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and the other the same crest, with "veritas" under that.

Stephen had looked so very innocent, that many in the crowd thought him so; but at this proof of his guilt, as they considered it, they set up a shout that quite overpowered the wretched prisoner: he put his hands to his ears, and fell back on the ground. Some water from a neighbouring stream revived him, and he was led, or rather borne, along to the little inn where he had breakfasted. A chaise was ordered, and he was taken to the county town, and on being examined, the evidence was found to be so strong against him, that he was committed to prison to take his trial.

During all this time, said to be in his senses.

Stephen could hardly be

Many persons in court

thought him sulky; some, that he was guilty; a few supposed that he was out of his mind; and one of the constables felt almost confident that he was innocent. To this person, whose name was Chubb, the poor boy was given up, that he might be conveyed to prison; and, as they went along, the kind-hearted man tried all in his power to rouse the

attention of his prisoner, and induce him to talk; but he could not succeed; the youth sat in the chaise, looking at nothing, with his hands hanging down, and his mouth half open, like an like an ideot. "Poor lad!" said the constable, at last; "if he is guilty, then I never saw innocence-that's all !— It's my belief that he will go quite beside himself (that is, mad), if they should not happen to attend to him; I'm sure he ought to be bled." They now stopped at a large handsome building, the county jail, and when Mr. Ward, the jailer, came out to receive the youth, Chubb said, " If I were you, Mr. Ward, I'd send to the doctor who attends the jail; for I think the poor boy should be bled; his senses seem gone; I'll never believe he is guilty, if all the judges and juries in the kingdom should condemn him."

"Poor fellow! No, Mr. Chubb, nor I neither," exclaimed Mrs. Ward, the jailer's wife, who had also come to the gate. "Here, husband, let me speak to him; I'm sure I shall be able to make him take notice, and cheer up." So saying, she went to the chaise door, and letting down the steps, she took his arm, and helped him out, saying, "So, so!

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--don't you be down-hearted!-you come with me; and we'll write a letter together to your mother: you have a mother, hav'n't you?”

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My mother! Oh, my poor, dear mother! Ah, yes! yes!—and she will never live, after the shame of knowing that I am put in prison; didn't some one say, that I was going to jail ?—I going to jail!" exclaimed Stephen, bursting into a passion of tears.

"Ah, he'll do now," said Chubb-" let him cry, Mrs. Ward! These women have such a way with them!-here have I been trying all that I could think of, and couldn't rouse him; and yet your wife, with the very first words she speaks to him, sets him a crying, and brings him to his senses, as I may say."

"It's very true, Chubb, she is a worthy soul, though I say it; and-"

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Why, who should say it if you don't, Mr. Ward?" said Chubb, laughing. "Well," added he, "I'll come and see how he goes on to-morrow. Good day!-Between you and me," added he, going up close to the worthy jailer, and seizing his coat collar, to draw him closer" between you

and me, I believe yonder busy fellow at Paxton, with the grey eyes, and piebald-looking whiskers, knows more about the murder than this chick: I have my suspicions; and if they lose sight of him, they're fools for their pains, that's all !" So saying, he stepped into the chaise, and was driven off.

Ward and his wife, as well as our kind-hearted constable, had been too long accustomed to see the hardened features of guilty beings, for them to feel any doubt of our hero's innocence. They did not fear that he would be condemned for the murder, because they had, on so many occasions, seen in how beautiful a manner the justice of our country is administered, and how cautious our judges and juries are in condemning any one, unless the crime can be proved to have been committed by the person who is suspected of having broken the laws. They both resolved, therefore, to cheer the poor lad's spirits, and to treat him with all the indulgence in their power. If they had dared to let him escape, they would not have done it; because they were experienced enough to know, that such a step would appear to be the

effect of his guilt; and that it would prejudice every one against him. Meantime he was taken into an upper room, that had a high grated window in it, opening towards the yard, where the prisoners took exercise. Mrs. Ward soon brought him some supper, for it was now eight o'clock; also pen, ink and paper: then sitting down opposite to him, she said, "Come now, do try and eat a bit of this nice roast mutton; it will strengthen you, and we can talk about your father and mother, and your sister Sarah, that you told me of;-twelve years old I think you said she was; just the age of my Betsy? Now a bit of mashed potatoe-that's right; you'll see them all three here the day after to-morrow, you may depend on it; and then you'll be so happy, and all will go right. Come, come, don't lay down your knife and fork and cry so!-you have had nothing these ten hours; you are as weak as water, and won't have strength to tell me your story."

"Oh, Mrs. Ward," exclaimed poor Stephen, and then sobbed again, "how good you are to me! but you forget that if my parents and sister come, they can't prove that I am innocent of

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