The Tragedy of the Chain Pier

ways puzzled-even as I was puzzled over her. That round of visiting made me more loath than ever to believe that I was right. Such gentle thought and care, such consideration, such rea

ter than myself, a white-haired old minister, whom I had known for many years, a

sionate man, but he decided t

n to trust. She might be insane. She might be subject to mania-a thousand things might occur whic

t that it would eventually become known; better hear it

as well for you to speak to her firs

, I deserved what I should no doubt get; if she were guilty and owned it, she would have some warning a

ed one morning at breakfast would have satisfied me. Lance had taken

suddenly fr

was the greatest curs

nged your opi

he crying sin of the c

some cream into my cup; it did not surprise me that the pretty

"I have never seen you do

ly pale, her

f," she said, "and no wo

, who made eve

I was just saying that child-murder is one of the gr

le thing to speak of

ut reading one or two cases. I wonder that the Government does not take it

should be made equal; as it is, the whole blame, shame and punishment fall on the woman, while the man goes free; ther

and the woman must be as cruel as a demon who deserts or slays her own child. If I had

aper fell to the ground. Mrs. Fleming r

her husband, "wha

ngs," she replied, vehemently, "and

wledge of such things. You must forgive me, Frances, but to me there is something far more loathing in the woman who kills a c

member that you began

to dwell upon or speak of, and that is one. I am going into the garden, Lance; perhaps you and Mr.

d pruning, Mrs. F

ings as rose t

aid her husband. "My case is emp

he lingered a few minutes, then went out. Then simple, h

nder-hearted woman in all your li

forget one evening that came soon afterwards. We went to dine with a friend of Lance's, a Squire Peyton, who lived not far away

last purchas

representing the mother of the little Moses placing h

ok at it with eyes th

oung and tender to be left alone, but the water is silent and the mothe

e paled, the lips

to come from that land of darkness; it m

s not deadened her conscience; she has tried a

e for a life!" And I wondered what would, what could, be th