en to keep the news of Jessie's
disappearance from Hubert Varrick, the knowledge soon reached him.

"My God! did I not have enough to bear before," he murmured, "that this
new weight of woe has fallen upon me?"

In his sorrow he was thankful that at least one person besides his
mother seemed to believe so utterly in his innocence--and that was the
butler. He came to see him daily and wept over him, muttering strangely
incoherent words, declaring over and over again that he must be proven
innocent, though the heavens fell.

"As near as I can see, it will end in a prison cell for life or the
gallows," said Hubert, gulping down a sob.

"But they mustn't hang--you shan't hang!" cried the butler, excitedly.
"I will--"

The sentence was never finished. He sat back, trembling in every limb,
in his seat, his face ashy white, his features working convulsively.

At last the butler came no more to see him, and Hubert heard that he,
too, had suddenly disappeared.

The day of the trial dawned clear and bright, without one cloud in the
blue azure sky to mar the perfect day. It was a morn dark enough in the
history of Hubert Varrick, as he paced up and down the narrow limits of
his lonely cell, looking through the grating on the gay, bright world
outside.

It did not matter much to him if he left it, he told himself. Suddenly
there was the sound of a key turning in the lock, and glancing up,
Varrick beheld the old butler standing before him.

He greeted the old servant with a wistful smile, and for a moment
neither could speak, so great was their emotion.

"I have been a long way off, Master Hubert," he said, huskily; "but I
couldn't stay away when I thought how near it was to--to the time."

"Thank you for your devotion," said Hubert, gratefully. "I am glad you
came to see me; and, whatever betides," he continued, huskily, "I hope
you will think none the worse of me. Believe that I am innocent; and,
dear friend, if the time should ever come when you could clear my
stained name from the awful cloud which darkens it, I pray you promise
me that you will do it. I can never rest in my grave until this horrible
mystery has been cleared." The old butler trembled like a leaf. "I shall
haunt the scene of that terrible tragedy, and--"

A great shriek burst from the butler's white lips, and he fell to the
floor in a terrible spasm.

The attendant pacing back and forth in the corridor without, hastily
removed him. They spoke of i