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

NJ W y
I Have Nothing to Confess or Repent
without the respite you expect, and
you feel that your fate in this world is
sealed. when death stares you in the
face, you will listen to my counsels.
disburden your bosom of it's guilty Sc
cret, and give your soul to repent
ance," was ever the minister's final re-
ply when he concluded each visit.
Alas! these interviews were product
i've of little satisfaction to either par
ty.
Eudora could derive no comfort from
the conversation of even the good min
lister. who founded all his exhorta-
lions upon the theory of her guilt; and
Mr.. Goodall almost despaired of bene-
fitting one whom he considered an Oh
stinate sinner, wickedly refusing to
confess and repent.
ELt us the weary days passed Eudo-
ra felt more keenly the protracted an
guish of suspense, and the increasing
difficulty of holding fast the little hope
fhnt sustained her; for. although Nal.
colin continued to write to her by CIV
cry mail, and in every letter cndeav-
Ored to Keep IT'D her courage. vet lie
gave her no definite information. His
stay was protracted from day to day.
as though he We're engaged in prose-
cutting an almost hopeless enterprise
which he was resolved to accomplish.
CHAPTER .NXIV.
When Malcolm had been gone q
week, and Eudora's life was almost
worn out by the long-drawn anguish
of hope deferred, she was Sitting in
the morning in her cell, in danger of
dropping once more into the death-liko
torpor of despair, when the door vas
opened by the governor, who an
nounced:
ga friend to see Miss Leaton," and
retired.
Eudora sprang forward, expecting
to meet Malcolm Montrose, but she
found herself confronted with stran-
ger-a very young, slight. graceful girl,
dressed in simple but elegant mourn
ing and deeply yelled ;and even when
the stranger threw aside her veil Eu-
dora failed to recognize in this ele-
gantly dressed young lady Amelia
Wilder, the tipsy captains half-starv-
ed daughter, whom she had befriend-
ed in the poor London lodgings.
you do not know me, Miss Miller
I mean Miss Leaton-and I-oh!' be-
gan Amelia, but losing her self-com-
mand, she burst into tears and threw
herself in the arms of Eudora, who,
weakened by long, intense suffering.
sat down in her chair and would have
drawn the girl to her bosom. but An
nella sank to the floor and dropped
her head on Eudora's lap, sobbing
violently.
Eudora could not understand this ex-
cessive emotion. She recollected An
nella's unfortunate barrack education,
her utter restitution after her fathers
death, and her wild flight from Lon
don; and seeing now the costliness of
her attire, and being totally ignorant
of the change in her circumstances,
the mind of Eudora was filled with the
darkest fears for Amelia. But if she
should find that this young, friendlesS
and inexperienced girl had really come
to grief. Eudora resolved to befriend
her as far as possible by interesting
the noble-hearted Malcolm in her fate
to save her from irremediable ruin.
While these thoughts coursed through
the young prisoners mind she gently
united her visitors bonnet and laid it
on the bed and softly earessed the
bowed head, while she inquired in
low voice:
"What is the matter, dear Amelia?
/ am not so utterly bewildered by my
own woe but that I may be able to
comfort you. Tell me what trouble
YOU are in. and if cannot help you
very long myself, because may nave
to die next Wednesday, l can leave
YOU to one who will be a brother to
you for my sake"
ooh, Miss Leaton, Miss Leaton, IS:
no more! Every word you speak gees
through my heart like Il spear!' cried
Amelia breaking into harder soDs.
"No, no, don't say so! l wish only
to do you good. Tell me the nature OF
the u..Aculty you are in." said Eu-
dora, gently caressing the weeping
girl.
ooh! am in no difficulty myself; it
is all right enough with me personally,
and far better than I deserve, heaven
forgive me! And even if it We're not,
how could l think OF my Sood-Ior-
nothing self while you are in such ter
rible. straits!" cried Amelia, wildly
sobbing.
..Ihen do not weep for me, kind girl;
it can do no good, you see.''
..Oh, but you don't know how much
reason 1 have to weep-yes. tears OF
blood. Eudora; for it was l that did
it! l.! ~
"You-did what?" asked Eudora, in
establishment.
betrayed you, as Judas did his
master, wretch that am! wish
was hungw cried Amelia. amid chok-
ing sobs.
"You?-betrayed me? do not under
stand YOU in the least"
II set the police on your track. mean
scamp. that l am! told them where
to find you! l gave you up! Oh! If
there is any marrying down below,
they ought to wed me to Judas
Iscariot!"
"But-how could you known that /
was Eudora Leaton of whom they
were in purslit?" inquired the deeply
shocked girl