The morning call., 1892-08-12
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

UlIlUU Hid hNllhu hflUhNUh.
am the last surviving witness who ap-
peared CT the trial. and unless l reduce to
writing what l happen to know there will
be no true record of the particulars left
after MY death.
In the town of Betminster aud round
about II for many a good English mile l am
known as Mrs Roundwood. ! have never
been married, and, at my present age, never
shall be. My enc living relative, at the past
time of which / now write, was my sister,
married to a man named Maroon. He was
settled in France as a breeder of horses.
Now and then he crossed over TO England
Oh his business and then went back again
took such a dislike to Maroon that l re-
fused to be present at the wedding. This
led, Of course, to q quarrel. Nephews and
nieces, il there had been any. might per-
haps have reconciled me TO my sister. As
il was we never wrote to each other after
she went to France with her husband. And
/ never saw her again until she lay on her
deathbed. So much about myself 10 begin
with.
Circumstances. which 1t is neither needful
nor pleasant 10 dwell on in this place, oeea-
stoned the loss of my income while | was
but to make the best of a bad bargain aud
to earn my bread by going out to service.
Having provided myself with good recon-
mendstons l applied for tie vacant place
of housekeeper to Farmer Fairweather.
had heard of him as wel-tO-do bachelor,
eultvatiug land nigh on TO five miles in a
northerly direction beyond Betmnster. But
/ positively declare that / had never been
In bis house or exchanged word with him
on the day set forth for the farm.
The door was opened TO me by nice
little girl. noticed that her manners were
pretty, and her voice was a remarkably
strong one for her age. She had, | may
also mention. the finest blue eyes | ever
raw In aEY young creatures face. When
Ihe looked at you there was just cast, as
they call 1t, in her left eve. barely notice
able, and not defoTmitY In any sense of
The word. The one drawback that l could
ind in this otherwise pleasing young per-
IOn was that she had rather a sullen look.
md that she seemed TO be- depressed in
lpirits.
But, like most people, the girl was ready
InOugh to talk about herself. | found that
Ter name was Dina CoOnb and that she
lad lost bOtn her parents. Farmer Fair
weather was her guardian, as well as her
Incle, and held fortune OF $4,000 ready
md waiting for her when she came of age.
i hope you are coming to stay here"
he said.
This seemed, l thought rather a sudden
.ancy to take to a stranger.
why do you want me TO stay with your"
asked.
She hung her head and had nothing to
lay. The farmer came in from his fields
md / entered on my business with him. At
he same time | noticed with some surprise
hat Dina slipped from the room bY one
door when her uncle came in by the other
lie was pleased with my recommends
lions, and he civilly offered me sufficient
hor f1t- -
upon, and not (as some farmers are) SLOW
emily IN his dress. So far from being an
enemy to this miserable man, As has been
falsely asserted, gladly engaged to take
my place az the farm on the next day at u
o'clock noon.
A friendly neighbor at Betminster, one
Mr.. Couch. gave NE cast In his gig. We
arrived at the appointed time. While Mr..
Couch waited to bring my box after
me l opened the garden gate aud rang
the dooTben. There was nc answer. | had
just rung once more when l heard a scream
IN the house. Ihsse were the words that
followed the scream. in which l recognized
Rs the voice of Dina COomb:
'Oh. uncle. don't kill mep'
l was too frightened to know hat to do.
Dir. Couch, having heard that dreadful cry,
as did, jumped out Of the gig and tried
the door. 1t was not fastened. lust as he
was stepping over the threshold the farmer
bounced out of a room that opened into the
passage and asked what he did there.
My good neighbor answered.
Here. sir. is Mrs. ROundwood, come to
your house by your appointment"
Thereupon Farmer Fairweather said he
had changed mis- mind and meant to do
without housekeeper. He spoke In an
angry manner, and took the door In his
hand, as II he meant 10 shut us out But
before he could do this We heard a moaning
In the room that he had just come out Of.
Says my neighbor-
There is somebody hurt, Pm afraid"
Us IL your niece. sir?" says
The farmer slammed the door in our faces.
and then locked IL against us. There was
no help for 1t but to go back to Betminster
MI couch, cautious man 10 all things
recommended that we should wait aw hile
before we spoke of what had happened, on
the chance OF receiving an explanation and
apology from the farmer when he recovered
bis temper l agreed to this. But there /
particular friend OF mine) into my conf
dence. The next day it was all over the
town. Inquiries were made; some of the
laborers on the farm said strange things:
the Mayor aud Aldermen heard Of what
was going on. When next saw Farmer
Fsirweather he was charged with the muir
der OF his niece, and / was called, along
with Mr.. Couch aud the laborers, as wit
ness against him.
The ms and the outs OF law are altogether
OeJobu mo' can Oniy report that Dina
Coomb was certainly missing, and this. taken
with what Mr..GOueh and | had seen and
beard. was, as the lawyers said, the case
against the farmer. His defense was that
Dina was bad girl, He found 1t neces-
sary. standing toward her 10 the place of
her father. 10 correct his niece with a
leather strap from time to time; and we up
set his temper by trying to get into his
house when strangers we're not welcome,
and might misinterpret his actions. AS for
the disappearance of Dina, Ee could only
conclude that she had run away, and where
she bad gone to was more than he had been
able to discover. To this the law answered !:
lou have friends to help you and you
are rich enough to pay the expense of q
strict search. Find Dina Coonb. and pro-
ance her here 10 prove what you have said.
We VIII give you reasonable time. Make
the best use of it,"
Ten days passed and we, the witnesses
were Summoned again. How Ii came ahout
don't know; every body in Betminster was
talking of it: Farmer Fairweather's niece
had been found. The girl told her story,
IL was all plain aud straightforward. and
had Just begun TO wonder what / was
wanted Tor, when up got The lawyer who
had the farmers interests in charge. and
asked that the Witnesses might be or
dered to leave the court.
We were turned out under care of an
usher, and were sent for az the authorities
wanted US. to speak as TO the identity of