Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-08-09
CHAPTER YI-THE REVELATION


"Thlrd, who interested herself most
strangely in your blood-stained green silk
dress, even to dyeing it? Phoebe Dole.
Fourth. who was caught in lie, while
trying to force the guilt of the murder
upon an innocent man? Phoebe Dole"
Mr. Dix looked at me. had gathered
myself together. THAT proves nothing"
/ said. "There is no motive in her case"
"There is motive"
"What is itf'
"Maria Woods shall tell you this after
noon"
He then wrote:
Fifth, who was seen to throw a buns
die down the old well, in the rear of Mar
tin Fairbanks house, at l o'clock in the
morning? Phoebe Dole"
WAS she-seenf' | gasped Mr. Dix
nodded. Then he wrote:
Sixth, who had a strong motive, which
had been in existence many years ago?
Phoebe Dole"
Mr. Dix laid down his pen and looked
at me again. "Well, what have you to
sayY' he asked.
at is impossiblep'
"Why p
'She is a woman"
"a man could have fred that pistol, as
she tried to do"
at would have taken a mans strength
to kill with the kind of weapon that was
used" | said
mo, it would not. No great strength
Is required for such a blow"
but she is a womanw
Crime has no sex"
but she is a good woman, a church
member. | heard her pray yesterday
afternoon. 1t is not in character"
1T is not for you. nor for me, nor for
any mortal intelligence to know what is,
or is not in character" said Mr.. Dix.
He arose and went away. | could only
stare at him in a half dazed manner.
Maria Woods came this afternoon TAX
ing advantage Of Phoebe's absence on
dressmaking errand. Maria has aged
ten years in the last few weeks. Her
hair is white, her cheeks are fallen in,
her pretty color is gone.
May l have the ring-he gave me
forty years agoT she faltered.
l gave it to her; she kissed it, and
sobbed like a child. phoebe took it
away from me before" she said, but
she sha'n't this time
Maria related with piteous little sobs
the story of her long subordination TO
Phoebe Dole. This sweet child-like
woman had always been completely un.
der the sway of the others stronger ma.
ture. The subordination went back be.
yond my fathers original proposal to her;
she had, before he made love to her AZ a
girl, promised Phoebe she would not
marry, and it was Phoebe who had, by
representing 10 her that she was bound
by this solemn promise, led her to write the
letter to my father declining his offer, and
sending back the ring.
And after all, we were going to get
married, if he had not-died," she said.
He was going TO give me this ring again,
and he had had the other date put in. l
should have been So happy"
She stopped and stared at me with hor-
ror-strickeu inquiry.
What was Phoebe doing out in your
back yard at l O'Clock that night" she
cried.
What do you meant l returned.
Il saw Phoebe come out of your back
shed door at l o'clock that very night.
She had bundle in her arms. She went
along the path about as far as the old
well; then she stopped down and seemed
To be working at something. When she
got up she didn't have the bundle. | was
watching ut our back door | thought |
heard her go out little while before,
and went down stairs, and found that
door unlocked. | went in quick, and up
to my chamber, and into my bed, when
she started home across the field. Pretty
soon | heard her come in; then l heard
the pump going She slept down Aairs;
she went on to her bedroom. What was
she doing in your back yard that mighty"
You must ask her." said l. felt my
blood running cold.
I've been afraid to-" moaned Maria
Woods. shes been dreadful strange
lately. | wish that book agent was going
to stay at our house"
Maria Woods went home in about an
hour. l got ribbon for her, and she has
my poor fathers ring concealed in her
withered bosom. Again, l cannot be-
lieve this.
Thursday.-It is all over; Phoebe Dole
has confessed! l do not know now in
exactly what way Mr.. Dix brought it
about-how he accused her of her crime.
After breakfast l saw them coming
across the field. Phoebe came first, ad-
vancing with rapid strides like man;
Mr.. Dix followed, and my fathers poor
old sweetheart. tOttered behind, with her
handkerchief ut her eyes just as | no
ticed them the front door bell rang; |
found several people there, headed by the
high sheriff. They crowded into the sit
ting-room just as Phoebe Dole came rush
ing in, with Mr.. Dix and Maria Woods.
Il did it, Phoebe cried out to me. Il
am found out, and have made up my
mind to confess. She was going to marry
your father found it out. l stopped it
once before. This time l knew couldn't,
unless l killed him. She's lived with me
in that house for over forty years. There
are other ties as strong as the marriage
one, that are just as sacred. What right
had he to take her away from me and
break up my home?
Il overheard your father and Rufus
Bennett having words. / thought folks
would think he did it. l reasoned it all
out l had watched your cat go in that
little door. l knew the shed door I'M
hooked, l knew how long my arm was;
thought l could undo it. l stole over
here little after midnight. l went all
round the house to be sure nobody was
awake Out in the front yard l hap
pened to think my shears were tied on
my belt with a ribbon. and united them.