The Land Claim — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

26 THE LAND-CLAIM. 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, glooraily, 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, to-day.” 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. “T 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, with an effort, forcing himself,to speak. “Shall I send some one to you ?” “Oh, no! oh, no! I do not wish to see any one, unless I could see my father,” she added, looking inquiringly toward the constable. “Must say no to that, young lady, though I am real sorry - Commicloooks.corn