Page:The Land Claim.pdf/24

Rh

Allen, who was the accuser of Newcome, was asked if there were any other witnesses to appear at the preliminary trial of the man, he was forced, very much against his own feelings, to name Alicia Newcome as the only person who could, to his certain knowledge, give important evidence in the case. There were others, no doubt, who knew of the hostile feelings of the prisoner toward the murdered man, and himself also; and such persons were publicly asked to come forward and give in their evidence. As for the prisoner's daughter, it seemed cruel to oblige her to testify against her own father, and that she might not be too much alarmed at the summons, he proposed to go first and break the news to her.

The cabin of Thomas Newcome stood in the center of a clearing, on the sloping face of the bluff, overlooking the Iowa side of the river, and affording a glorious view up and down the Missouri for miles. The little square patch of cleared ground was walled about on three sides by thick woods, which living wall was everywhere festooned with wild grape-vines diffusing a delicious perfume. Below the house, along the path to the river, were clumps of wild plum-trees and gooseberry bushes, mixed with raspberry and elder, the fruit already defined in shape, and promising an abundant harvest.

The cabin's young mistress was busy preparing the midday meal, yet making frequent pauses in her work to stand in the little rustic porch shading the door, and gaze at the shining river, the exquisite blue of the sky, the luxuriant foliage of the spring—bursting out in song every now and then, as she thought what a glorious thing it is to live in such a world.

As Allen approached the house he caught the sound of the birdlike singing, and it almost paralyzed his limbs; for how could he so soon change that happy music to cries of anguish? He knew she was flitting back and forth, and round and about, for he could notice the changes in the sound of her voice as she did so. Just as he reached the porch, she had flitted to the door for another glance at the beautiful May landscape and smiling heavens, her flaxen curls prettily disordered by exercise, and such roses blushing on her cheeks as only blossom Out of English complexions, or our.Jew England ones.

But the roses faded, and the gay carol died on her lips, at the sight of her visitor. Involuntarily she stretched out her hands, as if to beg of him not to tell the news he brought. Allen took them in his own very tenderly, and led her into the house, where he per-