The Solitary Farm

rsley, in her usual morning dress, simply made, for domestic purposes, fell back from the motionless girl, and gripped the table in the centre of the room. Her face was white, her figure limp; and

z is dead! your father has been murdered. He's lying a corpse in his study. And oh-oh-o

r feet, with every sense alert and ready to be used. Seizing the ewer from the wash-stand, she d

oh, yes, she had fallen unaccountably asleep. Slumber had overtaken her at the very moment when she was preparing to descend from the window, in order to-to-to--. Bella uttered a wild cry, and the ebbing

dn't you hear? What's come to you, Bella? Your father has been murdered. I got up this morning as

n this room by you, Aunt Rosamund. I fell asleep after-after-

sked Mrs. Coppe

bound for the table, and took up the empty cup. Some dregs of tea remained, which she tasted. Th

ng-minded woman, she was now reduced to a markedly idiotic condition under the stra

d not feel at all sleepy. Now I have a disagreeable taste in my mouth, and my head aches. The

your tea, Bella? Your father poured it out himself in the study, wh

forehead. "My father evidently drugged the tea to keep

screamed, and made for th

, and knowing her father's violent character, the girl could scarcely blame the young man. She expected that this would happen, and so had been anxious to intervene as a peacemaker. But the drugged tea-she felt certain that it had been drugged by her father-had prevented her doing what she wished. Now Huxham was dead, and Lis

in. Meantime she would hold her tongue as to having seen him enter the house. But if anyone else h

dy, and when I returned I let myself in by the back door and went to bed quietly. You know, Jabez always objected to my seeing Henry, so I wished to avoid trouble. Th

jerk, but followed the elder woman down

oor nerves! Never, never shall I get over this shock, disagreeable as Jabez always was to me. And he

her send fo

. I could not find Mr. Pence at home, so left the note for him.

lla anxiously. She was wondering if the preache

etch, the viper, the beast! I must get some rum. I can't stay in this room without some rum. I shall faint, I know I shall. What's the time? Seven o'clock. Oh, dear me, so late! I must send Tunks for the police. He has to be here to see your father, and oh, dear me, he can't see your father unless he goe

r on the same. The clothes over the heart had been pierced by some extremely sharp instrument, which had penetrated even through the thick pea-jacket worn by the dead man. There was blood on the cloth and on the floor, and although ignorant of medical knowledge, Bella judged that death must have been almost instantaneous. Otherwise there would have been signs of a struggle, as Captain Huxham would not have submitted tamely to death. But the casement was fast closed, the furniture was quite order

perhaps suspecting that there was danger, had unexpectedly turned, only to be stabbed. When he fell dead, the criminal took the keys of the safe from the dead man's pocket, and committed the robbery.

suredly had come to the house-she could swear to that herself-and if he had quarrelled with Huxham, he might have struck him in a moment of anger. But there was

tive for so timid and good-living a man as the preacher to slay and rob. So far as Bella knew, Pence did not want money, and-since he wished to make her his wife-it was imperative that Huxham should live

ld not be guilty of so vile an act." So she tried to comfort herself,

ack eyes peering from under tangled black hair. Lean and lithe, and quick in his movements, he betrayed his gypsy blood immediately, to the most un

dead, "so just you go to the village and tell the policeman t

ed the body," she confessed with a shudder.

. "I went home nigh on seven o'clock, and was with my g

tartly, "but I thought you might have seen

you, ma'am," said Tunks, addressing himself to th

would be at seven, as I came up and saw you, Bella, a few minu

y, and I got back home. I never came near this house again until thi

your master last?"

e I had my tea. He wanted to reduce my wages, too, and I said I'd give him notice if he did

rshely, and tell the policeman to come here. Bella," she moved to the door, "let us

l drearily, as she went into the hall, and wa

oman, "one person cannot murder a

ks were away, and I was locked in my room, so anyone could e

ne?" asked Mrs. C

ith unnecessary loudness; "how coul

cried Tunks, pric

ou should be half way to the village by this time. Miss Bella was having wakeful nights, and he

when the man was hurrying down the path, ea

fiant. "Why do you call it a lie? You did complain of sleepless nigh

"but I merely slept badly because of the hot wea

sing her head. "What does it matter. I

ed up the cup containing the dregs of tea. My father no doubt

nothing of the drugging at the inquest, as ther

s character, Aunt Rosamund. Of course, he had no business to dr

on with that Lister p

ng. "I have a right to marry him if I choose, and I don't care if all t

hands of the entire affair, "say what you like; but don't

t remark promptly. "Why should I find myself in an unpleasant

sley piously and with a shudder, "but you c

my bedroom, as

t you'd better wash out that cup

t explain further if necessary. But I'll say why I believe my fa

," groaned Mrs. Coppersley dismally. "

asked Bel

bez never was the brother he should have been to me. But a daughter's

the way he be

firm hand over y

both to you and to me my father acted like a cruel tyrant, and that while he was alive we could

others. But I was a good sister to him, in spite of his horrid ways. I'm sure my life's been spent in looking aft

to the study-"in the house. Go and make yourself tidy, aunt

. "He always brought trouble on everyone. Even as a little boy, he behaved like the pirate

ve it analysed so as to prove to herself the fact of the drugging. She knew perfectly well that her father had attended to the tea himself, evidently to render her helpless in case she meditated flight with Cyril. And in dong so, he had indirectly brought about his own death, for had

o. And yet she had assuredly seen him enter the house. If she could only have seen him depart; but the drug had prevented that welcome sight. Pence might have struck the blow, but Pence had no reason to do so, and in f

able to marry him af