It will all be ashes without you. I offer you a deathless
love, honour and glory, and you come here to tell me you prefer a
convicted felon in his cell. My God, it is too much!"
The Governor leaned on his desk and shaded his face with his hands.
"How can I help it, Morris, if I love him?" she asked, piteously.
He raised his head, looked away, and softly said:
"Ruth, could you never love me?"
She was silent a moment and her lips trembled.
"If he dies, I cannot live," she gasped.
He leaned close, took her hand, and said:
"I'll order a stay of sentence for three months."
She kissed his hand, and murmured:
"Thank you."
From the telegraph office at Albany over the wires to Sing Sing's
house of death flew the message:
"Sentence stayed for three months while the Governor considers your
pardon. Faith and hope eternal. RUTH."
The next express carried her to him with the copy of the Governor's
order in her bosom.
The warden smiled and congratulated her. She had long before won
his heart, and there was no favour within the limits of law that
he had not granted to the man she loved.
Ruth looked at Gordon tenderly through the barred opening of his
cell.
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