The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-09
PRIZE DETEcTIV { STORIES. No. ie.

the story OF her long subordination to
Phoebe Dole. This sweet, child-likt
woman had always been completely under
the sway of the others stronger nature.
The subordination went back beyond my
fathers original proposal TO her; she
had, before he made love TO her as girl,
| promised Phoebe she would not marry,
and 1t was Phoebe who had, by repre-
senting 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, f" she said
lie was going to give me this ring
| again, and he had had the other date put
In. l should have been so happyl"
She stopped and stared at me with
! horror-stricken inquiry.
what was Phoebe doing out in your
back yard at j O'Clock that night?" she
cried.
what do you mean?" j returned.
u saw Phoebe come out of your back
sned door at 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. l was watching at our back
door. i thought heard her go out n
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 heard the pump going.
she slept down stairs; she went on to her
bedroom. What was she doing in your
back yard that night?'
You must ask her. said /. / felt nv
blood running cold.
"l've been afraid to-" moaned Maria
Woods. "She's been dreadful strange
lately wish that book agent was going
TO stay at our house,
Maria Woods went home in about an
hour. got ribbon for her, and she has
my poor fathers ring concealed in her
Wlthered bosom. Again, cannot be-
Thursday. 1T is all over; Phoebe Dole
mas confessed! / do not know now in
exactly what way Mr.. Dix brought il
apout--how he accused her OF her crime.
AFTER breakfast i saw them coming across
.he neld. phoebe came first, advancing
,oi,p ~itn rapid strides Ike man; Mr.. Dix
ioilowed, and my fathers poor old sweet
heart tottered behind, with her handker-
chlei at her eyes. just as 1 noticed them
the 'front.' door bell rang; / found several
people there, headed by the high sheriff
Ihey crowded into the sitting room, Just
ss AZ Tmoepe m Doie came rushing in, with |
Mr.. DIX and Maria Woods.
~ did it!' Phoebe cried out 10 me |
: am found out, and have made up INV |
mind TO confess. She was going to marry |
your father---I found 1t out. i stopped IL |
once before. Thisstime knew / couidn,t |
unless killed him. She's lived with mo |
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 ne 10 take her away from me and I
break up my home?
, Il overheard your father and Rufus
bennett having words / thought folk
would think he did IL. reasoned il ali
Iu.; ;u.; 1 nad watched your cat go in that
lttie door. knew the shed door un-
i.ookeu, 1 knew how long my arm was;
nous NJ 4 could undo II. i stole over
lere little after midnight. / went Nil
ound the house to be sure nobody was
wake. Out In the front yard happened
think my shears were tied on nv belt
'ith ribbon, and united them.
1 thought 1 put the ribbon in nv
ocSet-lt was piece of yellow ribbon
Ut suppose didn't because they found
aiterward, and thought 1t came off :
our young mans whip.
went around to the shed door. nm
ooked IL and went in. The moon gave
ght enough. ] got out your fathers over.
is from the kitchen closet; knew where {
ley We're. / went through sitting-room q
the parlor. In there slipped off INV j
ress and my skirts and put. on the over,
Is. put handkerchief over nv face :
auVihg az only my eyes exposed. | crept 4
~, ~ snen INTO tne sitting room; there 1 /,
sdroom. o WIG a
Your father was fast asleep. n wos 81
ch hot night the clothes were throws s.