Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-04-09

7 an attitude and expression of blended
shame and resignation.
How could you be so ~hard-hearted
and cruel?" exclaimed Amelia.
..I'm not so, miss; contrariwise, II
almost breaks my heart TO refuse her,
but even so l must do my duty" sob
bed Mrs. Barton, with her apron once
more at her eyes.
'Oh, bother your duty exclaimed
Amelia with indignant vehemence.
THAT word is as good as q dose Of tar
tar-emetic to me, c 1 do believe there
is more sin CON! 81 ted In the name or
duty than has eves been perpetrated
at the instigation Of any devil in Pan
demonium from Moloch down. l am
not as old as the north star, but even
L have noticed all my life. when any
one is going to do anything so abom-
intbly wicked or shamefully mean that
Satan himself would blush to own n,
they father it upon duty
well, duty is not the less sacred
nor incumbent upon us ON that ac-
count. Many i'll deeds have been done
in the name Of the Most High, but we
do not, for that, worship h Divine
name the less" said Eudora reyer-
emily.
..Uh, miss, l hopes you do not think
as l am a hyp0crite as acts wicked an
mean in the presence of duty!' asked
Mrs. Barton, still sobbing.
mo, ] am sure you ACTED conscien-
tiously In refusing to aid my escape.
1t was / who did wrong. l ought not
to have made such an appeal to you,
or worked upon your feelings or
GIaIst, ppt mos nor
ried away by my emotions-I forgot
myself acted upon the impulse of
the moment. The temptation was so
strong-death seemed SO bitter, life so
sweet" said Eudora, with a deep sigh.
"Oh, how can you be so cruel as stlTl
10 refuse to let her go? Even sup
do a little wrong for mercy's sake and
to save her from perishing," pleaded
Amelia.
"Do not tempt her farther. dear. God
is omnipotent; if He will He can de-
liver me, but to tempt His creatures
Is no way to gain His favor said
Eudora.
That's it, miss; do right and trust
in Him as can save ever at the elev-
enth hour" commented Mrs. Barton,
wiping her V "And now listen: l
heal the other warder coming. Don't
attempt to talk to her as you have
to me, for she would think it her place
TO report the conversation TO the
governor"
At this moment, without an instants
warning, the door was unlocked, Mrs.
Barton peremptorily called out, and
her substitute admitted.
The newcomer was a stern, grim
visaged" woman, who took her seat
with the stolid Indifference of one long
hardened to her cruel office.
Amelia, not daring, for Eud0ra's
sake to speak freely before this she
dragon yet had not the heart TO take
leave Of her unhappy friend. She sat
down beside her on the cot, n silent
ly took and held her hand. She re-
manned as long as she possibly could
do so, and then, in parting. promised
TO revisit Eudora, If permitted, the
next day.
With the departure Of the wild.
though true-hearted girl. a sunbeam
seemed to have been withdrawn from
the cell.
During her visit. Eudora's agoniZing
consciousness of her situation had been
suspended, or modified.
Nature indeed, the most tender of
mothers, never permits her children to
endure a long-continued strain of suf-,
fering whether of mind or body. She
makes the tortured victim faint upon
a rack and in Inconsistencies lose the
pain of physical agony. She gives the
nourner long intervals of stupor, dis
traction of hope to alleviate the effect
of mental anguish.
Such n blessing had come to Eudora
with the entrance of Amelia but had
gone with her exit. After the depart
ure of her visitor, all the full realiza-
ton of her dreadful position rushed
back upon the mind of Eudora and
overwhelmed her. and she sank upon
the bed in the collapse of despair.
She had not remained thus many
minutes before the door was once
more unlocked, another ''friend to see
Miss Leaton' announced. and Malcolm
Montrose entered the cell.
Forgetting everything else. Eudora
started up and sprang towards him,
exclaimipg:
"Oh, Malcolm, have you come at
last? What a weary. weary time you
have been away! God bless you. I
an so glad to see you, But, oh. NAL
colin, will they let NE live? Quick,
tell me il you will"
He could not answer her: he pressed
her hand with an unconsciously cruel
force, while he turned away his face
in silent misery.
She looked at him in sudden terror,
n in the written agony of his brow
she read the truth. Her beating heart
grew still as death; her flushed cheek
turned pale as marble, and she sank
upon her seat and covered her lace
with her hands.
He sat down by her side. took one of
her hands in his own. and essayed TO
speak: but his voice refused It's office.
Then. with that wonderful strength
which comes eve to the weakest wo-
man i'm the direst distress she con
trolled her W agitation and, wishing
to save him the pain of announcing
the fatal intelligence, she quietly said:
II am to die"
He pressed her hand in mute des-
pair, and not another word was spok-
Ell between them. They sat with
clasped hands, side by side until the
hour of closing the prison separated
them. Then, In taking leave. Nal
colin, with q broken voice. falterad