Bisbee daily review., 1913-09-25
CHAPTER n.
 Wherein l Break the News.

nz E ASTER HAMPDON," said
 M Mistress Lucy at last, since
 I'VE nobody else seems ID be
 about. suppose you attempt the task
 She loosed her little foot from the stirrup and thrust it out toward me l am nothing of horseman. l was very early Spt to sea, and have q sailors aWEwaTdness with horses. Naturally. l did not know how lady should be dismounted- stepped over to her. seized her about the waist with both hands. lifted her bodily from the saddle and set her down gently on the gravel She looked at me very queerly and gave a faint shriek as her weight came upon my arms. Indeed. I have TO doubt that held her tightly.
 Il dare say there is not a man among my fathers friends or mine who could have done that, Master Hampdon," said she smiling a little and looking flushed and excited.
 '''Tis no great feat" said l stupidly enough. T have lifted bigger -.womenr' flashed out Mistress Lucy, slightly drowning up at'me. Things" l replied. .sIt amazes me-" she said. T have | never been diSmounted that way be- l fore. However. you always were ! stronger than most men. even as a ! boy. There seems to be no groom | about The place is wretchedly sery- | ed. Will you take my horse to the sta ] blesT' she asked me. ! There was a certain fattery to me | in that request. If l had not shown
 her how strong was in all probability sbe would have thrown me the bride and with a nod toward the stables to indicate her wishes. would have left
 the without a word.
 Have you seen my father this morn
 ing? she asked as paused before
 her.
 As luck would have it. while she spoke a sleepy groom came round the
 house. flung the reins to him, bade
 him take the horse away and turned
 to my lady.
 Madam" said I. my voice thick
 ening and choking. ''l have seen your
 noble father this morning"
 There was something in my voice
 and manner. great stupid fool that I
 was. that instantly spprised her that
 something was wrong. With one swift step she was by my side. "Wkere:" "Tn the spinney." What does he there at this hour7" Nothing 
 T don't understand" "Sir Geoffrey,"-- I began racking my brains what to say next and how to convey the awful tidings. She made a sudden Sep or two in my direction, then turned toward the . coppice. her suspicious fully aroused But now l ventured upon a famjl- iarity-that is, 1 turned and caught
 her arm. 'T will see him myself" she began
 resoluteiy.
 Madam" said swiftly. you can not"
 Master Hampdon," she said. some
 thing dreadful has happened" I nodded
 This was breaking it gently with a
 vengeance. but what could I do? She always did twist me around her little finger. and l was always more or less helpless before her. l admit that
 am still, for that matter. although she
 will not have it so. What is t? Is my fathsr-what is he doing in the spinney? He never ! rises at this hourY'
 Mistress wIiberforce." I said, you
 come of brave stock. and the time . for your courage is now" ' s1s my father deadT' she asked. aft . CT sudden. awful stiffness. l nodded while she stared at me like , one possessed. Killed in a duelY she whispered shook my head . Mistress" said I. "be died by bis , own hand" . "Oh. my God" she cried, eiappsns , her hands to her face and reelins , back
 , I caught her about the waist sh.