, as he was in deed! the thought of
crime had not been near his heart! his long remorse had been occasioned
by what he had unintentionally made her suffer. He was all that he had
lately appeared to the world! all that he had at first appeared to
her!--faithful, truthful, constant, noble, generous--her heart was
vindicated! her love was not the madness, the folly, the weakness that
her intellectual nature had often stamped it to be! Her love was
vindicated, for he deserved it all! Oh! joy unspeakable--oh! joy
insupportable!

She was a strong, calm, self-governing woman--not wont to be overcome by
any event or any emotion--yet now her head, her whole form, drooped
forward, and she sank upon the low balustrade in front of her
seat--weighed down by excess of happiness--happiness so absorbing that
for a time she forgot everything else; but soon she remembered that her
presence was required near the bench, to put a stop to the debate
between the lawyers, and she strove to quell the tumultuous excitement
of her feelings, and to recover self-command before going among them.

In the meantime, near the bench, the counsel for the prisoner had
succeeded in establishing the validity of the challenged testimony, and
the case was once more about to be recommitted to the jury, when the
lady, who had been quietly making her way through the crowd toward the
bench, stood immediately in front of the judge, raised her veil, and
Marian Mayfield stood revealed.

With a loud cry the prisoner sprang upon his feet; but was immediately
captured by two officers, who fancied he was about to escape.

Marian did not speak one word, she could not do so, nor was it
necessary--there she stood alive among them--they all knew her--the
judge, the officers, the lawyers, the audience--there she stood alive
among them--it was enough!

The audience arose in a mass, and "Marian!" "Marian Mayfield!" was the
general exclamation, as all pressed toward the newcomer.

Jacquelina, stunned with the too sudden joy, swooned in the arms of
Cloudy, who, between surprise and delight, had nearly lost his own
senses.

The people pressed around Marian, with exclamations and inquiries.

The marshal forgot to be disorderly with vociferations of "Order!" and
stood among the rest, agape for news.

Marian recovered her voice and spoke:

"I am not here to give any information; what explanation I have to make
is due first of all to Mr. Willcoxen, who has the right to cla