The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-01
THE QUALITY or MERCY
A. Story Of Contemporary
American Life.

BY WILLIAM DEAN HoWELLS
ps,yasss issi. ~ WE. Hewsrs,
RAlT TIVE
CHAPTER XVII
Hilary had TO yield 10 the pressure on him
and send detectives to look into the question
Of Northwick's fate at the soene Of the acci-
dent. Il was Z formal violation Of his promise
10 Northwick that he should have three days
unmolested: put perhaps the circumstances
would have justified Hilary to any business
man. and Il could really matter nothing to the
defaulter dead or alive. In either case he was
out OF harms way. Matt, all the same. felt the
ghastliness Of being there on the same errand
with these agents Of his father. and reaching
tho Same facts with them. At moments II
seemed to him As II no were tacitly working
In agreement with them. for the Same pur-
pose - we'll as to the Sumo end: but he would
not lot this illusion fasten upon him. and he
kept faith with suzette in the last degree. He
left nothing undone which she could ask
II he had done He invented some quite
useless things to do. and did them. to rive his
conscience no cause against him afterward.
The Are had left nothing but few charred
fragments OF the wreck. There had been no
means Of stopping II. and It had almost COM
pletely swept away the cars In which It had
broken out. Certain Of tho cars to the wind.
ward were not burnt: these lay capsized
beside the track. bent and twisted and burst
rallied cars as Matt had seen them In the illus
trated papers. The locomotive. pitched into
heavy drift. was like some dead monster that
had struggled hard for It's life Whore
tho IRE had ragged there was Q wide black
patch in the wilderness glistening everywhere
else: there were ashes. and WRITTEN iron
work: and bits OF charred woodwork: but
nothing to tell who or how many had died
there. II was certain that the porter and the
parlor car conductor were among tho lost: and
his list Of passengers had persisted with the
conductor: there was only left with the opera
tor tho original Of that telegram. asking to
have chair reserved in the Pullman from
Wellwater. and signed with Northwioks name.
but those different initials. which had given
rise to the report Of his death.
This was the definite fact which Matt could
carry back with him to Northwiok's family.
and this they knew already. It settled moth
ing; Il left the question Of his death just whore
It was before. But Matt struggled with 1t as
II It were some quite new thing. and spent
himself In trying to determine how he should
present It to them. In his own mind he had
very great doubt whether Northwick was In
inc 8CClO0uIs anu WuOLuoE Iuot uOcpoSSA WOS
not trick. Q ruse to cover UP the real course
Of his flight But then there was no sense In
his trying to hide his track. for he must have
known that as yet there was NO pursuit II tho
telegram was ruse. It was q ruse to conceal
tho fact that Northwick was still In the coun-
try. and had not gone to Canada at all But
Matt could not imagine any reason for such Q
ruse; the motive must be one Of those illogi-
cal impulses which sometimes govern crimi-
mails. In any case Matt could not impart his
conjectures to the poor women who must be
awaiting his return with such cruel anxiety.
II the man were really dead It would simplify
the matter beyond the power OF any other TACT:
Matt perceived how Il would mitigate the sit
uatton for his family: he could understand
how people should hold that suicide was the
only thing left for man In Northwick's strait
He blamed himself for coming moment to
that ground. and owned the shame Of his In
terested motive: but 1t was. nevertheless. .
relief which he did not know how to refuse
when 6uzette Northwick took what he had TO
tell - final proof that her father was dead
She said that she had been talking II all over
with her sister. and they wsro sure Of It: they
were prepared for It: they expected him to toll
them 90. -p.
Matt tried to have her realize that he had not
told her so: and he urged. as far as he could.
the grounds for hoping that her father was not
In the accident
She put them all aside. The difference In tho
initials was really no difference; and besides.
and above all. there was the fact that II her
father were anywhere alive. he must have seen
tho report OF his death BY this time. and sent
some word. made some sign for their relief
She was doubIy sure Of this. because he was SO
snxiously thought OF them when they were
separated. He expected them to notify him Of
every slight change In their plans when they
were away. and always telegrsphed as to his
own. The only mystery was his going to Can
ada without letting them know his plans be-
fore or afterward. It must have been upon
some very suddenly urgent business that took
his mind on everything else.
Matt silently hung his head. dresding lest
she should ask him what he thought. and WON
dering how he must answer II she did. He
perceived that no had no choice but to lie. II
she asked him: but when no volunteered
nothing. she did not ask him.
her: but he could see that she had lived long
since their parting. He thought. THAT is the
way she will look as she grows old" The DELI
cate outline Of her cheeks showed . slight
Strengthening Of its curve; her lips were
pinched: the aquiline jut OF her nose was
sharpened. There was no sign OF tears in her
eyes: but Adeline wept and constantly dried
her tears with her handkerchief She ao-
cepted her afaiction meekly. as Suzette &C.
cepted It proudly. and she seemed to leave all
the coniectures and conclusions to her sister.
suzette was In the exaltation which death
first brings to the bereaved. when people say
that they do not realize It yet, and that they
will feel II later. Then they 60 about. espe-
ciAlly II they arc women. In sort OF historical
strength: they speak calmly OF what has hap
pened: they help those beyond the immediate
circle OF their loss to bear up against 1t; these
look TO see them break suddenly under the
stress Of their bereavement, and wonder at
their imprisoned fortitude. ~
Matt knew neither how to stay nor to set
away, It seemed intrusive to linger. and inhu.
man TO 60 whom he had told tho little he had to
tell. Suzette had been 30 still. 90 cold. In re-