" Lead not on, but hear me," cried Frances, grasping his
hand convulsively. "Colonel Singleton, you are a father!
— pity — mercy — mercy for the son! — mercy for the daugh-
ter ! Yes — you had a daughter. On this bosom she poured
out her last breath ; these hands closed her eyes ; these very
hands, that are now clasped in prayer, did those offices for
her that you condemn my poor, poor brother to require."

One mighty emotion the veteran struggled with, and
quelled; but with a groan that shook his whole frame. He
even looked around in conscious pride at his victory; but a
second burst of feeling conquered. His head, white with
the frost of seventy winters, sunk upon the shoulder of the
frantic suppliant. The sword that had been his companion
in so many fields of blood dropped from his nerveless hand,
and as he cried —

" May God bless you for the deed !" he wept aloud.
Long and violent was the indulgence that Colonel Single-
ton yielded to his feelings. On recovering, he gave the
senseless Frances into the arms of her aunt, and, turning
with an air of fortitude to his comrades, he said:

" Still, gentlemen, we have our duty as officers to dis-
charge; — our feelings as men maybe indulged hereafter.
What is your pleasure with the prisoner?"

One of the judges placed in his hand a written sentence
that he had prepared while the colonel was engaged with
Frances, and declared it to be the opinion of himself and
his companion.
