cessary to say, in justice to her brother, of the injudicious
training he had received; at the same time treating her mother's memory
with all possible delicacy and respect.

"And now, dear Ruth," she said, "I do not come to ask that my young
brother shall be permitted to walk forth to do like evil again;--there
would be no danger of that, even if he were not greatly changed, as I
solemnly believe he is, in heart and temper; for his doom is sealed;
consumption is wasting his frame;--we only ask that we may carry him
forth to die and be buried among his kindred. Oh! how he pines for the
free air and the blue sky, and longs to die elsewhere than in a
condemned cell! If I might be permitted to remove him to my uncle's kind
home, where he could have comforts and friends about him, I could close
his eyes, it seems to me, with thankfulness, for I do believe that the
Christian's hope is his."

Ruth's sympathizing tears had been flowing down her cheeks, as, with
her hand clasping that of Agnes, she had listened to her sad story. She
now rose, and said she would go to her husband, who was slightly
indisposed, and confined to his room, and prepare him to see Agnes. "And
do, Agnes, talk to him just as you have done to me," she said. "He is
called a stern man; but he has tender feelings, I can assure you, if the
right chord is only touched."

Ruth was gone a long time, and Agnes walked the floor of her room in a
state of suspense and agitation only equalled by that of the night after
the trial. At length Ruth returned: she looked sad and troubled.

"Agnes," said she, "you must see my husband yourself, and say to him all
you have said to me. He is deeply grateful for all you have done for me,
and would do anything in the world for you except what he thinks, or
what he seems to think, would be yielding to the call of feeling at the
expense of justice. He says his predecessor has been much censured for
so often granting pardons to criminals, especially to any who had
influential friends; and I fear that, in avoiding his errors, he will go
to the opposite extreme. He remembers your brother's case well, and
says, that though it could not be called _deliberate_ murder, still it
was murder; and he agrees with the lawyer, Mr. G----, that some signal
reproof should be given to this practice among the young men of carrying
about them offensive weapons. This is all he said; but he has consented
to see you, and is expecting you. I shall lea