Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-01-14
md watched the brilliant scene with con


ing rather weariedly into a chair, "what
can do for your"
The lawyer drew up another chair and
sat down opposite to him.
"Did you know that this man Carson
whom l have been defending was found
guilty this afternoon of murder in the FIRST
degree and condemned to be hanged?" be
asked.
eyes, knew it, the death-warrant was
brought me early in the evening, and /
have not yet had time to sign it.
II have como to ask you not to sign that
death. warrant" said Holton, with abrupt
| earnestress; son the contrary to pardon
this man"
"Indeed? And your reasonsa they are, Of
course, good and sufficient ones?"
sThe evidence is all purely circumstan.
tial, and do not believe him guilty."
"That may be as you have defended him,
but the law has found him 80. You mus.
give me stronger reason thau that, can you
do so?''
81 am strongly interested in the man and
ask his pardon from you as a personal fa-
vor.''
81 am both surprised and sorry that you
should do 30. The claims of friendship are
strong with me, but they stop short of my
duty, which, you must know, is to uphold
the laws Of the State which has placed me
at it's head"
"Yes, yes, know all that" replied the
lawyer, impatiently; then he went on with
impressive earneetness, "but there is a
strong reason why you should not sign the
death warrant of that man even if he be
guilty. If you pardon I promise you be
shall leave the country forever, or, if You
will not pardon him, at least commute his
sentence"
"There can be no reason why should
do either, except proof of his innocence or
extenuating circumstances which the law
would recognize. You, should judge, can
not produce either or you would have done
SO at the proper time and place."
''Copfound it all, man, if you will have
the reason. it is this: The condemned
mans name is not Carson at all, it is the
same as yours, Andrew Waring, the other
is assumed"
A shcrt silence followed. A swift pallor
swept the Governors face from chin to
brow, the hand resting on the arm of his
chair suddenly clenched over it until the
veins stood out like cords. Then he looked
across into the otner's with cold, uuflipch-
ing eyes.
81 still fail to see justifable reason for
granting your request" he said, quietly.
sMy God! mau!' the LAWYER cried,
springinz to his feet in his excitem ens
"Don't you understand? The mans your
own son. I recognized him from the first
(though no one else did, he's terribly chang.
ed) and undertook his case, trying my hard
est to get him off, whether he wss guilty or
innocent, for your sake and his mothers
sake, and also because l had carried him in
my arms when he was a little toddling
child, and somehow l couldn't forget the
clinging of those small baby arms about my
neck. failed. but it is in your power still
to save him. You will not sign the death.
warrant of your own sonP"
The Governor also arose and drew him
self up until his great height seemed to
tower above the other. His brows were
drawn together, his face was Geld, pale,
and stern.
''You make great mistake" he said.
81 have no son."
Before Hoton could reply the velvet por-
there was put aside and Mrs. Wsring enter
ed. Both men stared at her dnmbly as she
came forward, smile on her hl-s, her laces
and heavy silks trailing behind hes.
II must beg pardon for my intrusion, !"
she said, then she looked at her husband,
s'some of your guests are leaving. Andrew,
so came for you."
Eyes, l will come" he replied, little
mech anicallv.
ssMrs. Waring," said Holton, abruptly.
and the Governor gave quick start, Il
have just been making request of your
husband, asking him to pardon that fellow
Carson who was condemned to day. Will
you add your entreaties to mine? ask your
husband to pardon him for-for the sake of
the unfortunate mans poor mother"
The smile faded from her lips, they
quivered, the tears rose to her eyes.
"Poor, poor mother" she murmured,
then she laid her hand on her husband s
arm and looked, with faint smile into the
lawyers face. II am sure my husband
would not refuse any request OF yours, Mr..
Holton, without very good reason" she
added, gently.
The lawyer bowed and looked across at
the Governor. HIS face was white, but the
dark, proud eyes met bis calmly, unhinch-
ingly, as he drew his wife's hand through
his arm.
"Wll you come with us, Holton?" he
asked.
"No," answered the lawyer, briefly, 81
am going now.
When he was alone he murmured to him
self with white lips:
"And l have actually pleaded in vain. Is
he made of flesh or iron? But will not
give up, I will try to save him myself"
In few minutes he had left tho house.
A few hours later the guests we're ali
gone, the lights all put out with the excsp-
at his writing table. A document lay be-
fnr FOL ho ho1 iv,b 10
hand. His face was very white, great drops
of sweat stood on his brow. but with hand
which never trembled he signed his name at
the bottom of the document. the death war
rant of the man known as James Carson
One month had passed away. The Gov
errors wife lay on lounge beside the open
window on sunny morning in June. The
Governor was sitting beside her. She look
ed pale ard rather frail. She had not been
we'll for some weeks, and the physicians
| warned her husband there was a slight at
fection of the heart, nothing very serious sc
long as sLe was kept free of excitement OF
worry.
"You are feeling better to-day, Alice, are
you not?' the Governor asked, taking hel
thin hand in his; "sou will be strong enough
| to undertake journey in week or sue"
sob! yes," she replied, II shall sooa be
all right. The air is very sweet to dag,
turning her face toward the window; the
next moment she exclaimed, sWhere are
all the people going2 There is snch q
crowd all hurrying in the same direction" T"
excuse me, man. said her maid,
who was in the room, ''but the psople are
going to see that man. Carson. burg"
| Mrs. Waring drew back with shudder,
the Governor turned sharply around.
"It's not so," he cried, 30 harshly that
the girl stared, she is not to be hanged un'
til this afternoon
II beg your pardon, sir, but it's thii
morning. For some reason they changed
the time"
The Governor made quick movemen!
ss though to rise, then sank back. Mira
| Waripg grew suddenly silent. S5e turned
her face away f.om the window, her hano
still lay 10 her husbands. The maid hae
gone to the window, which looked toward
the court house aud Jail. The crowd had
tdisanneared from the street. below. The