y neutralize each other. In Connor's heart, however, there was
in this instance nothing of a conflicting nature. The noble boy's love
for such a mother bore in its melancholy beauty a touching resemblance
to the purity of his affection for Una O'Brien--each exhibiting in its
highest character those virtues which made the heart of the mother proud
and! loving, and that of his beautiful girl generous and devoted. So
far, therefore, from their appearance together tending to concentrate
his moral fortitude, it actually divided his strength, and forced him to
meet each with a I heart subdued and softened by his love for the other.

As they entered, therefore, he approached! them, smiling as well as he
could; and, first taking a hand of each, would have led them over to a
deal form beside the fire, but it was soon evident, that, owing to their
weakness and agitation united, they required greater support. He and
O'Brien accordingly helped them to a seat, on which they sat with every
symptom of that exhaustion which results at once from illness and mental
suffering.

Let us not forget to inform our readers that the day of this mournful
visit was that on which, according to his original sentence, he should
have yielded up his life as a penalty to the law.

"My dear mother," said he, "you an' Una know that this day ought not to
be a day of sorrow among us. Only for the goodness of my friends, an' of
Government, it's not my voice you'd be now listening to--but that is
now changed--so no more about it. I'm glad to see you both able to come
out."

His mother, on first sitting down, clasped her hands together, and in a
silent ejaculation, with closed eyes, raised her heart to the Almighty,
to supplicate aid and strength to enable her to part finally with that
boy who was, and ever had been, dearer to her than her own heart. Una
trembled, and on meeting her brother so unexpectedly, blushed faintly,
and, indeed, appeared to breathe with difficulty. She held a bottle of
smelling salts in her hand.

"John," she said, "I will explain this visit."

"My dear Una," he replied, affectionately, "you need not--it requires
none--and I beg you will not think of it one moment more. I must now
leave you together for about half an hour, as I have some business to do
in town that will detain me about that time." He then left them.

"Connor," said his mother, "sit down between this darlin' girl an' me,
till I spake to you."

He sat down and t