The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-12-09
replied tho minister, Cautiously.

"Ani may venture to ask" interposed
Harding, that you will act as soon as you
possibly can, sr2 I need not point out to
you .ha cruel position OF this young lady at
the present moment, or of those to whom she
is dear" E- a:-
any dear sir, shall act at once; in such
O. case delay would be inexcusable. But you
must forgive me II withhold my own
opinion until have ascertained that OF the
judge"
HALF an hour later received the telegram
for which wns waiting with breathless i'm
patience at York. Alasl itdid not announces,
as I had hoped might be Tho case. the i'm.
mediate discharge of my darling. Patiencel
patience! .......f. -.
But a. nightfall the glad news came.
3Secretary of state will advise queen to grant
free pardon. Formalities can be completed
Tomorrow -5i ......-,.
And the neKt day I was at the castle by
daybreak. waiting to be admitted to the
governors room was too soon, Of course
Even when otficialism acts with unwonted
speed, It cannot outstrip the impatience OF I
lover. It was now the 18th Of December.
In Q week longer Christmas would be with
US. Twelve days had elapsed since I had
heard the shameful doom pronounced upon
my beautiful darling-sho woman whom l
had chosen out Of ali the world as worthiest
and best, nyn, and who had chosen me, oil
unworthy as was-to keep that tender
heart Of hers-the purest and truess that
ever beat In O human bosom ..-.,
Only twelve da-s since that, awful scene
when Daisy and had seemed to stand to-
gether within the very jaws Of deathE
could not believe it HaR Of my entire Life
appeared to have been expended in the
varied emotions through which had passed
since then The officials OF the prison were
long, long In coming walked to and fro
impatiently I. declare this waiting now
was harder even than had been that waiting
for the verdict when my dorling's fate
hung in tho balance. I recalled oil the
history of those eventful four months which
had passed since I first saw her in her peer
less beauty, and the fun flush Of health and
strength, In the railway station OF this very
city; and while rejoioed moro than ever OF
the blessing which had been bestowed upon
me in her love, my heart cried out to heaven
for pardon for all those errors which
in my recklossness and blindness
suffered. All, if it could but have como over
again, how differently should have acted
and with what loving care I should have
shielded her even against that Internal net
work OF lios which had been woven so Gun.
ningly about herl So thought. as looked
back upon it oil; and SO, possibly, it might
have been If that strange drama could have
Leen re-enaoted. But who can tellf Even
row, when fully recognize the blunders Of
which was guilty. the folly, the blindness
the stubbornness displayed in my dealings
with Mauleverer and his friends, some
time, ask myself whether my blunders may
not have been more useful than my pru
dence would have been.
But what is that soundf The door opens,
and turn to gree. the governor with the
longed-for news. No; the governor is moi
there. 1t is my darling herself who stands
before me, pale as O statue OF marble, worn
and wasted by the strain of an agony which
might have brought even q strong man to the
grave, but with all the light of life and love
shining upon me from her star-lit eyes.