The sun., 1891-11-08
THE QUALTYOP MERCY
A Story Of Contemporary
American Life.

sy WILLIAM DEAN HoWELLS.
osyynss. 1891. ~ v. .. sswsu.,
CHAPTER XXI.
Hilary could mot help himself. though whom
=. toot the legal steps he was obliged to. Il
s..r, NV sd TO him that he was wilfully urging on
ths persecution Of that poor young girl and
that poor old maid. II was really ghastly to 60
through the form OF indictine man who. 80
s.r AZ any one could prove TO the CONTRARY. had
nassed with his sins before the tribunal that
ssarches hearts and Judges motives rather
ehan acts. But still the processes had to so
A and Hilary had TO prompt them. II was
All talked over In Hilary's family. whore he
"a pitied and forgiven In that affection which
Ss.ns us simple and sincere In spite Of tho
,,.sts ne wear TO the world. His wife and his
.hildren knew how kind he WAS. and how much
hs suffered In this business which. from
ths arst, he had tried TO Be 90 lenient in. When
hs wished 10 talk Of II. they all agreed that
Nau must not vex him with his theories and
Ma opinions: and whom he did not talk Of II.
no one must menuon IL
Hilary felt the peculiar hardships Of his po-
sttion al the more keeuly because he had .
eouscience that would not permit him TO shirk
bio duty. He had used his influence the
vdsht Of his character and business reputs
a. control the action Of the Board toward
Northvick whom the defslcation became
Known. and now he was doubly bound to re-
snond to the wishes Of the directors In pro-
csedine against him. Most Of them believed
frat Northwick was still alive: those who were
nat surs regarded IL as . public duty to have
MIN indicted at any rate. and they all voted
that Hilary should mako tho necessary COM
nlsint Then Hilary had no choice but to obey.
Another man In his place might have resigned.
INIT he could not, for he knew that he was
finally responsible for Northwiok's escape.
IA made II no less his duty to find out Just
how much hardship It would work NorthMok's
dsushters, and he tried to lend them money.
Hut SuSetts answered for both that her father
had loft them some money whom he went away:
and Hilary could only send Louise to explain
how he must formally appear In the legal pro-
eeedines; he allowed Louise to put whatever
warmth Of color she wished into his regrets
and into his advice that they should consult
lawyer. II was not business like: 1t were
generally known Il might be criticised: but In
fs,t ths. hs could always tell hie cs!tice 70 go
science
Itseemsd 70 Louise. ak nrst. that eukette was
unwilling TO separate her father from his
ofacs or fully to appreciate his forbesrancA
She treated her own fathers course ~ some-
thing above suspicion. - something which ho
Vss driven to by enemies, whom he would
soon have returned to put to confusion. II he
had lived. II made no difference to her and
Adeline what was done: their father was safe
now. and some day his name would be cleared
Adeline added that they were In the homo
where he had left them: Il was their house.
and no one could take Il from them.
Louise compsssionstely sssented 20 evefy.
thing. She thought suEette might have been
q little moro cordial In the way she received
her tathers regretA But she remembered
that suEetts was always undemonstrattve. and
che did not blame her. after her drst disap-
pointment She could go the sort Of neglect
thas1as already falling upon the house. the
sxprssdon In housekeeping terms Of the
despair thst wss In their minda Tho sisters
did not ery. but Louise cried . good deal In
pity for their eoriornnesA. and ae last her tears
softsned thsm into something like compass
sion for themselves They had her stay to
abe had better stay. The lunch WAS 90 badly
cooked and 20 meagrs that Louise fanoied
they wore beginning to starve themselves. and
wanted 30 CRY into her tea cup. The woman
who waited wore such dismal black and went
about with her eyes staring and her mouth
tightly pursed. and smelt family Of horseA II
was Mrs. Newton. She had let Louise In whom
she came, and she was the only servant whom
the girl saw.
su.stte said nothing about their plans for
the future. and Louise did not like TO ask her.
6he felt as II she was received under nsg Of
truoe. and that there could DO no confidence
between them. Both Of the sisters seemed to
stand on the defensive with her: but when she
started to come away. Suzette put on her hat
and Jacket. and said she would 20 to tho avenue
gate With her. and meet Simpson. who was
coming to take Louise back to the station.
TWAS clear day OF middle March: the sun
rode high In blue sky. and some jays Dragged
and feared In tho sprueeA The frost was not
yet out Of the ground. but the shaded road was
dry under foot
They talked at arms length Of the weathse.
and then Susstts said abruptly. "of course.
Louise. your father will have to do what they
want him to- sssinst-pspa. understand
that"
"Oh. SUE
Don't! Ishoule Wish hin b know that
wasn't stupid about It"
I'm sure" Louise sdvsntursd. "hs would
do anything to help youl"
6uSette put By the feeble expression Of more
good feeling. "We don't believe papa has
done anything wrong. or anything he wouldn't
have made right II he had lived. We shall not
lot them take his property from us II We can
help IL"
"of course noti I'm sure papa wouldn't Wish
youto"
1T would bs oonfessins that they were
night and We will never do that But don't
eaAnie your father. and want him to know II"
Louise stopped short and kissed Suzetta In
her nhectionate optimism + seemed to her for
tho moment that all the trouble was over now.
she had never realized anything hopelessly
wrong In the affair: 1t was like q misunder-
standing that could be explained away. II the
different people would listen to reason.
Sue released herself and said. looking away
nom her friend: 1T has been hard. He 10
dead: hnt wa hav vauJt vav hoon alIovvad In