times was the expression repeated ere she opened her eyes, to find herself watched and tended in such a strange way by all those unknown men. The sight of these new faces seemed to impart resolution and strength. She instantly raised herself to a sitting posture and restrained her moans, though the tears now rolled over her pale cheeks in a shower.
"Be comforted. Miss Newcome," said Allen; "your father is well and safe for the present. Providence may show some way of clearing him yet; at all events, it is too early to despair."
The constable, coming in to inquire if she was better, overheard the latter part of this attempt at consolation.
"La! yes, Miss. It isn't half the men as is accused that gets anything proven agin 'em. Like as not this may turn out to be accital shooting at the worst."
"Is it true, then, that my father killed some one?" cried Alicia, a composure almost frightful in one so young settling upon her face.
"Why," she continued, addressing Allen, "you are alive! and—and—who then was killed?"
"My friend. Dr. Edwards, was shot," replied Allen, gloomily as a vivid recollection of the occurrences of the morning returned to him.
Alicia made no reply, the occasional convulsive movements of her face alone indicating her increased agitation. Seeing that the strangers were evidently waiting for something which she did not comprehend to transpire, she whispered to Allen, who still maintained his seat beside her, to know the occasion of their presence. Allen beckoned the constable.
"This gentleman," said he, "will explain what is necessary for you to do."
"My dear Miss," began the constable, embarrassed, "it is very unpleasant of course for a daughter to give evidence agin her own father, an' I hope you may not have much to give that will go agin him; for your sake I hope it. But law and justice make it necessary for you to say what you know about this affair, before the Judge, today."
Alicia had listened silently to every word uttered by the officer of the law, as if she might discover some comfort in them for her heavy trouble; but when she found that they only showed her the influence which she could and must use in fixing her father's guilt, her despair quite overcame her fortitude, and she broke out into piteous sobbing, and, cries of, "Oh, my father! oh, my father!" Tears came into the eyes of all present.
"I guess," said the constable, "as the examination don't come off till three o'clock this afternoon, we'd better go home now, and send some of the women-folks to comfort her. 'Pears she'll cry herself sick at this rate."
"Miss Newcome, I am obliged to return to the village now to attend to the affairs connected with my friend's death," said Allen,
