"
Morris staggered a little, then drawing her hand through his arm, he led
her to the carriage. She shrank back when she saw the judge and the sheriff
on the front seat; but Morris saying, "They must hear your story, dear,"
she stepped in.
"We are very thankful to see you, Mrs. Morris," the judge said, without
turning his head, when the sheriff had touched up the horse and they moved
away; "and if you feel able to tell us how it all happened, it'll save time
and ease your mind. This is Mr. Partin, the sheriff."
Mrs. Morris looked at the backs of the men in front of her; at their heads
that were so studiously held in position that they could not even have
glanced at each other; then up at her husband, appealingly.
"Tell it," he said, quietly, and laid his hand on hers that were wrung
together in her lap. "You sent Aggie to catch the chickens, and the dog
went with her?"
"Yes," fixing her eyes on his; "and I sent"--she stopped with a shiver, and
her husband said, "Abram"--"to cut some bushes to make a broom," she went
on. "I had been for a walk to the old house, and as I came back I laid my
gloves and a bit of vine on the steps, intending to return at once; but I
wished to see if the boat was safe, for the water was rising so rapidly.
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