Roxy Hastings — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ROXY HASTINGS. 113 “T have thought of that, and will see that he does. He shall know what a brother’s gratitude is.” “Come, let us give mother her first modicum of hope. Who shall do it, Charley ?” “You, Laura, if you think you can do it judiciously. You have had the chief care of her, and ought to have this pleasure.” “No, I dare not trust myself, Charley. There is nothing judicious about me. I will leave it to you.” Mrs. Lee, though very feeble, sat up much of the time, and even walked her room when her excitement became too intense for inaction. They found her now seated in a large fauteuil near a window, looking vacantly out into Pennsylvania avenue, and with utter wretchedness impressed on every feature of her expressive face. She turned her head wearily as her children entered the room, and asked, in a low, tremulous voice: *“Has it come ?” ‘“‘No, mother,” said Charles, “and I think this delay affords some grounds for hope.” “Hope! Of what, Charles?” was the almost whispered. reply. “Why—why that it—it may not have taken place; that he may have been pardoned, or escaped.” “Do you—do you believe there is any ground for hope, my son?” said the mother, stretching out her trembling hands toward him. ‘‘Or is this said merely to comfort me ?” “No. Icertainly have some hope. There is a rumor—” “What! oh, what? Speak quicker, louder, if there is any, any hope, no matter how slight.” The widow trembled throughout her whole frame, and her wild, eager look was fearful to behold. ‘‘Be calm, mother. Command yourself, or I cannot say more.” | “T will—I will! See there! I am already composed. Only speak.” “There is a rumor that prisoners have escaped from Rich- mond, and arrived within our lines—” “Thank God! Thank God! But is that all?” 3 “No; itis said that they left the city after the day ap- pointed for the execution, and that they heard nothing of it, and did not believe it had taken place.” The mother listened breathlessly. She fell on her knees and remained long, silent, but, when she arose, she said: GEomicboo cS (Ele)