Evening star., 1899-04-15

door open, he walked Immediately into the
latter room. The sight that met his eyes
Lever left mis- memory. Agnes. his little
Agnes, whom he had always loved, and
whom he had vainly lOnged to call by the
endearinS name of daughter sat with her
face toward him, looking up at Frederick.
That young gentleman had just spoken to
her. or she had just received something
from his hand. for her own held out,
and her expression was one of gratitude
al acceptance. She was not a beautiful
girl but she had a beautiful look and at
this moment it was exalted by a feeling the
old gentleman had once longed, but now
dI eaded inexpressibly, to see there. What
could it mean? Why did she show interest,
devotion, passion almost, at this especial
moment of her life, when in all the years
that had gone by, and when it was the
dearest wish of his heart to see these two
united. she had never betrayed in all their
intercourse anything but distrust, If not
an uneasy dislike? 1t was one of the con-
tradfctions of our mysterious human ma
ture, and All this crisis and in this moment
of secret heartbreak and misera BILE doubt 1t
made the old gentleman shrink with his
first feeling of actual despair.
The next moment Agnes had risen and
they were both facing him.
Good evening, Agnes"
Mr.. Sutherland forced himself to speak
lightly.
'Ah, Frederick, do find you here?' The
latter question had more of constraint In it,
Frederick, with a slight flush suffusing his
cheek which had been only too pale until
now, acknowledged his fathers greeting
with smile, in which that father was sur
prised to see faint shade of relief if not
of joy. Then he backed toward the door.
Il was just leaving" said he. Il was the
bearer of message to Miss Halliday" He
had always called her Agnes before.
Mr. Sutherland, who had found his fac
ulties confused by the expression he had
surprised on the young girls face, answered
with divided attention.
And I have message to give you. Wait
outside on the porch for me. Frederick, till
| exchange word with our little friend
here"
Agnes, who had thrust something she
held into a box that lay beside her on a
Mr.. Sutherland waited till Frederick had
stepped into the hall. Then he drew Agnes
to one side and remorseessly, persistently
raised her face toward him till she was
forced to meet his benevolent but search
ing regard.
DO you know" he whispered, in what he
endeavored to make bantering tone, how
very few days it is since that unhappy boy
yonder confessed his love for young lady
whose name l cannot bring myself to utter
in your presence?"
The intent was kind. but the effect was
Unexpectedly cruel. With a droop of her
head and hurried gasp which conveyed
mixture of entreaty and reproach Agnes
drew back in a vague endeavor to hide her
sudden uneasiness. He saw his mistake,
Don't. my dear, he whispered. Il had
no idea it would hurt you to hear this. You
have always seemed Indifferent, hard even,
toward my scapegrace son. And this was
right, for-for-" What could he say, how
express one-tenth of that with which his
breast was laboring. He could not, he dared
not, so ended, as we have intimated by
confused stammering.
Agnes who had never before seen this
object of her lifelong admiration under any
serious emotion, felt an impulse of remorse,
as If she herself had been guilty of occa-
sioning him embarrassment. Plucking up
her courage she wistfully eyed him.
Did you imagine" she murmured, that
l needed any warning against Frederick,
who has never honored me with his regard,
as he has the young lady you cannot men,
tion? I'm afraid you don't know me. Mr..
Sutherland; Notwithstanding / have sat on
beard in my infantile insistence upon at
tention.r
II am afraid 1 don't know you," he an
swered. Il feel that l know nobody now.
not even my son."
He had hoped she would look up at this,
but she did not.
will my little girl think me very curious
and very impertinent If / ask her what my
son Frederick was saying to her when
came into the room?"
She looked up now, and with visible can
dor, answered him Immediately and to the
point.
I Frederick is In trouble, Mr.. Sutherland.
He has felt the need Of friend who could
appreciate this, and he has asked me to be
packet of letters which he entreated me to
keep for him took them, Mr.. Sutherland
and will keep them as he asked me to do