Judge Mullanphy answered “Certainly!” Then the verdict was called for and rendered, and the jurymen resumed their places.  Mr. Mitchell’s lawyer jumped up and exclaimed: 

“Your Honor, my client demands that this girl be remanded to jail.  He does not consider that the case has had a fair trial, I am not informed as to what course he intends to pursue, but I am now expressing his present wishes?”

Judge Bates was on his feet in a second and cried:  “For shame! is it not enough that this girl has been deprived of her liberty for a year and a half, that you must still pursue her after a fair and impartial trial before a jury, in which it was clearly proven and decided that she had every right to freedom?  I demand that she be set at liberty at once!”

“I agree with Judge Bates,” responded Judge Mullanphy, “and the girl may go!”

Oh! the overflowing thankfulness of my grateful heart at that moment, who could picture it?  None but the good God above us!  I could have kissed the feet of my deliverers, but I was too full to express my thanks, but with a voice trembling with tears I tried to thank Judge Bates for all his kindness.

As soon as possible, I returned to the jail to bid them all good-bye and thank them for their good treatment of me while under their care.  They rejoiced with me in my good fortune and wished me much success and happiness in years to come.

I was much concerned at my mother’s prolonged absence, and was deeply anxious to meet her and sob out my joy on her faithful bosom.  Surely it was the hands of God which prevented mother’s presence at the trial, for broken down with anxiety and loss of sleep on my account, the revulsion of feeling would have been greater than her over-wrought heart could have sustained.

As soon as she heard of the result, she hurried to meet me, and hand in hand we gazed into each other’s eyes and saw the light of freedom there, and we felt in our hearts that we could with one accord cry out:  “Glory to God in the highest, and peace and good will towards men.”

Dear, dear mother! how solemnly I invoke your spirit as I review these trying scenes of my girlhood, so long agone!  Your patient face and neatly-dressed figure stands ever in the foreground of that checkered time; a figure showing naught to an on-looker but the common place virtues of an honest woman!  Never would an ordinary observer connect those virtues with aught of heroism or greatness, but to me they are as bright rays as ever emanated from the lives of the great ones of earth, which are portrayed on historic pages—­to me, the qualities of her true, steadfast heart and noble soul become “a constellation, and is tracked in Heaven straightway.”

CHAPTER VI.