Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-01-07
CHAPTER YYVI

cell Of the young prisoner, whom she
found extended upon the outside OF
the bed. looking more like a corpse
than like a living creature. Mrs. Bar
ton was sitting near her.
Amelia nodded to the warder. and
:hcu. with that huShed awe with which
one approaches death or deep attlic-
ton, she drew near Eudora. whisper
ing:
How do you find yourself this
morning."
Eudora, Whose eyes We're covered
with her left hand. put out her right
hand, and silently pressed that of An
nell;,. but made no other answer.
Amelia stopped and kissed her
chilled lips. and after a few minutes
repeated her question:
How do YOU find yourself this morn
ing. dear Eudora:'
Drifting, drifting down the dark
river towards the horrible fall! l shall
soon go over and be dashed to pieces!
That will be we'll. There will be q
fear. Il shock OF death. and all will be
)vcr' mullnurcd the sufferer.
Again Amelia stopped and pressed
turning to the walaler. she asked:
How has she seemed since l was
here ycstcrday!"
ooh. Miss, it almost breaks my heart
to he with her and see her-it do. She
bore up we'll enough. even after MI
MontroSe told her her petition had
been refused, and she keneW there was
no hope at all. She heard all that as
quiet as possible, and then tool, leave
Of him quite calm when he went away
You see, l think she tried to bear up
for his sake, to spare his feelings; for
the moment he was gone, she turned
and sank down in a deep sWoon. poor
dear. and that's the second time she's
gone into one O them since she has
| been here And it was a longer lit
than the first. and VIC only brought her
to this morning about sunrise, and she
has been lying as you see her. ever
since. And. what makes matters
| worse. the chaplain. rs might h:l
spoke some words o comfort to her. is
| i'll III bed replied Mrs. Barton.
Annr,a would have given much for
;Lr privilege of whispering into the
ear of the dcspairing sufferer Jew
words of hope. but even her SanS1llnc
nature felt that the communication
would! now be premature. as it might.
also. be cruel and dangerous. And as
she might not speal; Of hope. Amelia
felt that all other words were worse
than mockery in 4 woe like this.
She sat down beside the bed and
took the prisoners poor, little. wasted
hand. and held it in silence. sometimes
dressing it tenderly. or kissing it. while
She sat in breathless suspense for the
appearance Of Malcolm Montrose.
More than two hours passed in this
silent, drcary misery, and still Nal
colin did not appear. And now every
|passing minute seemed to tread with Il
ieaden foot upon the sinking heart OF
Amelia, that every moment grew
lhcaycr. more fearful and more impa-
ticnt.
ION, I cannot stand this! ! shall
Hose NV breath presently" she inward
" exclaimed. feeling the protracteu
slspensc growing almost utfocatln%
At length footsteps were heard APP
preaching, the cell door was unlockeu'
and Malcolm MOntrOSc was uSLcred III
by a turnkey, who. as usual. retired.
Amelia bounded forward to meet
| him. and raised her eyes, dilated and
lhlaZing with burning anxiety, to his
face.
She read the death warrant of Eudo-
IA Icaton.
Gle has failed!' she said to herself,
MS she sank, shuddcring, down into the
nearest seat, where she sat during the
remainder of the interview. like one
sncll-bound in some awful trance,
with her elbow resting on the little ta-
lille. her chin leaning on the palm OF
her hand, her face white as death her
llips compressed. her eyes contracted,
,i;+tcri, crd fixed apparently u"Hr
some - far-distant, visionary, fearful
scene in which, perhaps, She saw her
| sci fthe principal actor.
Malcolm, meanwhile, passed her
quickly, and sank upon his knees be-
side the bed, and took Eudora's pale
hand, inquiring, in Il low tone OF rev
crential tenderness:
How is my dearest Eudora now:
almost resigned. Malcolm. If !
could suffer :lonc!-thinkinE less OF
my own fate than OF your sorro"
when all shall be over with me- re-
piled Eudorn. opening her eyes. and
liking them upon his face with an on
preston Of tender pity.