"Please father, don't!" she interrupted. "Your politics disgust me. These boys are of the best families in town."
"How can you know this?" pleaded the Judge. "They come disguised. Not one of them has ever made himself known."
"Which makes the romance of such a visit all the deeper."
"And its dangers all the greater, my child. Mr. Larkin has come to warn me."
"I agree with your father, Miss Stella," said Larkin with a grave bow.
The girl tossed her head with contempt.
"And I have in my hand a letter of warning from an unknown friend," continued Butler.
"But you are not really afraid?" cried the girl with scorn. "I refuse to believe my own father the contemptible coward your enemies have called you."
"Have you heard of the criminal outrages committed last night by those masked raiders?"
"They do not interest me."
"You must remember, my dear, that I have sworn to send these men to the gallows."
"I can't help your political bluster. I refuse to sacrifice my social career and insult my friends for your dirty politics."
"And you can not see that the presence of
