one. I've been a very unpleasant companion
for myself lately." Rising impatiently, he strode up and down the room.
Then turning on her, he said angrily: "But I'll have no more lies.
That's what brings me here this morning. The first move they make
against you and I'll tell the whole truth!"

Annie gazed pensively out of the window without making reply.

"Did you hear?" he said, raising his voice. "I shall let the world know
that you sacrificed yourself for that woman."

She turned and shook her head.

"No, judge," she said, "I do not wish it. If they do succeed in
influencing Howard to bring a suit against me I shall not defend it."

Judge Brewster was not a patient man, and if there was anything that
angered him it was rank injustice. He had no patience with this young
woman who allowed herself to be trampled on in this outrageous way. Yet
he could not be angry with her. She had qualities which compelled his
admiration and respect, and not the least of these was her willingness
to shield others at her own expense.

"Perhaps not," he retorted, "but I will. It's unjust, it's unrighteous,
it's impossible!"

"But you don't understand," she said gently; "I am to blame."

"You're too ready to blame yourself," he said testily.

Annie went up to him and laid her hand affectionately on his shoulder.
With tears in her eyes, she said:

"Let me tell you something, judge. His father was right when he said I
took advantage of him. I did. I saw that he was sentimental and
self-willed, and all that. I started out to attract him. I was tired of
the life I was living, the hard work, the loneliness, and all the rest
of it, and I made up my mind to catch him if I could. I didn't think it
was wrong then, but I do now. Besides," she went on, "I'm older than he
is--five years older. He thinks I'm three years younger, and that he's
protecting me from the world. I took advantage of his ignorance of
life."

Judge Brewster shrugged his shoulders impatiently.

"If boys of twenty-five are not men they never will be." Looking down at
her kindly, he went on: "'Pon my word! if I was twenty-five, I'd let
this divorce go through and marry you myself."

"Oh, judge!"

That's all she could say, but there was gratitude in the girl's eyes.
These were the first kind words any one had yet spoken to her. It was
nice to know that some one saw some good in her. She was trying to think
of something to say, when suddenly there was the click of a k