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

rope was already adjusted, the carpen-
ter stood ready, waiting the sheriff's
word to let the drop fail. and the sig
nal would have been given in another
instant.
The voice Of Agnes rang out, over and
above all the confused noises Of the
motley gathering:
"a reprieve! A reprieve"
She held aloft the paper-they saw
the great seal Of the state.
"a reprieve from the governor. she
said. and fell senseless, even as she
spoke, into the arms OF old DR.. Hudson,
who rushed forward to receive her.
The sheriff read the reprleve aloud,
and then removing the rope, he led the
prisoner down the steps of the scaffold.
In all his captivity no one had ever
heard Lynde ask single favor, but
now be said to the official:
Grant me this. Miss Trenholme has
saved me little longer to life-allow
me to pass near enough to her to touch
her Clothes"
The sheriff stared, but INDUCED the
wish. Graham went up to where she
lay, gread crowd around her, and DR..
Hudson and brother physician ap-
plying restoratives. He stopped down
and looked into her face. Oh, how very
white and deathly she looked! Graham
lifted the soiled mantle she wore, and
touched the hem reverently with his
lips. Then he turned away, and went
back to his dreary prison house.
Agnes was taken to the residence of
DR.. Hudson, and cared for as well as
could be. But she had endured so much,
both mentally and physically, that life
hung upon a thread, and for days she
lay in stupor so closely resembling
death that at times those who watched
her could not tell whether or not the
breath still fingered.
Mrs. Trenholme braved the displeas-
ure of her son land came down at once
to nurse her, and when, after ten days
Of stupor,. her disease eliminated in
brain fever of the most violent type,
she wrote thus to her son:
Ralph, Agnes is sick unto death. If
you could sit beside her as do, and
listen to her unconscious rawlings, and
through them learn how terribly she
had suffered, you would forgive her.
Oh, Ralph, by the memory of your dead
father, l implore you to come to us!
"Your Mother"
But Ralph, still! naughty and unre-
lenting in his cruel pride, answered:
Mother, it is useless to plead for her.
She has brought our honored name to
disgrace by the course she has taken.
cannot forgive her! Ralph"
But that night, when he retired to
rest, no sleep came to Ralph Trenholme.
He saw the pale face of Agnes as he had
last seen it. She laid a little cold hand
on his arm and with a sweet, sad voice
asked him to pardon and love her. He
started up, his brow wet with a chill
perspiration, his heart beating loudly.
But at last he slept, and, sleeping, a
vision came to him. He stood in the
summer house at the foot of the gar
den. The time was June, for there were
roses in bloom at the mouth of the ar
Dor. Directly, there foated upon the
roseate air the face of Marina. He saw
the blue eyes, and felt the thrill of the
golden hair as it swept against his
cheek.
Ralph" she said, "dear Ralph, put
aside vengeance. 1t belongs unto God
alone, and he will bring it to pass! Also
put aside wrath, and go to your sister.
She is calling you, and I, your guard
ian spirit, bid you obey the summons!'
ITO BE CONTINuED.J