lifeless form of the unhappy Anna, her features pale as marble, but
beautiful even in death. There, rolled in a mystic shroud, calm as a
sleeper in repose, she lay, watched over by two faithful slaves.

The Judge and Mr. Snivel have found it convenient to make a trip of
pleasure into the country. And though the affair creates some little
comment in fashionable society, it would be exceedingly unpopular to pry
too deeply into the private affairs of men high in office. We are not
encumbered with scrutinizing morality. Being an "unfortunate woman," the
law cannot condescend to deal with her case. Indeed, were it brought
before a judge, and the judge to find himself sitting in judgment upon a
judge, his feelings would find some means of defrauding his judgment,
while society would carefully close the shutter of its sanctity.

At high noon there comes a man of the name of Moon, commonly called Mr.
Moon, the good-natured Coroner. In truth, a better-humored man than Mr.
Moon cannot be found; and what is more, he has the happiest way in the
world of disposing of such cases, and getting verdicts of his jury
exactly suited to circumstances. Mr. Moon never proceeds to business
without regaling his jury with good brandy and high-flavored cigars. In
this instance he has bustled about and got together six very solemn and
seriously-disposed gentlemen, who proceed to deliberate. "A mystery
hangs over the case," says one. A second shakes his head, and views the
body as if anxious to get away. A third says, reprovingly, that "such
cases are coming too frequent." Mr. Moon explains the attendant
circumstances, and puts a changed face on the whole affair. One juryman
chalks, and another juryman chalks, and Mr. Moon says, by way of
bringing the matter to a settled point, "It is a bad ending to a
wretched life." A solemn stillness ensues, and then follows the verdict.
The body being identified as that of one Anna Bonard, a woman celebrated
for her beauty, but of notorious reputation, the jury are of opinion
(having duly weighed the circumstances) that she came to her melancholy
death by the hands of one George Mullholland, who was prompted to commit
the act for some cause to the jury unknown. And the jury, in passing the
case over to the authorities, recommend that the said Mullholland be
brought to justice. This done, Mr. Moon orders her burial, and the jury
hasten home, fully confident of having performed their duty unswerved.

When nigh