ve you alone with him; and
oh! Agnes, do speak as eloquently as you did to me. I know he cannot
resist it."

The Governor, a tall, fine-looking man, was wrapped in his
dressing-gown, and seated in his easy chair. He rose to receive Agnes,
gave her a cordial welcome as a friend to his wife, and bade her take a
seat beside him; but there was something in his look which said, that he
did not mean to be convinced against his better judgment by two women.

Agnes was at first too much agitated to speak; but the Governor kindly
re-assured her, by asking her some questions about her brother's case,
and soon she thought of nothing but him; her courage all revived; and
with an eloquence the more effective from being all unstudied, she told
her brother's story to the Governor. "He is so young," said she, "only
eighteen years old; and yet he must die. But, oh! sir, if you would but
save him from being dragged in his weakness to a death of shame, or from
lingering out his few remaining days in that close, dark cell; oh! if he
might only die free!"

"Ruth tells me," said the Governor, quietly, "that your uncle, Mr.
Wharton, is with you. Is it William Wharton, of C---- County?"

Agnes answered in the affirmative.

"Once a very good friend of mine," said he; "but it is many years since
we have met. Where is he?"

"He came to the door with me," answered Agnes, "and will return for me
soon. He hoped to have the pleasure of seeing you, sir."

"I will see him when he comes," said the Governor. "Go you back to Ruth,
my dear young lady. I will think of all you have said."

When Mr. Wharton called, he was admitted to the Governor; and the two
former friends, after a cordial greeting, were closeted together for a
long time. He confirmed all that Agnes said of her brother, and assured
the Governor that it was the opinion of physicians that he could not
recover, and might not last a month. He spoke long and feelingly of the
devotion of Agnes to her brother, in attendance upon whom, in his
loneliness and imprisonment, she had worn out health and strength.

The eyes of the Governor now glistened with emotion as he said, "Well,
well, I hope I shall not be doing wrong. At what time do you leave in
the morning, Mr. Wharton?"

"In the very first train. Agnes cannot be longer from her brother's
bedside."

"Can you bring her here for one moment before you leave?"

"Certainly."

"Well, then, tell her to lie down to-night, and sleep in pea