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r. My father's argument was this: If men are deprived by violence of one kind of property which they hold under the law, all other kinds of property will be endangered. The result will be anarchy. Furthermore, he recognized that the economic conditions in the South make slavery necessary to prosperity. And he regarded the covenant made between the states of the two sections as sacred." There was a brief silence, during which the uncompromising expression of the Judge did not change. "And do you, sir?" he demanded. "I am not sure, sir, after what I saw yesterday. I--I must have time to see more of it." "Good Lord," said Colonel Carvel, "if the conservative people of the North act this way when they see a slave sale, what will the Abolitionists do? Whipple," he added slowly, but with conviction, "this means war." Then the Colonel got to his feet, and bowed to Stephen with ceremony. "Whatever you believe, sir," he said, "permit me to shake your hand. You are a brave man, sir. And although my own belief is that the black race is held in subjection by a divine decree, I can admire what you have done, Mr. Brice. It was a noble act, sir,--a right noble act. And I have more respect for the people of Boston, now, sir, than I ever had before, sir." Having delivered himself of this somewhat dubious compliment (which he meant well), the Colonel departed. Judge Whipple said nothing. CHAPTER VII CALLERS If the Brices had created an excitement upon their arrival, it was as nothing to the mad delirium which raged at Miss Crane's boarding-house. during the second afternoon of their stay. Twenty times was Miss Crane on the point of requesting Mrs. Brice to leave, and twenty times, by the advice of Mrs. Abner Deed, she desisted. The culmination came when the news leaked out that Mr. Stephen Brice had bought the young woman in order to give her freedom. Like those who have done noble acts since the world began, Stephen that night was both a hero and a fool. The cream from which heroes is made is very apt to turn. "Phew!" cried Stephen, when they had reached their room after tea, "wasn't that meal a fearful experience? Let's find a hovel, mother, and go and live in it. We can't stand it here any longer." "Not if you persist in your career of reforming an Institution, my son," answered the widow, smiling. "It was beastly hard luck," said he, "that I should have been shouldered with that experience the
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