Beta Book

I am
nearly over it now; it must come--oh! I am very wretched! Oh! Anne! my
child, my child!"
And allowing his head to fall again, the rough, boorish man cried like
a child, spite of the most violent efforts to regain his composure and
master his emotion.
"Go," he said, in a low, broken voice, making a movement with his
hand, "I was wrong--I cannot see any one to-day--I must be alone."
Roundjacket hesitated; moved dubiously from, then toward the lawyer;
finally he seemed to have made up his mind, and going out he closed
the door slowly behind him. As he did so, the key turned in the lock,
and a stifled moan died away in the inner chamber.
"Mr. Rushton is unwell, and can't transact business to-day," said
Roundjacket, softly, for he was thinking of the poor afflicted heart
"within;" then he added, "you may call to-morrow, sir,"
The visitor went away, wondering at "Judge Rushton" being sick; such
a thing had never before occurred in the recollection of the "oldest
inhabitant.


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