Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-12-24

she exclair!ed fervently clasping her
hands.
"Amen. And now, dear one, have
but twenty minutes to catch the train.
Eudora, in parting with you for
short time, would recommend YOU
to see the chaplain of the prison. He
Is truly righteous man land his con-
versation will do you god"
II will see him. if only to please
you,' she answered.
land, now, dear one, good-by for the
present, and may the Father of the
fatherless, and the God of the inno-
cent watch over your said Malcolm,
lifting her hands to his lips with rev.
erential tenderness before leaving the
cell.
Half an hour later. Malcolm with
the petition in his pocket, W. an.
ing onward in thu, express train fol
London.
1t was soon known throughout the
town that Mr.. MOntrose had gone to
the city with a memorial to the crown
for q respite or communication of Eu-
dora Leaton's sentence; but not one
human being that discussed the sub
ject believed for one instant that his
desperate enterprise could possibly be
successful.
The chaplain of the gaOl was the
Reverend William Goodall, q grave,
gentle, sympathetic young man, who
greatly feared that the youthful pris-
oner was really guilty and earnestly
desired to bring her into state o.
hopeful penitence.
With fhis Wow oar1v in tho after
noon, he visited Eudora in her cell,
and sought by every argument to
coun teract the effect of that falls.
hope which had been raised in he1
breast, and which he firmly believed
was tile only thing that withheld hel
from repentance and confession.
But to all his exhortations the I'm.
happy girl responded:
''Oh, sir, this one little hope is the
only vital nerve that quivers in my
bosom; kill it and you destroy me-
even before the appointed death-day
hope!"
''But, my poor child" said the young
minister, gazing with the deepest com
passion upon the almost infantile face
of the girl, 'it is false, delusive ex-
pectation. that is Turing you on to GER
tain and everlasting destruction OF
soul as well as body, by keeping you
from that full confession and repent
ance which is your only chance OF sal
vation."
"But it does not, Mr.. Goodall.
have nothing to confess or repent; at
least, nothing but my common share
in erring human nature; and for re-
demption from that have been taught
to trust in Gods mercy through oul
Saviour
The young minister groaned in spir-
it and replied: .t..-
"But, Door blind child, while you
keep a guilty secret in your breast
that mercy cannot reach you; and
while q single hope of life is left
you here, you will not part with
that secret. Abandon all such delus
i've hopes. Eudora; confess, repent, and
cherish those heavenly hopes of par
dor and redemption that never yet de-
ceived penitent sinner"
s'It is useless for us to talk longer.
fear; we speak only at cross.psl"
poses. You believe me guilty, and urge
me to abandon all the expectation OF
mercy in this world and to confess
crimes that 1 never committed: While
I know that am innocent, and upon
that knowledge found all my cxpecta-
tons of deliveraEce. am sorry thar
W. cannot agree, for do need conso-
lation and support, but it must be ad-
minislercd by one who is q sufficiently
subtle dis rner of spirits to recognize.
the truth when I speak it," said Ell.
dora. with gentle dignity.
The Young minister drove his fingers
through his dark hair, and gathered
his brows into deep frown. not OF
anger, but Of intense perp]eXity; for
thu clear. untlincling gaze OF her eyes,
the calm, unwavering tones OF her
voice, and the keen and powerful aura
Of truth that seemed to emanate from
her whole presence shook his conyic-
tions Of her guilt. He felt the necessi-
ty of withdrawing from this disturb
ing influence in order to examine his
own conscience. Rising, he took her
hand. and said:
"My poor child, will leave you for
the present; but l shall not cease to
bear you upon my heart to the throne
of Grace, and will come to you again
in the evening""
And then he left the cell.
Eudora chung to her little hope rs
the young cling to life. She had called
it the only vital nerve that qniyered
in her bosom. Yet it would scarcely
be true to say that she was happier for
1t.
The days of Malcolm's absence were
passed by her in high fever Of sus-
Dcnse. BY every mail she received let
ters from him assuring her of his UNI
dying devotion and Jealous efforts III
her behalf, and entreatlng her still to
pr,ly and to trust.
Tho chaplain also kept his word, and
visited her frequently, still eXhortlng
her, with fearful earnestness. to re-
sign all expectation of earthly life, and
turn her thoughts towards heaven.
But Eudora still chung, with deatll-lilke
tenaclty, to her hopes of delivelnnce.
you think that ! nm sinking fast IN
this stormy sen of trouble TINT threat
ens TO overwhclm me. and you ask me
to let go the SLENDER plank That keeps