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


liked, inquiring, distrustful look, d
broke forth again, im~patlentiy:
.'Ob, / see you still think / am mao.
but / am not. am only nervous, anA-
ious. and excited; and very conscious
of being so! How should l be other
wise? / have slept but little since her
conviction, and not at all since the iast
hope of respite failed. l ave lam
awake night after night, planning how
we might free her. And scheme AFTER
scheme has surged through my BRAIN.
until l have grown almost wild from
excitement and loss of sleep. l scarce
" wonder that you think me mad; nut
surely you must see now n a l am
not.
Young lady. I thank you from the
depths of a most grateful heart Tor the
deep interest you take in MISS Lea
ton, whose misfortunes must be her
only claim to your regard; for you are
! probably a stranger to her and cannon
know the excellence of her character,
said Malcolm.
She is no stranger, but the dearest
friend | have in the world!' exclaimed
Amelia , who Immediately poured
lOTlU, III II lew NtIlttltthi "oANhN Wv
history of her acquaintance with Eu-
dora.
All this time Amelia had been stand
ing before Malcolm, who had remained
sitting.
lie understood her now, and recol-
lectcd himself. He rose. took her
hand. and led her TO n seat with re-
spectful tenderness, saying, deprecat-
ingly:
Il beg you will forgive me, Miss
Wilder, but this heavy calamity has
quite unnamed me, ard made me
obliyious even Of the common coute-
| sizes Of life.'
Il know, I know said Amelia, i'm
patiently, but don't waste words OF
apology on me: / don't want that; l
want your immediate cooperation in
a plan for the rescue of Eudora."
kind girl, / thank you earnestly In
Eudora's name; but any plan You
might arrange. / greatly fear, must
prove impossible of execution"
do you love her, and can you talk
of fear and of impossibility in refer
ence 10 any scheme for her deliver
ance?" exclaimed Amelia, passionate
ly.
Miss Wilder, i told you that ]
would gladly purchase her life with
my own, il | could be permitted to do
so: but for any plan for her rescue,
dear girl. l can have but little hope
Why"
"Ah, Miss Wilder, | have reflected
upon the strength of hat prison, and
the vigilance and incorruptibility Of its
officers
THE strength of the prison is a
hard material fact that | cannot deny;
the vigilance of its officers is also very
evident to the most casual observer
but their incorruptibility-bah, Vol
taire, or Solomon. or Robinson Crusoe
or somebody said, that every man
could be bought if you only pay him
his price, Now, how do you know the
officers are incorruptible? Is anybody
perfect? Are you? The only question
is, have you money enough To bride
the gaoler to favor her eScapcg"
Il d. not think | have. For | do not
think that any sum would bride him"
You do not half love her. But how
much money have you got:" inquired
Amelia, with eager interest.
Il could raise five thousand pounds"
la. why that would buy AN arch
biShJD or a prime minister, much more
a poor. provincial gaoler,"
"You have a bad opinion of human
nature
Got a right to. The only human
being with whom ! an intimately &C.
quainted-and that's myself know
deserves to be put in a pillory; and
all the rest, except a few, ought TO be
itor, as she threw aside her veil, and
stood before Mr.. Montrose.
Malcolm sighed, and looked in sur
prise at this singular intruder.
And you pretend to be in earnest
i'm your desire to save her, yet could
not accomplish your object" ex-
claimed the girl in bitter, and scornful
irony.
Il would have given my life for hers;
i would give it now, could the gift
save herr" groaned Malcolm, in deep
bitterness Of spirit.
And yet you failed to obtain a re-
spite of her sentence"
Because" said Malcolm, sorrowful-
ly, 'the Home Secretary was unable
on account OF the illness of the Judge,