Judge Elbridge

suffering. But he had not forgotten his dignified courtesy. He bowed to her, bade her good morning, as if he had not seen her ear

or, and continued: "I am striving to master my heart by smothering it; I must be the master of a dead heart." He paused again and resumed his walk. "Yesterday the world was a laugh, but today it is a groan. I wonder if he saw me. No, and toward him I must bear the burden of silence. A mother's heart would see the accusation in his face,

send for

b. "My dear, it comes sweet from your lips, but it falls upon me with r

ather? Why, you need a

om her. "You must call no one. Wait a moment. Oh, I've got ir

might follow, but in his face there was no light save the dull hue of agony. Gradually

, I am li

g enough to hear w

ake streng

ur cas

closer and stood resolutely be

r word is too sacred to break, but this is-is an

oath, you ought to take medicine. Wh

. No. In all my experience I have never heard of a man being so situated. I am a novelty of distress. And you

why should I know it?

it to one human being

ill take

e obeyed him. "You swear neve

I sw

mory of yo

e memory of

al God may frown upon you if

this i

o back out now?

the Eternal God may frown upon

eable to take it, but the measure was necessary. And now comes the agonizing part of my duty-an

ave doubted it. But why do you spe

e explained. You mu

eyes, always so sympathetic, there came a f

drove me mad-he

ould drag

to the memory of your father and to my

ith now the light of sympathy in

ot heard. Remembe

ad gone from her eyes. "You must know that Howard and I have all our lives lived for each other. I owe you nearly everything, I would make almost any sacrifi

t would brea

er hand upon her bosom. "I

y son Howard

one look of agony from his eyes, and her hand fell. "Judge, how can you say

him stealing money from the safe, as if I had not always supplied all his wants, and at an alarm whic

ric queens we find in ancient fiction, she stood, and the moment of her

not in your heart. You must beli

on. Your eyes h

a heart-breaking truth. Flore

knew that he had stolen a hamm

ay from her with a cry

e room, gazing at the Judge

received a dispatch, telling me-telling me that my brother

him so," she said. "Poor, dear man, but we must bow to it, and pray

distressed him so that I tore it to

grateful look. "I tha