The Dickinson press., 1891-05-02
THE REPRIEvE.

NSAssJ ySsA DuaS WQNo
my client. In fact. it was to him that l
owed not only a competent fortune, butmy
position in society.
But for this l should never have under
taken his defence in this last case. my
best feelings were so against him-not
that l was migrate, but because l believed
that he had murdered his wife.
Many things compelled my drawing such
a conclusion.
He was well-bred, refined, and cultured,
and of a lofty nature, while she was of
common stock, the persOnificatiOn of ig-
norance and low-breeding. For ten years
he was all chivalry and tenderness, while
she was always sullen, morose, dissatis-
fled.
1t was claimed by their closest friends
that he loved her the first few years of
their united life, though l never believed
tlls-it was such a manifest impossibility.
AT any rate he hated her cordially when
her life came to its tragic close, and he
had done so for a considerable time prior
to that event.
Being entirely in his confidence, he Of
ten came to my Office, pallid and trem-
bling. to tell me of some new vulgar vio-
lence of hers which had driven him near
ly to the last extremity of desperation.
And so, one morning, when Mrs. Duke
was found dead with on ugly stab through
her heart, her husband standing over her
with a recking knife in hand, l naturally
believed lie had killed her.
Later on, when l saw him, my suspi-
tons seemed confirmed.
He was in a state of wild excitement
when l entered the sheritf's Office, in an
Swer to his
Until that moment no one had succeeded
in getting a word out of him about the
murder.
"What does it all mean ~ l asked, when
we were alone.
81 don't know" he gasped. II don't
know whether it was l who killed her or
not. But | dom want to die. l mustn't
be allowed to die. You must defend'me-
you must save me.'
Though l pitied him, l believed him
guilty: and though l defended him. l felt
that he merited death.
But my efforts were vain ones. The
evidence against him was too strong.
An unusual noise i'm Mrs. Dukes room
had attracted the buffers attention the
morning of the murder. On entering, he
saw Mr.. Duke raising himself up, knife in
hand, from the PROSTATE body of his wife
as if he had Just stabbed her.
That and the fact that the Dukes had
INDUCED in many bitter quarrels of late
was enough to win a disastrous verdict
from any jury.
MIR. Duke was found guilty and SEN
fenced to death. He was to be hanged in
forty-live days.
Reopening a case at that time was not
the easy thing it is now, and l found it
impossible to get him a new trial.
On and on those grace days swept, SEEM
ingly with lightning swiftness, until the
time set for the execution was but fifty
hours off.
l was desperate; Duke was frantic.
"You must go to the governor" he cried
at length. you must get a pardon for
me-"
'.Impossible,"l answered. "There isn't
enough time"
"Yes, there is. This is Wednesday
morning, and l am not to hang until Fri
day noon. The train goes in an hour. If
you leave here at once, you can make the
trip and get back here in time"
But on what p~retext? Simply seeing
the governor will do no good. L"
You must think of a pretext on the
way. Don't stay here and talk. You are
wasting time, and my life must be saved.
Do go at once"
He was in such a wrought-up state that
there was no use arguing with him, and
so l went away, walking about the streets
in sheer bewilderment. BY blind chance l
went to the railway station. arriving just
less, scarcely knowing what l was about
l clambered on board at the last moment
and Went whirling away toward the gov.
%ernor's, bent on a wild, mad purpose
which | we'll knew could only prove en-
tirely fraitless.
lllO lShU ~ L. uV0UAANh
ton was reached, a Oma came on board
who instantly pounced on me and kissed
me.
1t was my niece.
"What under the sun is the matter witt
youw she demanded.
When l told her of poor Dukes predica
ment her face became very grave, but the
moment she discovered my business witt
the governor it frightened.
"How very fortunate 2" she exclaimed
clapping her hands gleefully.
"Whatw l demanded, nearly stupeied
with amazement.
"Leave it all to me-" she said, sand
will save your friend. No-I'm not crazy
Listen: Last night the governor proposed
to me. OF course l love him dearly, buI
l don't want to be too cheaply won, and 81
l refused to give him an answer. HI
dimes with us tonight. After dinner, wher
his stomach is full and his heart easy tt
get at, Phi promise to marry him on thu
condition that he pard0ns poor old Duke
Then and there, on a public train though
VIZ HClC, L JUL uuSSCu dllu hloSCu llCls
She was as good as her word, and 81,
hours later l was OH board another train
homeward bound, and in my pocket was
reprieve for Duke-the case against hin
being so strong that the governor deemed
a full pardon impOlitic then.
The reprieve granted him another tire
months, though, and by that time popula
sentiment was likely to cool down stuff
GENTLY to make a pardon feasible.
On the way home l was fairly happy
and tried to picture to myself Dukes fac
when he knew he was safe.
This made me so comfortable that l fel
asleep.
Nothing disturbed my slumbers unit
the trainmen called out the name of tn
junction where l had to change cars 70
the branch road which ran through m
town.
And there to my CONSERVATION, l foun
myself unable to move. Mentally.I We