. Orcutt the surprise was wellnigh thrilling. The witness
seemed to feel this, and bestowed a short, quick glance upon the lawyer,
that may have partially recompensed him for the unpleasantness of the
general curiosity.

The Prosecuting Attorney went on without pause:

"Miss Dare," said he, "did you meet the prisoner as you promised?"

"I did."

"Will you tell me when and where?"

"On the afternoon of Monday, September 27th, in the glade back of Mrs.
Clemmens' house."

"Miss Dare, we fully realize the pain it must cost you to refer to these
matters, but I must request you to tell us what passed between you at
this interview?"

"If you will ask me questions, sir, I will answer them with the truth
the subject demands."

The sorrowful dignity with which this was said, called forth a bow from
the Prosecuting Attorney.

"Very well," he rejoined, "did the prisoner have any thing to say about
his prospects?"

"He did."

"How did he speak of them?"

"Despondingly."

"And what reason did he give for this?"

"He said he had failed to interest any capitalist in his invention."

"Any other reason?"

"Yes."

"What was that?"

"That he had just come from his aunt whom he had tried to persuade to
advance him a sum of money to carry out his wishes, but that she had
refused."

"He told you that?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did he also tell you what path he had taken to his aunt's house?"

"No, sir."

"Was there any thing said by him to show he did not take the secret path
through the woods and across the bog to her back door?"

"No, sir."

"Or that he did not return in the same way?"

"No, sir."

"Miss Dare, did the prisoner express to you at this time irritation as
well as regret at the result of his efforts to elicit money from his
aunt?"

"Yes," was the evidently forced reply.

"Can you remember any words that he used which would tend to show the
condition of his mind?"

"I have no memory for words," she began, but flushed as she met the eye
of the Judge, and perhaps remembered her oath. "I do recollect, however,
one expression he used. He said: 'My life is worth nothing to me without
success. If only to win you, I must put this matter through; and I will
do it yet.'"

She repeated this quietly, giving it no emphasis and scarcely any
inflection, as if she hoped by her mechanical way of uttering it to rob
it of any special meaning. But she did not succeed, as was shown by the
compassionate tone in wh