LIGHT ON THE HORIZON. 23 



agitation through the crowd. The excitement 

 was told by the eager curiosity of the people's 

 gaze, to learn the cause. Even Mattie was 

 roused from the stupor of despair into which 

 she had sunk. A strange vague hope awoke in 

 her breast, and scarcely could she conceive the 

 marvellous reality, as she beheld enter one whom 

 she could not mistake, but so pale, attenuated, 

 as to seem indeed rather a spectre than a living 

 being. But it was the lost one, her well-re- 

 membered companion, whose sudden appearance 

 created a sensation impossible to describe. His 

 persecutor, horrified at the sight of what he con- 

 ceived to be an apparition, swooned, and was 

 taken from court. 



The result was, that the conditions of the boy's 

 indentures were declared by the jury to be for- 

 feited, and the sorest sting of all to the miser — 

 he was compelled to aid in the support and edu- 

 cation of the boy, until he attained his majority. 



A new light thus broke on the horizon, hith- 

 erto so dark and troubled for Will Smith. Dili- 

 gent in improving the advantages afforded him, 

 before long he enjoyed the honourable position 

 of a successful young barrister, and the old 

 Judge on his retirement, had the satisfaction of 

 seeing his own career renewed in that of his 

 adopted son, as he listened often in an ecstasy of 

 admiration to his brilliant vigourous oratory. 



