the
father" said Mr.. Eyre.
"Ill tell you no MORE" she said dog
gedly; and though there's one or two
questions I'd like to ask you, won't do
1t. Ill leave nothing behind as she
could know me by, if she came after
was gone. IN be just nameless wo-
man as neither she nor you could be
Your conviction will tomorrow be
in every paper" he said, land draw mo-
mentary attention TO your crime. Your
absence from her, too, may have excited
her suspicious. In all human probability
you will see her before you de-"
Tomorrow" she said, below her
breath. "Ay, but tO-ddy's NINE"
mot So" said Mr.. Eyre, rising; "for
since your intention is known, means
will be taken to defeat it! You will be
closely watched, and the escape you
mediate rendered impossible"
You're hard man." she said, look
ing up. "Have you got a wife, or a
child, or any that may want pity, shown
to them some dayp Pm thinking they'll
get hard measure if they're judged by
the mercy you've shown to others; and
though your high. God-a-mercy's high
er: Perhaps He'u call me afore Pm
fetched on Saturday."
Miracles are rare in these days" he
said, as he struck the door with his
whip. Then added, as the turnkey hur-
ried to unlock it, "You have nothing
more to sayp"
mo; that's all" she replied bitterly.
Zone ruined life, two broken hearts.
murder, a hanging-that's all; and
enough too for one mans holiday work."
And who is the man." he said, paus-
ing on the threshold of the now open
door; but the woman had sunk with
sullen silence, her face shrouded on her
knees.
"She has confessed nothing but what
we knew or guessed BEFORE" said Mr..
Eyre to the chaplain, who was waiting
without: "but watch must be placed
in her cell, and relieved night and day
till the end. Should stranger come to
see her, send for me Immediately"
"ColOnel Busby is interesting himself
about memorial" said the governor,
talks of himself taking it to town."
''POohl" said Mr.. Eyre; 'he'd better
stay at home. Though if he goes he'll
take no harm; no creature smarts so
little as FOOL"
Here he is" said the governor, re-
pressing smile, as at that moment
short, pursy man rushed through the
gates and unfurled scroll on which a
considerable number of names were in
scribed.
I'VE want your signature, Eyre" he
said breathlessly. "You see | began
betimes, knowing the verdict was a
foregone conclusion. But with the
recommendation to mercy to back it, 1
naJter mySelr CnaC uttS Will put differ
ent face upon matters"
ION what ground do you base your
applications" said Mr.. Eyre quietly.
The woman pleaded guilty. If she
did not actually drown the child, she
deliberately abandoned it to its death;
the crimes all one in the eyes of the
law"
''But the length of time that has
elapsed" said Colonel Busby, 1.-THE GER
tainty that there are others in the back
ground as guilty as hersef-probably
in this very neighborhood." His side
long look fell before Mr.. Eyre's glance,
as the latter said
You will not count on me. Indeed,
I'm about to send private line to town,
pointing out the facts of the case, and
how the gross ignorance and stupidity
of the jury is responsible for the error
of justice contained in a recommends
ton to mercy"
Colonel Busby turned pale. Mr.. Eyre's
influence in high quarters was we'll
known, and did he choose to exercise
it, the memorial, though vouched by
every signature of note in the country,
was so much waste paper. With brief
good morrow to the two gentlemen, for