In that solemn hush, the measured tramp of the jury advancing, and
filing into their box, had the mournful, measured beat as of pall
bearers, keeping step to a dismal dirge; and when the foreman laid upon
the table the fatal brass unicorn, the muffled sound seemed ominous as
the grating of a coffin lowered upon the cross bars of a gaping grave.
As the roll was called, each man rose, and answered in a low but
distinct tone. Then the clerk of the court asked:

"Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon your verdict?"

"We have," replied the foreman.

"What say you! Guilty, or not guilty?"

Beryl had risen, and the gaslight shining full upon her pale, Phidian
face, showed no trace of trepidation. Only the pathetic patience of a
sublime surrender was visible on her frozen features. The eyes
preternaturally large and luminous were raised far above the sea of
heads, and their strained gaze might almost have been fixed upon the
unveiled face of the God she trusted. Her hands were folded over her
mother's ring, her noble head thrown proudly back.

"We the jury, in the case of the State against Beryl Brentano, find
defendant not guilty as charged in the indictment; but guilty of
manslaughter in the first degree; and we do earnestly commend her to
the mercy of the Court."

The girl staggered slightly, as if recoiling from a blow, and Mr.
Dunbar caught her arm, steadied her. The long pent tide of popular
feeling broke its barriers, and the gates of Pandemonium seemed to
swing open. Women sobbed; men groaned. In vain the Judge thundered
"Silence", "Order!" and not until an officer advanced to obey the
command, to clear the court-room, was there any perceptible lull, in
the storm of indignation.

Turning to the Judge, Mr. Dunbar said:

"In behalf of the prisoner, I most respectfully beg that the Court will
end her suspense; and render her return to this bar unnecessary by
promptly pronouncing sentence."

"Is it the wish of the prisoner, that sentence should not be delayed?"

"She wishes to know her fate."

She had uttered no sound, but the lashes trembled, fell over the tired,
aching, strained eyes; and lifting her locked hands she bowed her chin
upon them.

Some moments elapsed, before Judge Parkman spoke; then his voice was
low and solemn.

"Beryl Brentano, you have been indicted for the deliberate and
premeditated murder of your grandfather, Robert Luke Darrington. Twelve
men, selected for their intelligence