ceived the table already spread for dinner, in the center of which was a dish of delicious-looking strawberries.
"Ah," said he, making a poor attempt at a smile, "I hope you will allow me a dish of this beautiful fruit, though I have come uninvited."
"But he did not release the little hands that they might serve him; he only looked anxiously in the changing countenance, with a weakness at his heart which he could not overcome.
And Alicia herself, between embarrassment at his singular manner and a conviction of some impending calamity, was unable to extricate her hands from his grasp, or to ask for an explanation of his visit. How long Allen would have remained tongue-tied on the subject he had come about is uncertain, had he not caught the sound of excited voices approaching, and felt the necessity of breaking the news before they should reach the house.
"Poor little girl!" he hurriedly whispered, "I have bad news for you. Your father is under arrest—"
The sentence remained unfinished, for he felt her hands drawn suddenly out of his, as she sunk fainting at his feet.
He had laid her on her father's bunk, and was endeavoring to restore her to consciousness, when the constable made his appearance, attended informally by two citizens of Fairview. The constable, who was a tender-hearted man in his rough way, was very much impressed in this instance with the unpleasantness of his duty.
"So she tuk it hard, did she, poor thing! I'm glad I didn't see her faint away. Never could bear to have women folks mixed up in sich scrapes; they allus take on so, a man feels mighty bad to see 'em."
Allen made no reply. He was thinking of the part he must act in this sorrowful business, and feeling beforehand how that young creature would hate him as her father's' accuser, and what desolation he should be instrumental in bringing upon her.
"Why, she's nothing but a child," remarked another man, peering over the constable's shoulders. "I wonder if she's all the housekeeper Newcome had—the old wretch!"
"I don't see where she got her beauty from," was the comment of the third person; "she's mighty pretty, that's certain."
"Sit down, gentlemen, if you please," said Allen, a little impatiently; "you keep the fresh air from her."
"She's a-comin' to now," observed the constable, as he walked to the porch and sat down on the steps.
The other men had less delicacy, and hung about, as near as they felt it safe, in the neighborhood of the reviving girl. Allen wanted to thrash them; but restrained his indignation by silence. Carefully as a woman he arranged and composed the disordered dress, watching for the first convulsive signs of recovery, which were heralded by frequent faint moanings.
"Oh, my father!" at last broke from the pale lips. Several
