And now occurred one of those beautiful incidents which no fiction-writer would dare to imagine, a scene of touching pathos, creditable to our fallen humanity.  In the eyes of the women of the audience Mr. Braham was the hero of the occasion; he had saved the life of the prisoner; and besides he was such a handsome man.  The women could not restrain their long pent-up emotions.  They threw themselves upon Mr. Braham in a transport of gratitude; they kissed him again and again, the young as well as the advanced in years, the married as well as the ardent single women; they improved the opportunity with a touching self-sacrifice; in the words of a newspaper of the day they “lavished him with kisses.”

It was something sweet to do; and it would be sweet for a woman to remember in after years, that she had kissed Braham!  Mr. Braham himself received these fond assaults with the gallantry of his nation, enduring the ugly, and heartily paying back beauty in its own coin.

This beautiful scene is still known in New York as “the kissing of Braham.”

When the tumult of congratulation had a little spent itself, and order was restored, Judge O’Shaunnessy said that it now became his duty to provide for the proper custody and treatment of the acquitted.  The verdict of the jury having left no doubt that the woman was of an unsound mind, with a kind of insanity dangerous to the safety of the community, she could not be permitted to go at large.  “In accordance with the directions of the law in such cases,” said the Judge, “and in obedience to the dictates of a wise humanity, I hereby commit Laura Hawkins to the care of the Superintendent of the State Hospital for Insane Criminals, to be held in confinement until the State Commissioners on Insanity shall order her discharge.  Mr. Sheriff, you will attend at once to the execution of this decree.”

Laura was overwhelmed and terror-stricken.  She had expected to walk forth in freedom in a few moments.  The revulsion was terrible.  Her mother appeared like one shaken with an ague fit.  Laura insane!  And about to be locked up with madmen!  She had never contemplated this.  Mr. Graham said he should move at once for a writ of ‘habeas corpus’.

But the judge could not do less than his duty, the law must have its way.  As in the stupor of a sudden calamity, and not fully comprehending it, Mrs. Hawkins saw Laura led away by the officer.

With little space for thought she was, rapidly driven to the railway station, and conveyed to the Hospital for Lunatic Criminals.  It was only when she was within this vast and grim abode of madness that she realized the horror of her situation.  It was only when she was received by the kind physician and read pity in his eyes, and saw his look of hopeless incredulity when she attempted to tell him that she was not insane; it was only when she passed through the ward to which she was consigned and saw the horrible