The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-07-22
THE DELAYED REPRIEVE.

The governors private secretary was not
an early riser, and this hot July morn
ing with nothing particular to do. he turn
ed over at o'clock for a good long nap.
But he was vaguely conscious that some
body was banging at his door. and in a re"
moments the knocks were so loud that ne
could no longer pretend that he did not near
them.
The young man left his bed languioiy
and in the worst possible temper.
Selling a cane he went to the door, anu
the determined look on his face boded no
good to the person outside.
Suddenly pulling the door open. the secre-
tary brought the stick down with a whach
upon tho distdrber of his rest.
THE devilf' shouted the victim of the at
tack. What Go you mean. sir
BEG pardon governor" replied the other.
'but / thought II was my negro Tom knock
ing me up at this uncOnscionable hour
had no idea that it was anybody else. Come
right in and tell me what can do for you =
The governor entered the room. mutterinG
something about good joke. but his coun-
tenance indicated great nervousness anc
anxiety.
The secretary renewed his apology. nut
his chief waved him aside.
ITS ali right he said. Jump INTO YOU
long ride"
whats up?' asked the secretary. hastily
getting into his garments.
"Tust this" said the governor. 'Tha'
Mexican girl charged with poisoning he'
lover hangs at 'Tinta at IL O'Clock TO-DAY
Here is "A reprieve. Take 1t ana ride llAe d
ubi-lv,ind 10 the place You can reach il by
10 or half past 10 o'clock Give this to the
sba~tff at once and then return. say noth-
in, 10 ANYBODY else. No one dreams or the
reprieve."
But. governor may ask ,,,-
'''Tinle presses" was the answer. houi
horse awaits YOU at the door. Say nothing
TO a soul and lose not a moments!
The secretary took the paper and carefuliy
thrust it into an inside pocket
is the girl. this Maria Alvarez hho-
cent? was his next question
Il think so.'' was the response me re
prleve is for thirty days. and before 're
time is out / shall pardon her. have PR
vate information that justhes me- Luz
hurry up. Howard. Time flies.
The two Parted at the door. the governor
going to his hotel. and his messenger speed
ing forth on his mission.
The streets were deserted, with tiIe
,sDtfon OF a few negroes and Mezicans' anu
the governor attracted no a''e"'''' -
walked homewar9.
TTnward nut spurs TO ais horse and soon
loft the little southwestern. town Whleh
had recently been made the capital OF 'he
new state. ,.,..ie
II don't like the job" he said to hiIastii-
.Tf the Alvarez girl is innocent, why an 1l's
,r,..,-o II is a queer piece Of business, anu
- IN. nv friend the governor, is at
-, ,r,cts again. Is ne counting the Mex
-, element? Hanged if I can tell what IS
.-sa rider darted onward over hills and
down into valleys. through some OF me
widest and most picturesque scenery oil the
southwest,
rotsrv finally halted for brief rest by
a shady spring.
..rcn o.cloclr' h. exclaimed. locking at
~ watch Il can make the trip I'M hait
an hour. and then there will be one happy
girl in Tinta.
He remountcd his faded steed ard re-
newed his journey His ride was thTousH
a region sparsely inhabited and little traV-
cIed Few people met MIN ON the way ana
their saIutaious were brief
Aftcr leaving the spring Howard rode
on for a few hundred yards until he came
to a dense thickct
Good place for robbers to hide, ne said
with a laugh. "but they would rot IaaN"
much out Of me. Wonder If they would
take my horse and prevent the repr.eve
from reaching Tinta on timer
lie turned pale at the thought. and again
spurrcd his horse
A rifle cracked in the bushes rty yards
away. and riderless horse re" Gown the
road. leaving Howard fiat on his back
and unconscious from a slight flesh wound
where the bullet mad grazci his ioret
When The secrctary's senses returned lie
found himself in bed at the rarcl Of one OF
his friends.
In replv 10 hts frantic questions he was
told that he had been found uuc9ns' ious in
the road and carried TO ;he ranch. Ais
rockets were empty, and it was evident that
ne had been robbed.
He was out of danger. but It was sat
urday morning. and he was due al I.nta
the day before.
The secretary groaned ana buried rs
face in the pillows.
"Did they hang Maria Alvarez yester-
day he asked
"Oh. yes." answered his host; Il saw
her executed. and she died protesting her
Innocence. Pity she wasn't pIrdOued. or
at least reprieved."
Howard said nothing. Tn, governor bad
instructed him to say nothias about the
matter.
1t was with heavy heart that the sec
rotary rode into the capital Sunday morn
inG.
Before going to his lodgings be went to
the governors office. knowing very well
that he would find him there, as i. was
his habit to so through his mail every
morning and write a few letters n that
new state the Sabbath was nos very strict
ly observed by the leading citizens and
high officials.
Il shall regret II all my life" sail How
ard after telling :he story o. his adventure
with the rohber aad his failure 10 reach
Tinta with the rep-ie.e.
Il am glad that you got off with ONLY
a slight wound said the governor.
Have cigar"
The secretary joined the great man in
a smoke ana studied his face.
4 heard" said he that the sheriff
hated TO hang that SRI. lie waited until
past eleven, and looked up the road ap-
parentiy hopins for reprieve.'
YES" replied the governor, "a sad
ca.se-very sad indeed. BY the way, How
ard here what these papers say"
The governor read editorials from several
newspapers commenting his conduct in al
lowing the law To- take is course in the
case. OF Maria Alvarez. All Of them agreed
that ne was "A man of Roman hrmnesS.
ana all declared that he was needed in the
United States Senate
This VIII elect me- remarked the gov