The Judgment House

As Jasmine left the theater box with the wealthy Byng, the girl's white-haired, prematurely aged father whispered in the pretty stepmother's ear, his eyes locked upon the young millionaire splendid appearance, "Jasmine'll marry that nabob -- you'll see "

The stepmother shrugged. "Jasmine is in love with Ian Stafford," she said, decisively. "And clearly the feeling is reciprocated."

"That may be," was the stubborn reply. "But she'll marry Rudyard Byng "

Canadian novelist Sir Gilbert Parker (1862-1932) was author of "The Battle of the Strong," "Parables of a Province," and the best-selling novel of the American revolution "The Seats of the Mighty."