The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
AGATHA WEBB.
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
Copyrighted. 1899. bv s. S. Mcclure Co.
srNopsrs OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS

webb and her servant are found dead and Philemon
Webb. Agathas husband. who for years has besu
her table. A trace Of blood on his sleeve indi
him e the uSss Miss Pas the niece
naming about the WebU premises. and discover
mp GpPS{ thu
srcs sutheTl FRI wayvnrd youth calls his father
zen fa:castoa Ms, Page tells FrSderieR hat she a
Where he had sscrsscd thousand dollars she She
siyes him = week to decide whether to marry her
Webb. Il is learned that the money was III new
s and tho tSPF o s Si% E,sdSs.
Sish. Of the murder ,,o for Loaf Of bread
"smpie case Murdored for money Find the pn %s
with the flowing beard" sgspicion falls upon ono
s5es Tho money ne !, gone Msttl.s Boston gam,
check for the a'noun; from his father, The
q the loaf o. 6 %' tho Other %s
blood stained knife Tho Boston dctecnve declares
s by " evidence
pointing to another Perpetrator Of the terrible crime
snds the money where he has seen Miss Page
sd. it Ma: PsSs . BY the
the murder. Fredersk oyerhears the talking and
sFS@R w
% tfsS %'GS lend s.sRas nse
grave On the way home he learns OF the death Of
and follows Frederick and is thus discovered by Mr.
Sutherland Frederick places package OF old letters
%aBb % ms opansd sha n
itst Mr sutherland Is made executor and Fred
s:sson. th.t T5ede..ck Is H. mnrdsror hut Scsa"se
Nnr to- give evdsS In Sdsf tS rs m
ssc,st he plan, to leave home and in sspicons
Brazil He is, thrown oyerbosrd that night and md
him to New Bedford. Food and clothing are given
ton: The man he tnds Is watties the Gambler " Who
than at
swsetTater learns the MESSAGE. refuses to take t.
Last day of the inquest To the surprise OF ali.
fr. ,t OK taxes ne stand de1lsres that he
her own hand, and offers to produce the proof Of
his remarkable statement, The letters in Agnes Hal,
read They disclose the courtship of Agatha Webb.
The letter that followed this was very short
DEAR JAMES: The package OF letters has
been received God help me to bear this
shock to all my hopes and the death OF all my
Rirlsh beliefs. am not angry. Only those
who have something left to hold to in life can
be angry.
NY father tells me that he has-- received a
packet too It'contained $1,000 in ten $500
notes james, James! was not my love enough
that you should want my fathers money. too
have begged my father and he has prom
Used me to keep the cause Of his rupture secret
No one shall know from either OF US that
James label has any flaw In his nature
The next letter was dated some months later
It was to Philemon:
DEAR PHILEMON: The gloves are too small
Besides never wear gloves. hate their re-
ssraint and do not feel there is any good rea-
son for hiding my hands In this little country
town. whore every body knows me. Why not
give them to Hattie Weller. She likes such
things. while have had my AL o: flnery. A girl
whose one duty Ia 10 care for a dying father
has not heart for vanlties.
DEAR PH1LEMoN: You will have my hand
though have told you that my heart does not
10 with IT, tits hard to understand such per-
sistsnce. but II you are satisfied to take wo-
man Of my strength against her will. then
God have mercy upon you. for will bs your
wife.
But do not ask me to 20 TO sutherlandtown.
! shall live here And do not expect TO keep
mp your intimaov with the labels. There ia
no tie OF affection remaining between James
and myself. but II am to shed that half light
over your homo. which is all can promise.
and all that you can hope to receive. then keep
me from all influence but your own. That
this In time may grow sweet and dear to ne Is
my edruest prayer Vo-uhy. lor you are worthy
OF true wite. AGATHA.
DEAR JOHN: am going to be married. My
father exactS 1t. and there % no good reason
why should not give him this final satistac-
ton. At least do not think there is but II
you or your brother differ from me-
Say Rood-ty to James from me. I pray that
his life may be peaceful. l know that 1t will
be honest. AGATHA.
DEAR PHILEMON: Ny father Is worse He
fears that II We wait till Tuesday he will not
be able to see US married. Decide then. what
your duty Is: I am ready to abide by your
pleasure. AGATHA.
The following is from John label to his
brother James. and is dated one day after the
above:
DEAR JAMEs-When you read this / will be
far away. never to look in your face again IN
less you bid me. Brother. brother. | meant
It for tho best. hut God was not With me. and
] have ma's four hearts miserable without
giving help to any one.
Whom I read Agatha's letter-the last for
moro reasons than one. that l shall over re-
ceive from har-I seemed to feel as never be-
fore what had done to blast your two lives.
For the first time realized to the full that but
for me she might have been happy and you
the respected husband o! the one grand wo-
loved her 80 fiercely myself came back to mo
IN reproach. and the thought that she perhaps
suspected that tho blame had fallen where 1t
was not deserved aroused me to such pitch
that took the sudden and desperate resolu-
tion OF telling her the truth before she gave
her hand to Philemon and never paused till
! reached Mr.. Gilchrsts house and was
uShered into his presence.
He was lying on tho sitting room lounge.
looking very weak and exhausted. while on
one side OF him stood Agatha and on the other
Philemon. both contemplating him with ILL
concealed anxiety. had not expected to find
Philemon there aud for moment suffered
the extreme agony OF man who has not
measured the depth OF the plunge he is about
10 take. bat tho sight OF Agatha trembling
under tho shock Of my unexpected presence
restored me to myself and gave mo nrmness to
proceed. Advancing with a bow. | spoke
quickly the one word had come there to say.
Agatha. / have done you great wrong. and
] am here to undo 1t. For months have felt
driven to confession. but not till to-day have |
possessed the necessary courage. Now moth
inR shall hinder me" ! said this because
In hot NJ rtaE