, in fact, was a
bad one, and he felt that the interview with his attorney left him more
seriously impressed with the danger of his situation, than he had been
up till that period.

"I suppose," said he, when the instructions were completed, "you have
seen my father?"

"Everything is fully and liberally arranged," replied the other, with
reservation; "your father has been with me to--day; in fact, I parted
with him only a few minutes before I left home. So far let your mind be
easy. The government prosecutes, which is something in your favor;
and now, good-by to you; for my part, I neither advise you to hope or
despair. If the worst comes to the worst, you must bear it like a man;
and if we get an acquittal, it will prove the more agreeable for its not
being expected."

The unfortunate youth felt, after Cassidy's departure, the full force of
that dark and fearful presentiment which arises from the approach of
the mightiest calamity that can befall an innocent man--a public and
ignominious death, while in the very pride of youth, strength, and those
natural hopes of happiness which existence had otherwise promised.
In him this awful apprehension proceeded neither from the terror of
judgment nor of hell, but from that dread of being withdrawn from life,
and of passing down from the light, the enjoyments and busy intercourse
of a breathing and conscious world, into the silence and corruption of
the unknown grave. When this ghastly picture was brought near him by the
force of his imagination, he felt for a moment as if his heart had
died away in him, and his blood became congealed into ice. Should this
continue, he knew that human nature could not sustain it long, and he
had already resolved to bear his fate with firmness, whatever that fate
might be. He then reflected that he was innocent, and, remembering the
practice of his simple and less political forefathers, he knelt down and
fervently besought the protection of that, Being in whose hands are the
issues of life and death.

On rising from this act of heartfelt devotion, he experienced that
support which he required so much. The fear of death ceased to alarm
him, and his natural fortitude returned with more than its usual power
to his support. In this state of mind he was pacing his narrow room,
when the door opened, and his father, with a tottering step, entered and
approached him. The son was startled, if not terrified, at the change
which so short a time had wr