Year: 1868

nope SnOt to her eyes. "GOd OleSS
you for saying that. God be praised
that it was my story that convinced
you of it. Tell me if [ 90 into the
court tomorrow and repeat what |
have just said, word for word, will be
evidence for a .jury-will it convince
them that he was driven wild by my
wicked frenzy? ?"


The judge hesitated-he could not
bear to crush the last hope to which
the wretchcd girl was clinging.


Speak y she said; "tell me, | be-
seech YOU


"l am afraid it would but prove a
new motive for the mur--for the
crime charged upon him." he said at
length, but in a voice that bespoke
pity and reluctenec.


She fell back in her chair for an in
stant, as if struck helpless by his
words, but in an instant rallying again,
she said:


"Then you think | had not better
appear


at would do no good, but might
supply the only link wanting in chain
of evidence against the unhappy man.
That is, a motive for the crime"


"Still you believe him to have been
insane You have heard all and in
your charge tomorrow every word
that | have said will be remembered -


The judge was deeply embarrassed
and it was with difficulty that he found
words to undeceive her.


II cannot as an honest man, | dare
not as sworn Judge make a charge
on any evidence not brought forward
in the trial. he said firmly, but with
deep cOmmi8eration.


ooh Heaven great Heaven! you
cannot deny me this-So much depends
on it. If you could but say that there
was anything in the evidence to prove
him insane, it would save him. A hu-
man life think how sweet a thing it
must be to save a man like that from
death-and from such a death The
jury will be guided by your charge.
| have studied their faces one by one
ever since the trial commenced.
know that they are meE TO be guided
into the path of mercy-oniy show
them the way-Only take a little of
the responsibility. You will-you
will-for did You not admit only a
few minutes since, that he must have
been insane? Only say that to-mor
row ask nothing more"


The earnestness with which the
poor girl pleaded was agonizing, her
eyes grew moist, her hands were con-
vulSively clasped and in the agony Of
her appeal she sank unconsciously to
uUI huCeo anu CIIugng 10 ms ureSSln9
gown with botn nanus, wildly urged
her suit.


The judge raised her and even in
her distress she felt his hands tremble
In performing this office


BE comforted my poor young lady
be more composed; this is very
distressing to me, assure YOU" he
said, while tears actually filled his
eyes.


Heaven bless you for those tears
knew they were wrong who said YOU
had no feeling. How do YOU think
that lawyer advised me to act? See
| was to bave brought this money tc
offer you, and these things ?" She
drew from the folds of her dress d
large double purse crowded full of
bank notes, and with it a heavy dia
mOnd bracelet, with other female or
naments Of great value. II have Civ
en- the lawyer almost as much to plead
his cause; gold can purchase his elo
! quence, but dare not offer it to you
My heart rose against his advice the
moment | entered the room"


1T is well, replied the Judge erin
soning to tne temples with ff1digna
tion that any man should have ad
yised bribe to him; it is we'll thar
you judged more honorably ofme thar
your adviser. If anything could wiz
me to a forgetfullness of a stern duty
it would be your evident distress
not your gold


Il know it know it; and the bles
sings of IA broken heart will follow
You to the grave for every mercifu
word uttered in to-morrow's charge
Oh, the clock is striking Is it twelve
| will go home now. They think
am at a party, and so | was two hour,
ago-see how brilliant they made
me ?" and with a mingled laugh ant
shudder, the strange girl threw opeI
her cloak and revealed dress OF
rose colored satin and rich blonde il
the folds of which few white rose
were crushed. "Would you believe it
she said with touching earnestness
and folding the cloak over her person
again, "would you think it possible
no creature in my fathers hous,
dreams of this, not even my own moth
er? They think that late hours ant
fashionable folly are rendering me S,
pale. Tonight they will be all asleel
when | get home, and i-oh, Heaven
shall [ sleep again.


The wretched girl covered her fac
with both hands, and for the first tim
during the interview burst into tears
After weeping with unrestrained vic
lence for few moments, she uncov
cred her face, and with a sad smil
suddenly seized the judges hand be
tween both of hers, kissed it, and lef
| thereon sobbing bitterly. Before tn
r judge could overtake her, or offer he
: any Of those civilities which her beau
tv and evident station seemad To do