"Is not that preferable to death?"
"I'll answer you no more!" said Mamie, turning to her brother.
"Well, I will leave you to pleasant reflections. To-morrow at one o'clock you will leave this place, and have the pleasure of a cart ride as far as the gallows. Your sister may remain with you to-night, and enjoy the ride with you to-morrow. After that I shall take charge of her."
Branch left the room.
"It is all over now, brother!"
Miss Hayward could no longer restrain her feelings, but sinking down, groaned in agony of soul. The tears burst forth, and long and bitterly she wept. She could not be consoled. Her brother assured her that he felt confident he would be rescued, if his friends were at that time so short a distance from him. And they might be much nearer. But she could not be comforted. At times her sobs became almost shrieks, and then they would cease, as if from very exhaustion. It seemed as if her very heart was made of tears. Nature could bear but little more. At last she sank into a fitful slumber, resting upon her brother's bosom. Ever and anon she would start, a wild cry would break from her lips, and she would cling with all the power of madness about his neck, and beg him not to leave her. Her starts, her sobs, her groans, her screams, were terrible, and thus the night wore slowly on mid dark and gloom. Hayward slept not. Occasionally he pressed his lips to his sister's forehead, which now was icy cold, now burning with a feverish heat. Sometimes her breath would appear entirely to have stopped, and then her brother, in a voice of agony, would call Upon her name; but a sob or groan would tell him she yet lived. Toward morning she grew more quiet, and her repose seemed sweet, and undisturbed by frightful dreams. At length she started up and cried "They are coming! See, brother!"
"Who are coming, dear sister?" asked Hayward.
"Oh! I have been dreaming, but it was sweet. Are you here, brother? It is so dark I cannot see you!"
"Yes, Mamie, I am here. But, what have you been dreaming?"
"Where are we, brother? Oh! I remember that bad man. I saw him in my dream. He was hurled to destruction from a terrible precipice. He was standing upon a cloud, dark and massive, but the thunders broke it, and he fell!"