The old family servant, who still lived with them, met her at the door,
and told her that her mother had been sleeping quietly for more than an
hour.

"Good gracious, Miss Anna, but you do look ill. Just step into the
parlor and sit down for a minute, and I'll make you a cup of tea."

Anna suffered herself to be led into the little room, smiling
gratefully at the old servant as she assisted her to remove her hat and
jacket. She took up the paper mechanically and glanced through its
contents. Her eyes fell on the following item, which she followed with
hypnotic interest: "Harvard Student in Disgrace!" was the headline.

"John Langdon, a Harvard student, was arrested on the complaint of
Bertha Harris, a young woman, well known in Boston's gas-light circles,
yesterday evening. They had been dining together at a well-known chop
house, when the woman, who appeared to be slightly under the influence
of liquor, suddenly arose and declared that Langdon was trying to rob
her.

"Both were arrested on the charge of creating a disturbance. At the
State Street Police Station the woman said that Langdon had performed a
mock marriage for a fellow student some four months ago. She had acted
as a witness, for which service she was to receive $50. The money had
never been paid. She stated further that the young man, whom Langdon
is alleged to have married, is the son of a wealthy Boston banker, and
the young woman who was thus deceived is a young relative of one of
Boston's social leaders.

"Later Bertha Harris withdrew her charges, saying she was intoxicated