Page:Orange Grove.djvu/286

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the greater guilt? At hers, or that of the millionaire who, while his hands horde the wealth fortune has lavished upon him, regardless of her appeal, lends his influence to keep her where she is by withholding the assistance and encouragement which might save her from such a life of degradation, and which it is his highest duty as a christian to render. Think of a young woman whose misfortune may be her greatest crime, dragged to these halls on the mere breath of suspicion, where no friendly woman's voice shall cheer her, no kindly face shall beam on her in sympathy with her woman's nature, and yet for all that it may be that she here meets with the greatest kindness her life has known,"—

A shriek from the prisoner here interrupted him, and her indifference now gave way to raving demonstrations. The proceedings were suspended, and she was remanded to her cell a maniac. The judge and jury were released from giving their decision, for a higher tribunal than theirs was to award the verdict. A physician was called in who expressed no hope of her recovery, and advised her removal to a more commodious apartment as soon as the paroxysm subsided; her strength being too far gone to sustain her much longer in that state of excitement. She was removed to an upper chamber of the prison, where, in a few days she became calm. Her first rational words were to ask for the counsel who had defended her.

Walter was sent for, and when he entered her room, she exclaimed,