The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-18

MALI he called to him. and Matt turned
about and sold. Hello. Caryll" and yielded
him sort Of absent-minded hand. while he
kept his face turned smilinely upon the men.
Some were holding the rails in position. and
another was driving In the spike that was to
rivetthe plate to the sleeper. He struck II with
exquisite accuracy from wide. free-handed
rhythmical swing OF his hammer
Beautiful Isn't q" said Matt Il never
see any sort OF manual labor. even the kinds
that are brutffied and demornlized by their
association with machinery. without thinking
how far the arts still como short Of the trades.
II any sculptor could feel It. what magnlh-
cent bas-relief just that thing would makef"
He turned round to look at the men again: In
their differapt poses Of undergraduates and
interest In their work. they had q beauty and
grace. in spite Of their clumsy dress. which en-
nobled the scene.
When Matt once more faced round. he
smiled seronely on his friend. Wade. who
know his temperament and his philosophy.
was deceived for the moment. Then you
don't share Miss Northwick's anxiety about
her father7" he began. as II Matt had been
dealing directly with that matter. and had been
giving his reasons for not being troubled
about Il. HIVE you heard anything yeti
But Of course you haven't Or"
Matt halted him. and looked down into his
face from his greater height with . sort Of
sobered cheerfulness. How much do you
know about Miss Northwick's father"
VERY little-nothing In fact but what she
and her sister showed me In The morning
paper. know they're In great distress about
him: Just met Miss Suxette and your sister.
and they told me should ind you at the
station"
Matt began to walk on again. II didn't
know but you had heard some talk from the
outside. Icame OF to escape the pressure Of
inquiry at tho station: people had found out
somehow that had been put In charge OF the
telegraphing whom the young ladies left. I
imagined they wouldn't follow me II went for
walk" he put his hand through wade's
arm. and directed their course across tho
tracks toward the street away from the station.
where Elbridge had walked his horses mp and
down the evening he met Northwick. 1T told
them to look out for me. II they got anything:
l should keep in sight somewhere. Isn't It
curious commentary on our state Of things"
he went on. that when any man in position
Of trust can't be accounted for twenty-four
hours after he leaves home. the businesslike
superstition Is that he has run away with
money that doesn't belong to himT
what do you mean. Matt"
"Imean that the popular belief In HatboroP
seems to be that Northwick was on his way to
Canada on the train that was wrecked"
Shocking. shookingr' said Wade. what
makes you think they believe that1"
Tho conjecture and speculation began IN
the station the moment Miss Northwick left II.
and before It could be generally understood that
I was there to represent her. suppose there
wasn't q man among Thorn that wouldn't have
trusted Northwick with all he had. or wouldn't
have felt that his fortune was made II North
wick had taken charge Of his money. In fact.
Iheard some Of them saying 90 before their
Difference for me shut their mouths. Yet
haven't doubt they all think he's an sbscond-
ingdefaulter."
"Ies shocking" said Wade. sadly. but I'm
afraid you're right These things are so COM
mon that people are subjected to suspicion on
no kind Of" But just at this juncture
Matt lifted his head from che moments revery
In which he seemed to have been far absent.
Have you seen much Of the family this win
ter1", -.
Eyes. . good deal" said Wade. They're
not Communicates. but they've been regular
attendants at the services. and I've been .
good deal at their house. They seem rather
lonely: they have very little to do with the
South Hatboro' people. and nothing at all with
the villagers. I don't know why they've spent
the winter here. OF course one hears all kinds
Of gossip. The gossips at South Hatboro say
that Miss Suzette was willing to be on With
young Wilmington again. and that she kept
the family here. But / place no faith in such
conjecture"
1T hasa rustic crudity." said Matt. But II
Jack Wilmington ever cared anything for the
girl. now's his chance to be man and stand
by her"
Something In Mats tone made Wade stop
and ask. What do you mean. Matt7 Is there
anything besides -"
Eyes" Matt took fresh grip Of his friends
arm. and walked him steadily forward. and
kept him walking in spite OF his involuntary
tendency to come to q halt every few steps, and
try to urge something that he never quite got
from his tongue. against the probability Of
what Matt was saying II mean that these
people are right In their suspicious"
"Right2"
my dear Caryl. there is no doubt whatever
that Northwick is o defaulter to the company
In very large amount It came out at
meeting Of the directors on Monday. He con-
fessed 1t. for he could not deny It in the face Of
the proof against him. and no was given q
number Of days to mako up bis shortage. He
was released on parole; 1t was really the best
thing. the wisest 40 well as the mercifullest,
the first chance TO run away. knew all about
the deialcation from my father just after the
meeting. There IL simply no question
aboutit."
Gracious powers !" said Wade. finally help
less to dispute the facts which he still did not
realize. And you think 1t possible-do you
suppose-imagine-that 1t was really he who
was In that burning carr What an awful fate"
An awful fate2" asked Matt. DO you
think SOP Yes. yours Is the safe ground In re-
gard to thing OF that kind-the only ground"
1.-THE only groundf"
Il was thinking Of my poor father" said
Matt. He said some sharp things to that
wretched creature at tho meeting of the Board
called him thief. and dare say other hard
told him that the best thing that
could happen to him was railroad accident
on his way home"
"Ahl"
"You seer When he read the account OF
that accident In the paper this morning. and
found name so much like Northwick's among
the victims. he was fearfully broken up. OF
course. He felt somehow as II he had caused
his death--I could see that, though OF course
he wouldn't admit anything OF the kind"