To the Supreme Court the matter came at last, but the old man had but little hope.  In three courts, after a long and patient hearing, the decision had been against him; if it should again be adverse, he would be totally ruined.  As it was, so greatly had his means become reduced, that it was with difficulty he could raise sufficient money to pay off the heavy expenses of the last court.  The fees of his two attorneys were yet unsettled, and he feared, greatly, that he should not be able to induce more than one of them to attend at the Supreme Court.  On the other side, money was expended freely, and the most energetic counsel that money could command enlisted.  The fact was, the principal reason why Mr. Tomlinson had failed in each of the three trials that had already taken place lay in the superior tact, activity, and ability of the adverse counsel.

The anxiously looked-for period at length came, and Mr. Tomlinson made preparations for leaving home to meet the final issue, after nearly five years of most cruel litigation.

“Dear father!” said Edith, as they were about to separate.  She spoke with forced calmness, while a faint smile of encouragement played about her lips; her voice was low and tender.  “Dear father, do not let this matter press too heavily upon you; I have a hope that all will come out right.  I do not know why, but I feel as if this dreadful blow will not be permitted to fall.  Be calm, be brave, dear father! even the worst can be borne.”

The maiden’s voice began to quiver, even while she uttered hopeful words.  Mr. Tomlinson, whose own heart was full, bent down and kissed her hurriedly.  When she looked up, he was gone.  How fast the tears flowed, as she stood alone on the spot where they had just parted!

A few hours after the father had left, a gentleman called and asked to see Edith.  On entering the room where he had been shown by the servant, she found a young man whose countenance she had never seen before.  He. made known his business after a few embarrassing preliminaries, which proved to be an overture of peace from Allison, if she would accept the offer of marriage he had made her five years previously.  After hearing the young man patiently through, Edith replied, in a firm voice—­“Tell Mr. Allison that there is no evil in this world or the next that I would consider greater than a marriage with him.”

He attempted to urge some considerations upon her, but she raised her hand, and said, in a tone of decision, “You have my answer, sir; take it to your principal.”

The young man bowed, and withdrew in silence.  He felt awed beneath the steady eye, calm face, and resolute voice of the maiden, crushed almost to the earth as she was.

When Mr. Tomlinson arrived at the capital, he found neither of his counsel there, although the case was expected to be reached on the succeeding day.  On the next morning he received a note from one of them, which stated that illness would prevent his attending.  The other attorney was prepared to go on with the case, but he was by far the weakest of the two.