Evening star., 1899-06-10
CHAPTER yyyTy.

But FredeTick's day of trial was not yet
over There was a closed door to open. a
father to see Cas in his heart he still called
Mr. Sutherland. Then there were friends
TO face. and foes, under conditions he. bet
ter than any one else. knew were in some
regards made worse rather than better by
the admissions and revelations of this
eventful day-Agnes for instance. How
could he meet her pure gaze? But if was
J is father he must first confront his father
to whom h would have to repeat ir private
the tale which robbed the best Of men of a
past. and took from him son. almost a
Vile. without leaving him one memory cal
culateG TO console him. Frederick was so
absorbed in this anticipation that he scarce
" noticed the two or three timid hands
stretched out in encoura cement toward
MIN. and was moving slowly toward the
door, behind which his father had disan-
peared so many hours before. when he was
recalled TO the interests Of the moment nv
q single word. uttered not very far from
him 1t was simply: ''Weu?' But II was
uttered by Knapp and repeated by Mr..
Courtney.
Frederick shuddered. and was hurrving
on "hrn ne found himself stopped by a
nlteous fgure that, with appealing eyes and
tlmid gestures, stepped up before him. 1t
was Amabel-
Forgive she murmured looking like n
pleading saint. Il did not know T never
dreamed you We're so much of q man Fred
erlck' that you bore such a heart cherish
eu suSh grieIs was so worthy Of love and
Woman's admiration. If l had
Her expression was ELOQUENT moro aIo
quent than he had ever seen 1t for It had
real feeling in ii: but he put her coldly by
w hen my fathers white hairs become
s SlscA isain, aga. ana the story Of my shame IS
I1rEo-ten in this never-forgettins world
then come back and will forgive YOU. "
ana ne was passing on when another
70 .ouch detained him. He turned. this time
IN SOM Impatience. only TO meet the frank
eyes OF Sweetwater. As he knew yery lit
lie Of this young man, save that he was the
amateur detective who had by some folly
OF MS own been carried off on the Hesper
FiiI gl".. VINO was probably the only man saved
t.Ih ITS wreck, he was about to greet him
WIN some commonplace phrase of con-
graduation. when Sweetwater fnterr,lpted
MIN with the following words:
! only wanted To say that II NAV ba
easier Tor You tO approach your father with
lIe ltN'lai'ns You are about to make if
You knew that in his present frame of
,liIiu ne Is much more likely to be relieved
Gy sHch proofs of innocence as YOU car give
MN than overwhelmed by such as show tbs
iack or kInship between you For two
weeks MI Sutherland has been bending
under the belief Of your personal cri,,f,,ii7
ity in this matter OF Mrs. Wabh.s dantt
This was his secret. which was shared by
me- ii'u oy
by you?''
Yes, by me- I am more CLOSELY Ifrro.5
70 this affair than you can readily in,as,ina
Some day l may be able to explain rnyseiS
but not now Only remember what have
said about your father-pardon me- NJ
Sutherland-and act accordingly Perhans
II was TO tell you this I was forced bacI,
mere against my will and best interest bv
the strongest series of events that ever
happened to a man. But he added with
sidelong look at the group of men stiU
hoyertng about the COroners table 81
mad rather think il was for some more i'm
portant Office still. But this the future will
show the future which / seem to see lower
ing in the faces over there"
And. waiting Tor no reply, he melted into
the crowd.
Frederick passed at once to his father
No one interrupted Frederick after he