ee--you went away a few years before the war,
wasn't it?"

"Yes, sir, to South Carolina."

"Yes, yes, I remember now! I had been thinking it was to the North.
So many things have happened since then, that it taxes an old man's
memory to keep track of them all. Well, well! and how have you been
getting along?"

Warwick told his story in outline, much as he had given it to his
mother and sister, and the judge seemed very much interested.

"And you married into a good family?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"And have children?"

"One."

"And you are visiting your mother?"

"Not exactly. I have seen her, but I am stopping at a hotel."

"H'm! Are you staying long?"

"I leave to-morrow."

"It's well enough. I wouldn't stay too long. The people of a small
town are inquisitive about strangers, and some of them have long
memories. I remember we went over the law, which was in your favor; but
custom is stronger than law--in these matters custom IS law. It was a
great pity that your father did not make a will. Well, my boy, I wish
you continued good luck; I imagined you would make your way."

Warwick went away, and the old judge sat for a moment absorbed in
reflection. "Right and wrong," he mused, "must be eternal verities,
but our standards for measuring them vary with our latitude and our
epoch. We make our customs lightly; once made, like our sins, they
grip us in bands of steel; we become the creatures of our creations.
By one standard my old office-boy should never have been born. Yet he
is a son of Adam, and came into existence in the way ordained by God
from the beginning of the world. In equity he would seem to be entitled
to his chance in life; it might have been wiser, though, for him to
seek it farther afield than South Carolina. It was too near home, even
though the laws were with him."

IV

DOWN THE RIVER

Neither mother nor daughter slept a great deal during the night of
Warwick's first visit. Mis' Molly anointed her sacrifice with tears and
cried herself to sleep. Rena's emotions were more conflicting; she was
sorry to leave her mother, but glad to go with her brother. The mere
journey she was about to make was a great event for the two women to
contemplate, to say nothing of the golden vision that lay beyond, for
neither of them had ever been out of the town or its vicinity.

The next day was devoted to preparations for the journey. Rena's
slender wardrobe was made ready and packe