ous surprise. Stooping lower, she gently
pressed her lips to his; and kneeling beside his bed, poured forth a
short but fervent prayer to Him in whom alone we can put our trust--"In
whose hand is the soul of every living-thing, and the breath of all
mankind"--"Who preserveth not the life of the wicked, but giveth right
to the poor." There was something exceedingly and touchingly beautiful
in the attitude of that young wife--her hands clasped, her lips moving
with her prayer, like rose-leaves with the evening breeze, and her
upturned face, with its holy and deep religious expression. Having
concluded her fervent petition, she noiselessly arose, and giving her
sleeping husband one long and lingering look of affection, that death
could not estrange, she silently glided from the cell.

On the third night from the events which we have narrated, a poor
woman was observed wending her toilsome way through the streets of the
metropolis. Her appearance bespoke fatigue and long travel; and as she
neared the Upper Castle gate, she had to lean against the railing for
support. The lamps were lighted, carriages rolling to and fro, and all
the buzz of life was ringing in her ears; but, oh! from the expression
of pain and suffering in her face, and the shrinking with which she
surveyed the sentinels pacing up and down, it was evident that her mind
but little accorded with the scenes by which she was surrounded. She
slowly and fearfully entered the wide court-yard--a flood of light was
streaming from the windows of the vice-regal dwelling, and a crowd of
idlers stood around about, viewing the entrance of the visitors, for it
appeared as if there were a revel of some kind going on. Ellen's heart
sank within her, as she heard the carriages rolling and dashing across
the pavement, for she felt that amid the bustle of company and splendor
her poor appeal might be entirely unnoticed. As she waited, she saw
several of the persons assembled thrust; rudely back by the soldiers
that were on guard, and when she advanced a step or two for the purpose
of entering, a brute in human shaped pushed her with a blow of the
end of his musket back against the pillar. He was about to repeat
his violence, when the poor creature fell on her knees before him and
screamed--

"Sojer darlin', don't stop me! I'm only goin' in to plade fur my
husband's life, an shure you wont prevent me? I've traveled many a wairy
mile to get here in time; an' oh! fur marcy's sake