The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-21

them all. s%,opplnR only to pu one hesitating
Home fears hal awakened within him at his
near approach to that humble cottage door.
CHAPTER XXI.
1t was the last day OF the inquest. and to
many It babe fair to DO the least interesting.
All the witnesses who had anything to say had
long ago given in their testimony, and when at
or neur noon Sweetwater slid, Into the incon-
s~picuous seat he had succeeded in obtaining
near the Coroner it was % find In two faces
only any signs Of engerness and expectancy
that filed his own breast to sufrocati9n. But
and Amabel Page. he soon recognized that his
own judgment was not at fault. and that not
languid interest sho wn In the now tagging
proceedings the moment presaRed an event
full OF unseen but yitnl rSnsHIuence hail..
but that he was near at hand soon became evil
dent from the change sweetwater now saw in
under the universal gaze with only the faint
smile Of conscious beauty on her inscrutable
moved coward noon and glanced at the great
door OF entrance with an evil expectancy that
Startled START aDs ssse sSye r.. nstars 50 Of li tbs n hsa he
laboring in that venomous breast;
Next moment. the door opened and Fred:
trium phant satisfaction with which Amabel
sank back into her seat was as marked in its
ShfF e Means a; f sTes pEsD1e4s n saI"sp Il. AND T 15e
vivid contrast it offered to Frederick's air Of
depression. felt that his return had been well
Mr.. Sutherland was looking very feeble.
As he took the chair offered him the change
knew him. ard there were few there who did
not know him. And startled by these evil
derstand. and feared to interpret. even to
themselves, more than one devoted friend
stole soo x uneasy syd Eia nee cl at fr wbi 2 Iss TO zee i, II he
velop his father almost beyond recognition,
But Frederick was lookinG:at Amabei.:and
hta n hanI and rTn NM Nnpnnt pNn.lA
him o conspicuous figure in the room. She
who had called up This expression and alone
aye. with thatcurious slow dipping Other
dimples which had more than once confound-
90 ed II the s,S Coroner ne5 a ana rendered % her lss o at %RGe the the
for 50 long a time had had the opportunity CT
Frederick. 10 whom this smile conveyed a
last hope as well as a last threat. looked away
as soon as possible, but not before her eyes
hands = from which he had removed The ~ ring
which v ! En- Y, :, p this hour = he e, had ! iny va dI worn
This action OF his began the struggle that was
to make that day memorable in many hearts,
After the, arst sir accustomed by the on;
possible witnesses. the crowd settled back into
its, old quietude under the CQroner's hand. \
to him q full attention was being given in the
hone that some real. enlightenment. would
GENE e a. Last to to settle tile h ths questions ineom nIs, wh nG6 had
satisfactory, testimony. But no man can fur
nLlsh what he does not possess. and the, few
any addition 10 the facts which had already
been presented for general consideratton.
strike. AS the slow. 'hesitatins strokes runG
out S%weetwater "a V Frederick Yield to n sud:
den but most profound emotion. The old
not. had again seized the victim of Annlel's
ambition. and under her eye. which was blaz-
purpose. he found his right hand stealing to-
ward the left in the significant action she ex-
into the pit one wCrd Of hers could open. He
had not meant to yield. but now that The mo-
ment had come. now that he must at once and
forever choose between a course that led SIM
ply to personal unhappiness and one that in
yolved not only himself. but those dearest to
him; in ~dirgrace and sorrow he felt himself
weaken to the point Of clutchinG al whatever
would save him from. the consequences OF con:
IssspSs; which IHsR' only cSmes sfH a"S years srs@ o. sell.
control we're too lately awakened N his breast
70 to, sustain 0s t ,hs s MIN b a9 T.i,,b As stE" EieJ5 5ifsr b stT@Hg
recovery. and had almost touched his finger
IN the significant action OF assent which ANA
was 1t miracle or only the suggestion Of his
better nature. the memory OF I! lace lull Of
e eSls S nnd WITH r ss in ire~ c rye Of Pms SMo ofhSTS f he
threw his hand out and clutched his fathers
arm in a ,wav to break the charm OF his own
t0lerahle fascination that was working ulon
him. Next minute the. last stroke rang out
and the hour was VI which Amabel had set as
the limit Of her silence.
4 pause. which to their two hearts. II to no
others. seemed strangely appropriate, fol-
lowed the cessation OF those sounds, then tho
witness was dIsmissed. and Amabel. taking
advantage Of the movement. was about to lean
toward Mr.. Courtney. when Frederick, leap
ing with a bound to his feet. drew all eyes to-
ward himself with the cry:
Let me be put on my oath. ! have testi-
mony, to give OF the utmost importance III this
case"
The Coroner was astounded; every one was
astounded. No one had expected anything
from him. 0nd instinctively every eye turned
toward Amabsl to see how she was affected by
his action.
STRANGELY, evidently. for the look with which
she settled back In her seat was one which no
one who saw It ever forgot. though IL con-
veyed no hint OF her real feelings. which were
somewhat chaotic, ! must OWL.
Frederick, who had forgotten her. now that
he had made up his mind TO speak, waited for
the Coroner's reply.
III you have testimony" said that gentle
man otter exchanglnG,a few hurried words
you can do no. better than give II 70 US at
once Mr. F5ederick Sutherland, will YOU
With q noble air. from which all hesitation
had vanished. Frederick started toward the
place indicated. but stopped before lie had
taken q half dozen steps and glanced back at
his father, who was visibly SAFEGUARDING TO this
DO" he whispered. hut in so thrilling a
tone II vas heard To the remotest corner OF
what | have to say IN your presence. i could
not bear IL. You could not hear IL, Later, II
You will wait for ne IN One Ci these rooms. !
will repeat my tale In your oars. but 20 now.
1t is ms last entreaty."
There was q silence: no ono ventured a dis
sent. no one so much as made n gesture Of dis
approval. Then MIR. Sutherland struggled TO
his feet. cast one last look around him and