"Eighteen, but--"

"Twelve years ago, then." He paused and glanced about him before
adding, "She was about the age of the child you brought to my
house today."

"Yes, sir, very nearly."

His lips took a strange twist. There was self-contempt in it, and
some other very peculiar and contradictory emotion. But when this
semblance of a smile had passed, it was no longer Oliver's father
she saw before her, but the county's judge. Even his tone partook
of the change as he dryly remarked:

"What you have told me concerning your daughter and my son is very
interesting. But it was not for the simple purpose of informing me
that this untoward engagement was at an end that you came to
Shelby. You have another purpose. What is it? I can remain with
you just five minutes longer."

Five minutes! It only takes one to kill a hope but five are far
too few for the reconstruction of one. But she gave no sign of her
secret doubts, as she plunged at once into her subject.

"I will be brief," said she; "as brief as any mother can be who is
pleading for her daughter's life as well as happiness. Reuther has
no real ailment, but her constitution is abnormally weak, and she
will die of this grief if some miracle does not save her. Strong
as her will is, determined as she is to do her duty at all cost,
she has very little physical stamina. See! here is her photograph