t commit by no manner ov manes,
as the sayin' is; an' as there was a sthrong recommindation to marcy,
if you'll grant him a reprieve, you'll have all our prayers, and (in an
under tone) your Excillincy knows you want thim?"

The Duke seemed a little bewildered, as if he could not make out what
it meant, and the glittering crowd now surrounded the group; when Ellen,
who had ventured to look timidly up, conceived that the Duke hesitated
about the pardon, (poor creature! she little knew that he had not even
heard of Owen's trial,) eagerly grasped the drapery of his chair, and
while the big tears rolled from beneath her eyelids, exclaimed--

"Oh! may the great and just Providence, that sees the workin' ov all our
hearts, pour a blessin' on yer Lordship's head--may His holy grace be
wid you for iver an' iver, an' do listen to my prayers! My husband is
innocent--an' oh! as you hope for marcy at thee last day, be merciful
now him."

"Lady ------," said the Duke, "what is the meaning of all this--will you
explain?"

"Your Excellency," answered she, in the natural sweet pathos of
her tones, "it is a poor man who has been condemned to die on
circumstantial evidence. He has been strongly recommended to mercy,
and this, weeping female is his wife, I found her outside praying for
admission, and have brought her hither. She has traveled mostly on foot
upwards of ninety miles to I ask a pardon; and I trust you will not
refuse a reprieve, till your Grace has time to; inquire into the
circumstance. 'This is the head and front of my offending.'"

"May heaven bless yer Ladyship," burst from the depths of Ellen's
grateful heart, "fur befriendin' thim that had no support but his
gracious marcy."

Lady ------'s suit was eagerly seconded by many a fair creature, who
thronged around; and the Duke smiled, as he answered,

"Well, well! one could not refuse so many fair beseechers, so we
will order him to be reprieved. And there, now, let the poor woman be
removed."

Ellen's heart was light, and her eye was glad, and her very inmost soul
was thankful to the Omnipotent, as she that night rested for a. few
hours, ere she set out on her return; and Lady ------, as she pressed
her costly pillow, felt a fuller sense of happiness in being useful to
her fellow-creature than ever she experienced before. Oh! that all the
wealthy and in power were incited by similar feelings. The remainder
of our simple tale is soon told. The reprieve arrived--th