Allen was too
clear, and so the court dismissed the case, and appointed Ralph
Dewey as guardian to the boy, who was immediately placed at school
in a neighboring town.
So ended this long season of suspense. Immediately on the decision
of the case, Wallingford went to Boston to see Mrs. Montgomery, and
remained absent nearly a week. I saw him soon after his return.
"How did she bear this final dashing of her hopes to the earth?" I
asked.
"As any one who knew her well might have expected," he answered,
with so little apparent feeling that I thought him indifferent.
"As a Christian philosopher," said I.
"You make use of exactly the right words," he remarked. "Yes, as a
Christian philosopher. As one who thinks and reasons as well as
feels. I have seen a great many so-called religious people in my
time. People who had much to say about their-spiritual experiences
and hopes of heaven. But never one who so made obedience to the
strict law of right, in all its plain, common-sense interpretations,
a matter of common duty. I do not believe that for anything this
world could offer her, Mrs.
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