Under the Law

"Under the Law" by Edwina Stanton Babcock is a story set in a small town, where Sard Bogart, a judge's daughter, finds herself questioning the very laws that govern her world. After a harsh winter thaw, Sard encounters a ridiculed vagrant named Mr. Colter. Moved by compassion, she steps in to help, a decision that pulls her into a conflict between societal expectations and her own moral compass. As Sard helps Mr. Colter, who is disoriented, she struggles with social judgement and grapples with her upbringing. Ultimately, Sard's journey becomes a fight against rigid norms, forcing her to confront complex issues of justice and human decency in her small town.