d what was in her heart--jealousy, hate, anger, recklessness,
courage, determination. Her thick black hair was loosely put together,
stray locks falling here and there about her face and neck.

"Jedge LeMonde," she said, "I am Jemima Sneath, and I live back in de
hills. I hev somethin' I wish to tell you. Can I see you by yerself?"

"Certainly, my good woman," replied the Judge, "let me lead you into my
private office."

When they were seated Jemima began her story: "Jedge, I have cum to you
for revenge. For more'n two years I have bin Sam Wiles' gal, and a year
ago he promised to marry me. I have bin true to 'im and bin willin' to
set de day any time. But lately his love for me has growd cold, and he
has bin goin' with annoder gal in de hills. Yisterday dis gal and I met
and had sum words, and she up and tol' me that Sam Wiles had left me
for her. With dis I sprung upon her like a wild cat and tore her
clothes, scratched her face, and pulled part of her hair out by de
roots. Den I left her and marched straight to Sam's cabin, and asked im
if wat de gal said was true. He said it war, dat he had lost his luv
for me and put it on Kate Sawyer. Sumthing like a knife seemed to cut
my heart, and I wanted to die. I left Sam Wiles, sayin': 'Sam, good-by
forever; you have broke my heart, and I'll break yourn.'"

Here the woman's emotions overcame her, and she would have fallen from
her chair had not Judge LeMonde caught her. He hastened to a table and,
filling a glass with water, brought it to her. This revived her, and
again she sat up straight with the blazing fire in her eyes.

The Judge tried to comfort her, saying: "Be composed, woman, and finish
your story, and I will help you all I am able."

Jemima replied: "I did not cum here to git help, but revenge. Sam
Wiles, Zibe Turner, and der crowd have bin busy for a long time makin'
'licit whisky. I know whar dey make and store it, and I'm willin' to
tell you'uns how to git to de place."

"To discover where their still is will greatly please the revenue
officers," said Judge LeMonde, "but won't you get yourself into trouble
if you tell on your friends?"

"Dey ain't my friens'," she fiercely replied. "I cast off de hull lot;
and as to trouble nuthin' can't be so hard to bear as de load I carries
now. I wish in my soul I war dead."

Again her feelings almost overcame her; but the Judge spoke kindly to
her, and in a few minutes she recovered her composure once more. He
t