The Basket of Flowers

r trial. At the sight of the room in which the court was held she trembled, and her fears returned. Sitting

nswered truthfully. She found it impossible to keep back her

ou were the only one to enter the room where the ring was. No one

ary. "I cannot speak anything else. I ha

nds," continued the judge; "h

ple that she had seen Mary take the ring. In consequence of this statement Juliette was now summoned as a witness, and, fearful to be caught in a lie, she determined to maintain it even in a court of justice. When the judge warned her to declare the truth before God, she felt her heart beat quickly and her kn

ring; I saw

ot allow passion to get the upper hand. Her only reply

How can you tell so terrible a falsehood for the

ousy revived. She repeated the falsehood, with new circumsta

e against you. The chamber-maid of the young Countess saw the

ake her confess her guilt. The punishment made poor Mary scream with pain, but she continued to declare her innocence. Suffering great agony, she was finally th

e law had failed to wring any confession from her. The judge now tried

onfess where the ring is, nothing will be done to you. Think wel

ng more to confess. The judge now tried

that of your old father. Would you see his head, whitened by age, cut off by the sword of justice? Who but he coul

ary, and, terrified at the

aken the ring. A single word-say yes, and y

st it on the road." "No," she thought again, "no, I must stick to the truth. Let it cost what it will, not even to save

remulous voice s

my life, I cannot utter it. But," she entreated, "if life is demanded, spare at l

the judge, for all his severity, was deeply moved; but he remain