The wife was hung in
Worcester with her three accomplices, but a woman who was in the house
at the time went free, though she was ever after known as "Old 'Scape
Gallows," and shunned accordingly. Was his Aunt Hannah like her? Would
people thus call her, if they knew?
"No, no; oh, no," he cried in agony. "She is not like that! Please God,
grant that my Aunt Hannah is a good woman still. I cannot lose faith in
her, and I love her so much."
And thus the dreadful night wore to an end, and the morning found Grey
burning with fever, while a sharp pain, like a knife, cut through his
temples every time he moved. He was not surprised when Lucy came and
told him his grandfather was dead. He expected it, but with a moan he
buried his face in his pillow, and sobbed:
"Oh, grandpa, where are you now, I wonder; and I thought you so good, so
sure of Heaven. Please, God, have mercy on him. Oh, I can not bear it. I
cannot bear to think that he is lost! And he loved me so, and blessed me
on his death-bed."
This was the burden of Grey's grief, for he did not stop to consider all
the years of sincere repentance which had purified the soul just gone,
and made it fit for heaven, and his heart was very sore as he slowly
dressed himself and went down to the breakfast-room to meet his father,
who knew what he did, and who must feel it just as keenly.
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