.

"Lewie! is it indeed you?"

He made no answer, he said not one word, but, drawing Agnes to a seat
under one of the trees, he seated himself beside her, and laying his
head upon her shoulder, he was quiet for a few moments; and then Agnes
felt his frame tremble with sudden emotion, and heard a deep sob.

"Lewie! my brother! do speak to me! What is it? Do not keep me in
suspense! What dreadful thing has happened?"

"Agnes," said he, with a sudden and forced calmness, the words coming
slowly from between his white, stiffened lips--"Agnes, it is--_murder_!"

Agnes did not scream--she did not faint--forgetfulness for a moment
would have been a relief. In a flash she had comprehended it all.

"Lewie," said she, "is there blood upon this hand?"

"Agnes, it is true; your brother is a murderer! No less a murderer,
because the blow was struck in the heat of sudden passion, and when the
brain was inflamed with wine; and no less a murderer, because it was
repented of the moment given, and before the fatal consequences were
suspected. My sister, I am a fugitive and a wanderer, hunted by the
officers of justice, and doomed to the prison or the gallows."

It seemed to Agnes like a fearful dream! It was too dreadful to be true!
The thought crossed her mind, perhaps it _is_ a dream; she had had
dreams as vivid, and had awakened with such a blessed feeling of relief.
But no! she clasped Lewie's cold hand in hers, and felt assured it was
all reality. For a few moments she could only bury her face in her
hands, and rock to and fro and groan. She was aroused from this state of
agonized feeling by Lewie, who said:

"And now, what shall I do, Agnes? I have come all this way on foot, and
at night, to see you once more, and to ask you what I should do? Oh that
I had been more willing to follow your gentle guidance before, sweet
sister!--but I have followed nothing but the dictates of my own
ungoverned passions. Shall I try to escape, or shall I give myself up
for trial? On my word, Agnes, I am not a murderer by intention. I was
excited; something was said which tried my quick temper; I answered with
a burst of sudden passion; more taunting words followed; and, quicker
than the lightning's flash, I had dealt the blow which laid my
class-mate dead at my feet I was sobered in one moment; and oh, Agnes!
what, _what_ would I not have given to restore my murdered friend to
life!--not for my own sake; for I never thought of myself till urg