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

cell at the young prisoner, whom she
found extended upon the outside OF
the bed. looking more like Il corpse
than like a living creature. Mrs. Bar
ton was sitting near her.
| Amelia nodded to the wartler. and
.hen, 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 were 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 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! shall
soon go over and be dashed to pieces!
That will be we'll. There will be
catching Of the breath, a SILVER OF
fear. a shock of death, and all will be
over!" murmured the sufferer.
| Again Amelia stopped and pressed
her lips to those of Eudora, and then,
turning to the warder, she asked:
"How has she seemed since l was
here yesterday?'
ooh, Miss, it almost breaks my heart
to be with her and see her-it do. She
bore up well enough, even after Mr..
Montrose told her her petition had
been refused, and she kenew there was
no hope ut all. She heard all that as
luuiet 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
ldcar! and that's the second time she's
gone into one O. them since she has
been here. And it was a longer tit
than the first, and we 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, as might ha'
lspoke some words o comfort to her, is
lin i'll bed" replied Mrs. Barton.
1 Anueila would have given much for
the privilege of whispering into the
ear OF the dcspairing sufferer a few
words of hope, but even her sanguinc
mature felt that the communication
would now be premature, as it might.
Ialso, be cruel and dangerous. And. as
she might not speak Of hope, Amelia
felt that all other words were worse
than mockery in a woe like this.
She sat down beside the bed and
took the prisoners poor, little. wasted
|hand, and held it in silence, sometimes
pressing it tenderly. or kissing it, while
she sat in breathless suspense for the
appearance of Malcolm Montrose.
More than two hours passed in this
Isilent, drcary misery, and still Nal
colin did not appear. And now every
IDaSSing minute seemed to tread with
Ileaden foot upon the sinking heart OF
Amelia, that every moment grew
heavier, more fearful and more impa-
Itient.
"Oh. I cannot stand this! l shall
Hose my breath prcsently!' she inward
Ily exclaimed, feeling the protracted
IsusDense growing almost sutfocating.
At length footsteps were heard ap-
lproaching, the cell door was unlocked,
and Malcolm Montrosc was ushcred III
lby a turnkey, who. as usual, retired.
Amelia bounded forward to meet
him, and raised her eyes, dilated and
Iblazing with burning anxiety, to his
face.
She read the death warrant of tudo-
IA Lcaton.
Gle has failed!' she said to herself,
las she sank. shuddering, down into the
nearest seat, whers she sat during the
Remainder OF the interview. like one
Ispell-bound in some awful trance,
with her elbow resting on the little ta-
lille. her chin leaning on the palm OF
lher hand, her face white as death. her
lips compressed, her eyes contracted,
I-littcrir~ crd fixed apparently un",
some far-dlstant, visionary, fearful
scene in which, perhaps, she saw her
sci fthe principal actor.
Malcolm, meanwhile, passed her
Iuuickly, and sank upon his knees be-
side the bed, and took Eudora's pale
hand, inquiring, in Il low tone of rev.
erential tenderness:
How is my dearest Eudora now:
almost resigned, Malcolm. If l.
could suffer alone.-thinking less OF
my own fate than of your sorrow
when all shall be over with me-" re-
lplied Eulora, opening her eyes. and
liking them upon his face with an cX-
preston Of tender pity.