Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-01-14
She raised her sad, tear.fillsd eyes to bis

She raised her sad, tear-hlled eyes to his
face.
81 was weeping for the poor mother, +"
she replied.
Some hours later the servant came to Mrs.
Waring, and informed her that Mr.. Holton
desired very particularly TO see her.
"Show him up here, she said, and in
few moments he was ushered into her pres
enee. She looked at him in some surprise.
He was evidently just off journey and
looked dusty and travel stained. There
was pale, determined look on bis face,
which was grave aud unsmiling as he came
up to tie couoh where she lay.
"Pardon me for coming to you in this
condition" he said, 'but have just re-
turned from journey and my business
with you admits of not a moments delay.
Mrs Waring, do you remember that night
about month ago, you were holding re-
ception, when you came to the library,
where your husband aud myself wers aud
l asked you to add your entreatiss to mine
to induce the Governor to pardon james
Carson who had that very day been con
demned?"
"Ohl yes, quite well, !" she replied.
II never expected to tell you what am
about to tell you," he went on, "but it sis
q last and desperate resort. have been
away ever since that night trying to hunt
up proof of that mans innocence (for be-
lieve him to be Innocent, but quite in vain.
He dies this afternoon unless your husband
saves him, or if he will only reprieve him
may still be able to prove him Innocent. l
want you to go to your husband and plead
for this man. Ali madam, plead as only
mother can, for he is your son."
He paused. She had risen on her elbow
and was staring at him. The awful look IN
the poor eyes, gazing out of the marble
pallor of the face, was destined to haunt
him during the remainder of his life and
rob it of all rest or peace. She never spoke.
something like a, long, deep sigh left her
lips, she fell back and lay still. The
lawyer sprang to her side. The eyes still
gazed up at him, the awful look of agony
and horror frozen in them, but they were
siehtless, and, as he stood gazing down up
on her, the voice of the newsboys in the
street below came clearly through the open
windowp'
sEvening newe, full account of the exc
cution OF the murderer, James Carson"
they cried.
"My God! / have killed her," muttered
the lawyer, with whitening lips.
Night had come. Over the Governors
mansion hung the silence and gloom of
death. In her chamber lay the dead mis-
tress. The sweat white fsce was very
peaceful, the heavy lids hiding the horror
and agony in the eyes, faint smile touch
ing the lips. Beside her knelt the hus-
band, but in few hours the whole weight
of his years seemed to have descended up
on him, bowipg the straight shoulders and
the proud stately head. 1t was an old man
who knelt there, crushed and feeble, with
his trumbling hands claspipg the folded
dead ones crushing the white roses on tho
still breast.
In room below another dead form lay
by the side of which no vigil was kept.
The form OF the man hanged that day for
murder, but whom all the city now knew
to be the son of the proud Governor.
Mother and son would rest together, the
strong barrier which htd kept them asun
der was broken down at last, though only
to lay them side by side in death.
EMMA HOWARD WIGHT.