The sun., 1892-01-03
TAB QUALITY OF MERCY
A Story Of Contemporary
American Life.

oy VVIe.'NNb Sk-VNN lISvvGeSS,
Copyright. 1891. by W. D. Howslal
SECOND PART
CHAPTER VIII.
Adeline was in f1utter OF voleble foreboding
till Elbridge came back. She asked Suzette
whether she believed their father would get
| away; sho said she knew that Elbridge would
miss the train with that slow old mare. and
their father would be arrested. Weak as she
| was from tho sick bed she had left to welcome
him. she dressed herself carefully. 80 as to be
| ready for the worst: she was going to jail with
him II they brought him back: she had made
| up her mind to that From time to time
she went out AMI looked up the road
| to see II Elbridge was coming back alone. or
whether the officers were bringing her father:
| she expected they would bring him first to his
| family. She did not know why. suzette tried
to keep her indoors: to mako her lie down.
She refused. with wild upbraidings. She de-
clared that Suzette had never cared anything
for her father: she had wanted to give their
mothers property away to please the Hlarys:
and now that che was going to marry Matt
Hilary. she was perfectly Indifferent to every
thing else. She asked Suzette what had come
| over her.
Elbridge drove first to the stable and nut up
his horse when he came back. Then he walked
to the lodge to report.
rs he sate2 Did he get away? Where is
hc?" Adeline shrieked ut him before lie
| could get a word out.
Hos all right. Miss Northwick." Elbridge
answered. soothingly. Hes on his way back
| to Canady again"
Then I've driven him away!" she lamented
i've hunted him out Of his home. and shall
never SEQ him any more. Send for him Send
| for him! Bring him back. l tell you! Go right
straight after him and tell him said to come
back! What arc you standing there for?"
She fell fainting. Elbridse holped Suzette
| carry her up stairs to her bed and then ran to
get his wife to stay with them while he went
| for tho doctor.
Matt Hilary had been spending tho night at
the rectory with Wade. and he walked out to
take leave Of Suzette once more before he went
homo. He found the doctor Just driving
| nway. Miss Northwck seems not so we'll"
said the doctor. I'm very glad you happen
to be here. on all accounts. shall come again
| later in the day."
Matt turned from the shadow OF mystery the
doctors manner left. and knock ed ut the door.
| 1t was opened by Suzette almost before he
| touched it.
Come in." she said in low voice. whose
quality fended him from her almost rs much
as the conditional look she gave him. The ex-
cited babble OF the sick woman overhead
mixed with Mrs. Newton's nasal attempts to
quiet her. broke in upon their talk.
Mr. Hilary" said Suzette. formally, are
| you willing my father should come back, no
matter what happens?''
% II he wishes to come back. You know what
III have always said"
And you would not care If they put him in
PRISON."
| Il should care very much"
"You would be ashamed Of mer'
No! Neverl What has it to do with you?
"Then." she pursued. "he has come back
He has been here" She flashed all the fact
upon him in vivid. rapid phrases. and he lis
tened with an Intelligent silence that stayed
and comforted her as no words could have
DONE Before she had finished his arms were
| round her. and she felt how inalienably faith
| ful he was. And now Adeline is raving to
| have him come back again. and stay. She
| thinks she drove him away: she will die II
something can't be done. She says she would
not let him stay because-because you would
be ashamed Of US. She says would be
| ashamed"
| "Suzette! Sue" Adeline called down from
the chamber above. don't you let Mr.. Hilary
| 60 before get there. I want to speak TO him."
| And while they stared helplessly at each other
i
| shall. too! I'm perfectly rested now. and I
shall 20 down. 1 should think knew how
| felt. don't care what the doctor said and II
| you try to stop me" She came clattering
down the stairs in the boots which she had
pulled loosely on. and as soon rs sho showed
| her excited face at the door she began: "I've
thought out plan. Mr. Hilary. and want you
| should go and SEQ Mr.. Putney about 1t. You
ask him il it won't do. They can get father let
,,,N~ hail .,.Ia 1,,n l..
| his bail. and then. when there's trial. they
can take mo instead OF him. 1t won't matter to
the court which they have. as long as they have
somebody. Now. you go and ask Mr.. Putney
| know he'll say so. for he's thought Just as
| have about fathers case all along. Will you
go?"
"Wil you go up and lie down again. Ade-
line. II Mr.. Hilary will go?" Suzette asked.
like ono dealing with caprcious child.
what do you all want me to lie down for ?"
Adeline turned upon her I'm perfectly we'll.
And do You suppose I can rest. with such
thing on my mind? II you want me to rest
you'd better let him go and find out what Mr..
Putney says. / think we'd better all 90 to
Canada and bring father back with us. He
isn't fit to travel alone or with strangers. He
needs some one that understands his ways
and I'm going to him just as soon as Mr.. Put
ney approves Of my plan. and I know he will
But don't want Mr.. Hilary to lose any time
now. want to be In Quebec about as soon as
father is. Will you go2"
"Yes. Miss Northwlck." said Matt, taking
her tremulous hand. III 60 to Mr.. Putney
and I'll see my father again. and whatever can
be done to save your father any further suffer-
ing. or yourself"
II don't care for myself" she said. plucking
her hand away. I'm young and strong. and
can bear 1t. But it's father I'm so anxious
about"
She began to cry. and at look from suzetts
Matt left them. As he walked along up toward
the village In mechanical compliance with
Adeline's crazy wish. he felt more and more
the deepening tragedy OF the case. and the In
adequacy OF all the conventional palliatives.
There seemed indeed but one remedy for the
trouble. and that was for Northwick to sur
render himself and for them all to meet the
consequences together. He realized how des-
mara al ~ horo oaaick IA man rnuat haya haan