Part 28 (1/2)

The day of execution approached. Valentine divided his time between preparation for death, interviews with his family and friends, and the composition of an address that he wished to deliver upon the scaffold.

This address embodied a great portion of Valentine's life--experiences, as they are already known to the reader. When it was finished in ma.n.u.script, it was submitted to the perusal of the attendant clergymen.

Some among them warmly approved the address, and declared it to be the most eloquent appeal they had ever met. Others reserved their opinion for the time, and afterward a.s.serted that it was the most powerful sermon that they had ever seen or heard.

The day before the execution came. And now I must inform you that it is to ”Sister Dely” I am indebted for the report of the scenes that occurred in her presence in the condemned cell that day. Dely had obtained leave from her mistress, Mrs. Hewitt, to go to the prison, to take leave of her Valentine.

It was about ten o'clock, on Thursday, the 23d of December, when she reached the city. All the town was preparing for Christmas. When she entered the condemned cell, she found no one there except the two prisoners. There were two cot bedsteads at opposite sides of the cell, and one small iron stove against the wall, between the beds, and directly opposite the door by which she entered.

On her right hand, as she came in, sat Governor upon his cot, watching, with lazy interest, the employment of his fellow-prisoner, which, in sooth, was strange enough for one of his position.

Valentine was standing at the little table, and engaged in ironing out a cravat, while on the cot near him lay spread out a s.h.i.+rt just ironed, a satin vest, newly pressed, and a full suit of black broadcloth, well brushed.

And Dely knew at a glance that the poor fellow, true to his habits of neatness to the last, was preparing to present a proper appearance upon the scaffold.

”Was there no one to do that for you, Valentine?” said Dely, after her first greeting.

”No, child, there was not. Mother and poor Fannie are in too much trouble to think of such a thing.”

”I would have done it for you, Valentine.”

”No matter, child; it is done now,” said the young man, laying the folded cravat upon the cot, and then turning around and sitting down by the side of Dely.

”I wish, Delia, that you would try to open the eyes of Governor to the realities of his position. Poor fellow! he is fully persuaded that to-morrow, instead of being executed, we shall be set at liberty.”

Delia turned her eyes in wonder toward Governor, who sat upon the side of his cot, smiling and shaking his head in the most incredulous manner.

Delia shrank from the task that Valentine would have imposed upon her, and only said:

”We will pray for him, Brother Valentine. Governor, won't you kneel down with us, and pray for yourself?”

Governor said that, as praying could not do anybody any harm, he reckoned he would, to please Dely, though he did not see the use of it.

They all knelt, and this humble handmaid of the Lord, who was peculiarly gifted in prayer, offered up a fervent pet.i.tion in behalf of the prisoners, and especially for Governor.

They had just risen from their knees, when the door of the cell was opened, and the jailer entered, accompanied by another official, who nodded to the inmates, and then, beckoning to Valentine, requested him to step forward.

Valentine obeyed, and the man, drawing a measuring-line from his pocket, told him to stand up straight. Valentine drew himself up with as much composure as ever he had shown when, in his earlier days, he was getting himself fitted for a Sunday suit of clothes. The operator proceeded to measure his subject across the shoulders. And when this was done, he stopped, drew a paper and pencil from his pocket, and, leaning on Valentine's late ironing table, put down some figures. Then he took the line again, and carefully measured him from the crown of his head to the heels of his shoes, and made a second note.

Then telling Valentine that he was done with him, he beckoned to Governor, who had been looking on with open-mouthed amazement, and who now came forward, and braced himself up with the utmost alacrity and cheerfulness. Indeed, he was smiling from ear to ear, as he exclaimed, triumphantly:

”Tell you all so! We ain't had no winter clothes guv us yet, and dey's done sent de tailor to fit us!”

The operator with the line, on hearing this, dropped his measure, and, with emotions divided between astonishment and compa.s.sion, gazed at the poor wretch, who remained smiling in delight. No one else spoke, and, after a moment, the official picked up his line and resumed his work.

”Wen'll de clothes be ready for me?” inquired Governor, with great interest.

”I am not taking your size for clothes,” answered the operator, gravely.

”No! What den?” inquired Governor, in astonishment, but without the least suspicion of the truth.

”Don't you know?”

”No! I doesn't! What is it?”