modestly, "and
I imagine it would be more agreeable to be whipped in a hand-to-hand
encounter than to be caricatured, misrepresented and lied about, and by
those, too, who claimed to have the abolition of slavery near their
hearts, who prayed unceasingly for its utter destruction, and then split
hairs as to the way in which it was to be accomplished, and who fondly
hoped to exterminate it by marking boundary lines."

"But then," asked Jean, "was there no way by which this terrible war
could have been averted? No way by which the government could have
regulated and gradually suppressed slavery?"

"Regulations and restrictions," replied the Judge, waxing eloquent, "put
upon such a vice by a government are but its terms of partnership.
Gradual suppression of a mighty evil is always a signal failure, and
while we wait to prove these failures the enemy gains foothold."

"I am proud of you, father--proud to be my father's boy--proud to be
the daughter of a patriot," said Jean, with tears in her clear eyes. "I
am a patriot, too, and if ever such an issue comes to the front in my
day, I intend to do a patriot's part, if I am a woman."

"I do not think such an issue will ever be forced to the front again.
That was a moral question as well as political. Other matters vex the
people of today--money matters mostly--in which more diplomacy is
required than bravery."

"I must hurry now. I have but fifteen minutes in which to get down
town."

"You surely are not going out tonight?"

"Business appointments must be kept. The storm was not considerate
enough to leave town before 'the man' came, and 'the man' cannot wait
for the storm to take its departure, so what is to be done?"

"Does James know?"

"I do not want the horses tonight."

Jean stepped out and returned with his wraps. She held the great coat
while he thrust his long arms into it. Then she tied his muffler around
his neck.

"Father, while you are out, if you run across any lonely reformer, put
in for Jean an application for the position of first assistant," laughed
Vivian.

Judge Thorn left the room, and these two daughters of fortune settled
themselves for a comfortable evening.

Before it seemed possible that an hour had gone they heard a vehicle
drive up to the side gate.

The carriage stopped for several minutes, then rattled away over the
hard ground, and presently the judge re-entered the room.

"Ugh! This is a tough night. Fire feels good," and he