The Dickinson press., 1894-03-31
[CBAPTER XvI-coNr1NUnp.1 !

N- &A - N
[CHAPTER XvI-coNTlNUED.l
Un, the horror of tnat last night,
spent, as 1t were. under the outstretch-
ed hand Of death! I cannot tell IL
slept; my very senses were STEPPED In
fear and dread; but there came u time
when the darkness seemed to enfOld
me. and remembered no more
When I opened my eyes again, q
pearly light lay across the window.
The sun was rising; it was the last
sunrise for me. In my mind saw it
all-the rOse-red clouds. the birds
actively in quest Of food, the flowers
with dew on their leaves. the cool,
sweet earth; l saw all the beauty and
color at home.
A plying voice asked would 1 take
some tea. My lips were parched, my
mouth burned, longed for cup Of
water even, and the cup of tea was
most refreshing; yet I could hardly
drink it-the recollection that 1t was
my last almost prevented my swallow.
ing it.
Six o'clock-and at eight 1 had to die.
A strange calmness came over me, a
stupor that frozc all my senses; could
not even pray-and had been so anx-
ious 10 pray. The chaplain came in
then, and the others stood apart that
he might talk to me. raised my
dazed. miserable eyes to his face, the
kind, good face that in lny distress and
horror had been to me as that of an
angel.
II have but two hours 1 said; and
then it must have been the sight Of
the tears in his eyes that brought mine,
for fell weeping at his knees. crying
to him that had to dic-to die!
He turned away his head with sob.
"Shc is only a child.' heard him
say. rOnly :; child" He recovered him.
self Let us spend the two hours In
preparing for heaven he said; and
then told me how much 1t was to be
desired that ! should make full and
free confession Of my crime. with all
its details.
My crime! That had been loving my
lover too well, not the murder Of my
rival. l could only look into his face
and cry out:
that ] am innocent? IT L had been
guilty, l should have told you before.
Do You not believe meg
"Thc law has found you guilty, my
poor child.'' he said.
"lllc law is unjust!' ] exclaimed.
He laid his hand upon my shoulder.
Hush, my poor child" he said. Re
member that you are ut the threshold
of another world; there should be calm
ness at the gates OF death. If you are
guilty of the crime for which you are
going to die. then accept death as Il
Just punishment Of your sin; believe
me. child, the scaffold. as well as the
cross has opened for some the gates
Of heaven. If your are innocent, give
your life chcerfully. You can die 8
martyrs DEATH"
Until Just before the terrible hour
struck. he prayed for and with me.
He told me what 1 should have to suf-
fer. how great would be tho ordeal of
stepping out from the dark gloom Of
the prison walls into the bright sum
light, where thousands Of faces would
be turned eagerly toward mine. He
told me. when deadly fear seized me,
to pray God be merciful to me sin
ner."
As he talked I grew calmer and
the thought entered my mind. IF men
pay such IL man as this with gold, what
will his reward be in heavenY
Calmer! l had need to be calm. There
was n hush in my cell. roar from
the crowd outside, then a solemn and
terrible pause; one voice said, Poor
child!'' another Lord have mercy on
us all" ''Hush!!' said the governor,
imperatively.
All, knewI knew! The cell door
opened, and man came in with q
rope in his hands.
T., H. Re-, H..
voice.
He took hold of my arms to pinion
them. cried out to him:
pray let them be free! will be
docile, silent, motionless; only let my
arms be freer'-those white, rounded
arms that had been clasped round my
lovers neck. With a passion Of de-
spair, kissed the little hands that had
gathered the lilies in the garden ut
home. They We're warm row; only a
few minutes more and they would be
dead.
The man turned aside for half min
ute when he saw me kiss my hands;
and then my arms were pinioned to my
side.
i The dread moment was drawing ter.
riblX near. The bell began to toll, and
the warders came. Was a coward
that I cried aloud in my agony fol
heaven to help me-that woful cries
and passionate words came from my
lips? Was I coward that turned
my white, daZed, miserable face to the
chaplain, telling him was so fright
ened? was almost dead with fear
saw strong men turn away with
great, fearless sobs. and one woman
fell fainting to the ground.
The roars and CRIES of the crOwt
were quite audible then, and the sol
emn tolling of the bell sound
ed above all. The procession wal
pitiful enough to make an ange
weep. All the stern majesty of tn
law was arrayed against one poor
white, trembling child, whose hand
were bound; grim. stern men-the gov
ernor, with his military bearing, tn
warders, with their impassive faces
were leading me to death.
We were in the corridor fhen, and tn
solemn words of the burial service Gu
my heart in two.
II am the Resurrection and tn
Life"
Hush! Hark! What was wrong
Such cry rose from hundreds Of lips
There was surging and a rush In tn
vast crowd; there was strange SCUM
within the prison walls. The warde
halted; the chaplain's words died o.
; his lips; the governor stood still.
"StOp! A reprieve! Stop"
1t was as though a whole natiol
shouted with a mighty voice, stop!
And then men came running up tn
corridor, one bearing on him the mark
of travel He fastened to the go1
eknQr.-
"a reprieve! he said. II ought t
have been here two hours ago, but
was delayed by an accident. al
not too late; thank heaven" he added
"that I am not TOD late!" ,-
"a reprieve" cried one to another