Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-30
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WITHIN TEE SHADOW OF TEE
SCAFFOLD.
By MAJOR JAMES FRANKLIN FITS.
CHAPTER XIV.
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.


The patient, loving heart, that had
borne so much and never lost hope, gave
way for the time, as those dreadful words
were pronounced. Poor Blanche was car
ried fainting from the room.
But she was not one to give way to dis
pair. There was one resource left Mr..
Lascelle, still kindly advising, told Of
the power of pardon that was vested in
the crown. He warned her not to put
great hopes upon this last resort, while
yet counseling her to take it.
THAT power has been exercised, he
said, sin cases less doubtful than this.
There is at least chance there"
He drew up q strong memorial, setting
forth the facts of the case, laying great
stress upon the point that there was q
failure to prove that q crime had been
committed, and concluding with prayer
for the unconditional pardon of Ralph
Courtenay.
Il will forward this to the Home Secre-
tary," he said.
Il will take it myself, /" she insisted.
The lawyer regarded her with admira-
tion. To Mrs. Grayson he said, aside:
Il wish to read no more about the
heroines of history, madam. We have
them right among us; here is one! She
is going up to London herself, to carry
that memorial. She will not cease to
labor and hope for her husband till the
last"
What hope is there now?" asked the
Quakeress.
Little enough, grieve to say. And I
say, too, that if that man dies by the
hands Of the law, it will be simply legal
murder"
"And perhaps Sir Roger Pembroke
could have saved him." sighed the gentle
woman.
His influence and position would have
gonepfar toward 1t. That proud man will
have heavy account to settle at the bar
of conscience and Judgment, some day."
Since his trial and condemnation, Cap
tain Courtenay had fallen into condition
of apathy and Indifference as to the
future. He'was no longer captain; his
rank had been taken from him by the
War Office since his conviction. He
passed most of his days sitting idly in O
chair, gazing in kind of stupor at the
wall. The voice or the touch Of his wife
would arouse him; he would start, smile,
and try to converse with her, and then he
would lapse away into melancholy again
II am going to London, Ralph" she
said to him. Il am going to get your
pardon. Can you do without me for two
days2"
aThe time is coming, dear, when must
do without you much longer than that, :"
he replied.
at will not be long" she sobhed. "If
they kill you ! shall die, too. But they
shall not.
She gave him tender farewell, for
only two days. she said, and with Mrs.
Grayson, who kindly offered to accom-
pany her, she went on her mission.
She was gone full week. Two days
she waited in the lobbies of the Home
Office before she was admitted to the
presence Of the noble lord who presided
there.
She gave him her memorial; she begged
for mercy and pardon with simple elo-
quence that touched the stern heart of
the official
aI have heard Of the case, madam, he
said, with respect and pity in his voice.
7 am disposed to do for you and your
unhappy husband all that my duty will
allow, but I can make no promises.
Leave your memorial and await an
answer, which will be sent to you at your
lodgings. 1t would only distress you and
be painful to me for You to come here
each day.
The supplicant went away with her
friend, encouraged by the interview.
The next day a large envelope was
brought her, with q crown stamped upon
the wax seals. Her heart stood still as
she opened it. But it was merely a
formal notice that her memorial had been
read, and referred to the legal advisers
Of the crown for their opinion.
Five weary and anxious days of wait
ing followed; then came another envelope
bulky with its Enclosures.
There was long opinion from the high
law officer to whom the memorial had
been sent He stated that he had read
4 it, and had also carefully perused the
record OF the trial. It was Q very ex-
traordinary case. Some of its peculiar
features had no parallel in the history o1
British criminal trials. There was some
thing u11accountGble about the evidence
upon which the Attorney General had
relied to show that the condemned was
aided by accomplices. The failure tc
account Satisfactorily for the body Of the
victim was weak point in the prosecu-
tion. Indeed, verdict of not guilty
would have been justified upon the evi.
dence. But the accused had had fail
trial, and the jury had doubtless given
him the benefit of every doubt. The
writer thought that it was not, on the
whole, q proper case for clemency.
The memorial was also returned, with
q brief note from the Home Office, saying
that his Royal Highness the Prince Re
gent regretted that he could not interfere
With all hope now ended, Mrs. Courte
nav came back to Chelmsford.
Each day now. till the day came for tn