not guilty of theft, and to you who have hearts to you who
sympathize with the sufferings of a soldier's wife--to you, whose
wives and children may to-morrow be placed in a similar position--to
you, I leave a verdict. But one word yet ere I am done.

"The money which she took, to what use was, it placed? To purchase a
_coffin_ for her child! To place the lifeless body of her daughter in
its last home ere it is covered by the dust--this, and this only, was
the good which accrued from it. And, gentlemen, he--Mr. Elder--is the
MURDERER of that child. As such I charge him, and as such I
brand him to be. But for his brutality--but for his avarice and
selfish lust for gain, the mouldering corpse might now have been a
blooming and happy child. And yet another word. When the so-called
theft was discovered, and the accuser sought the accused, he found her
by the bedside on which the dead child lay clothed in its last earthly
garments. Disregarding her entreaties, she was torn from the corpse,
thrust into prison, and the humble and servile hands of the negro were
left to perform those sad rites which affection is ever the first to
do. This is my tale, and--"

Here the excitement grew intense, and a strong feeling of indignation
was manifested by the soldiers present against Mr. Swartz and Mr.
Elder, and many threats were made to hang them.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTH.

THE VERDICT--THE HUSBAND AND WIFE--ARREST OF AWTRY.

It was some time before the police could restore order and quiet the
excitement. At length complete silence was restored, and Harry
continued:

"Such," he continued, "is the tale of this unfortunate woman, and the
position in which she found herself placed should excite, a feeling of
sympathy, and not induce you to punish her for an act which may be
deplored but cannot be condemned. That she took the money is
undeniable, but why did she take it? I have told you it was to save
her child's life, and though that class of philosophers and ultra
moralists who believe that there are no causes sufficient to justify
her act, may declare her guilty of theft, let the promptings of your
own hearts decide whether her position did not excuse, if it does not
render her conduct undeserving of condemnation by a jury. But in
claiming from you a verdict in favor of my client, I must take
occasion to say, that your acquittal will not restore this lady to
that position she formerly occupied, or remove from her mind the
i