The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-02-11
CHAPTER vI.-TCoSr1suEp.)

dressed in a suit Of her own clothes,
and snugly tucked up in bed in her
own chamber.
The weary girl fell asleep, and when
she woke she found it was past sunset
and Helen Fulton was sitting by her
pillow.
Papa has come" she said; $50 get
up and brush your hair, and let me
put this cluster of rosebuds in your
curls-papa is not so old that he has
lost all taste for beauty"
Agnes submitted quietly, and was led
down to the library by her young host
eSs.
The governor was tall, wel!-pre-
served man Of As, with pleasing adj
dress, a keen gray eye, and face
rather handsome than otherwise. Helen
led Agnes up before him.
Papa, this is Miss Agnes Trenholme
of Portlea. She has come here with a
special errand to YOU"
The governor greeted her court
eously.
II am pleased to see Miss Trenholme.
I know Mr.. Ralph very we'll. To what
am l indebted for this agreeable sur
prise?"
Agnes swallowed down the sobs that
were rising in her throat by brave
effort. She had wondered what she
should say to this man when at last she
should get an audience, and now that
the time had come she had forgotten
everything she had intended to urge.
Her courage, so brave and strong, had
subsidized to positive weakness. She
slipped down to her knees on the rug
before him, and burst into tears.
My child" he said, kindly laying
his hand on her head, what means this
afraid of me-"
''No, but feel so tired, and so nearly
hopeless! And dread that you will re-
fuse me. But you must not! Indeed you
must not, for 1 will take no denial!
will stay here at your feet until you
grant my request"
'Iou forget that you have not made
it,"
II came to ask so much of you!
have Travelled nearly 200 miles alone,
Drawing the displeasure of my friends,
and the scorn of the world have
come to ask you to spare his life-the
life of Lynde Graham"
The governors brow grew dark.
Miss Trenholme, he is murderer"
II tell you he is not! Never call him
thus! You wrong him. He is innocent.
l tell you, before God, that if you let
him go to the gallows, some time you
will repent in dust and ashes the MUIR
der you yourself have committed. He
never did that dreadful deed. He would
not have harmed a single feather of
the lowest bird in the woods. l do not
ask you to pardon him-O no, 1 am
content with asking his life-a little
respite from death until God sees fit
to bring the real assassin to justice!'
My poor GIRL" he said, sorrowfully,
II regret that this has happened. pity
you. for l suppose you love this unfor-
tunate young man; but cannot grant
your request. From my soul believe
Lynde Graham guilty"
do not say so. You crush out hope
in my heart! 0, 1 cannot, cannot go
back over that weary road without the
paper want! Look at me, Governor
Fulton. A few little weeks ago l was
happy and care free. Now see the
change this terrible grief has wrought.
Your daughter pities me; her innocent
heart feels for me! You do not know to
1ayHo OF Sfy>o hn ho
BE merciful to me as you would want
mercy shown to her!'
Helen crept into her fathers arms,
and laid her soft cheek against his.
Papa, it will not hurt you to let this
man live, and it will make her so
happy. I'll go without new bonnet
this winter, If you'll do what she
wants" And she pinched his cheek
"Madcap! Helen, how can you trife
so?" asked the governor, trying to
frown. "This is too solemn a thing to
Joke upon. I believe that death should
be the fate Of all murderers.''
The face Of Agnes grew stern as his
own. Her voice had steel-like ring.
"And so do I, with my whole soul! If
] thought him guilty, l would not
speak word to save him. loved the
murdered girl as fondly as could have
loved an own sister, and I would give
half my life to have the real murderer
suffer for his crime. But in this case
: the law has fastened on the wrong per-
son, and cnriously strong chain Of
eircumstantial evidence has so closely
wound itself about him, that 1t was i'm
possible for the jury to do otherwise
than convict him. But for all that he is
guiltless. Oh. sir. give me a reprieve. If
only for one little year! Many things
may be. revealed In year."
1T II impossible!"
"only for one year! O.. sir, I will not
~ You 90 until you Yield! She looked
1 ~ into his face. her eyes streaming
N1th tears.
!; HAlAn stole an arm around hf1 neck.