The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-11
CHAPTER XXXV.

CHAPTER XXXV.
But alas, all tides have their ebb a
we'll as flow, and before Mr.. Sutherland
and Frederick were well out of tn,
main street the latter became aware
that Notwithstanding the respect will
which his explanations had been re
ceived by the jury there were many o.
his fellow townsmen Who were ready t.
show dissatisfaction at his being al
lowed to return in freedom to tha1
home where he had still every prospec
of being called the young master
Doubt, that seed of ramifying growth
had been planted in more than. ons
breast, and while it failed as yet t.
break into any open manifestation
there were evidences enough in the very
restraint visible in such groups of peo-
pie as they passed, that suspicion had
not been suppressed or his innocence
established by the over-favorable yer,
dict of the coroner's jury.
To Mr.. Sutherland. suffering now
from the reaction following all great
efforts, much, if not all, of this quiet
but significant display of public feel
ing, passed unnoticed. But to Freder-
lex, alive to the least look the least
sign that his story had not been ac-
cepted unquestioned, this passage
through the town was the occasion OF
the most poignant suffering.
For not only did these marks of public
suspicion beSpeak possible arraignment in
the future, but through them il became
evident that even if he escaped open con-
demnation in the courts, he could never
nope for complete reinstatement before
the world, nor, what was to him a still
deeper source of despair, anticipate a day
when Agnes love and domestic happiness
should make amends to him for the grief
and errors of his more than waywar I'd
youth. He could never marry so pure a
being while the shadow of crime separated
him from the mass of human beings. Her
bellef IN his innocence and the exact truth
of his story (and he was confident she did
believe him) could make no difference in
this conclusion. While he was regarded
openly or in dark corners. or beside the
humblest hreside, as a possible criminal,
neither Mr.. Sutherland, nor her father,
nor his own heart even, would allow him
to offer her anything but a friends graft
tude, or win from her anything but a
neighbor S sympathy vet in bidding good
desires. he parted with the better part
of his heart, and the only solace remain
ing in this world for the boundless griefs
and tragic experiences of his still young
life. He had learned to love through
suffering. only to realize that the very ma
ture of his suffering forbade him to in
dulge in love.
And this seemed, even in this hour of
public Justification, u final judgment. He
had told his story and been for the
believed, but what was there in
his life, what was there in the facts as
witnessed by others, what was there in
his mothers letters and the revelation of
their secret relationship to corroborate
his assertions or TO prove that her hand.
and not his, had held the weapon when
the life blood gushed from her devoted
breast? Nothing, nothing; only his word
to stand against all human probabilities
and natural inference; only his word and
2 he. --eal
who had thus persisted, Though
a dozen of his fellow citizens had by
their verdict protested their belief in his
word and given him the benefit of a
honor, ne, as well as they. knew that
neither the police nor the general public
were given to Sentimentality, and that
the question of his guilt still lay open
and must remain so till his dying day.
for from the nature of things no proof
IF the truth was probable. Batsy being
lead, only God and his own heart could
know that the facts of that awful half
hour were as he had told them.
Had God in his justice removed in
his striking way his only witness, as a
for his sins and his mad in
iulgence in acts so little short of crime
rs to partake of its guilt and merit its
,bloquy?
He was asking himself this question
II had passed in, the carriage had driven
IF and the road was almost solitary, but
lot quite. As he leaned his arm over the
sate and turned to take final glance
lown the hillside, he saw with what feel
ngs no one will ever know, the light
igure of Agnes advancing on the arm of
Ter father.
He would have drawn back. but bet
err impulse interviewed and he stood his
.round. Mr.. Halliday, who walked very
lose to Agnes east her an admonitory
dance which Frederick was not slow
n interpreting, then stopped reluctantly,
he W r.
laps because he knew that an interview
between these two was unavoidable and
lad best be quickly over.
Frederick found his voice first.
Agnes" said he Il am glad of this
for expressing my gratitude.
You have acted like friend and have
armed my eternal consideration. Even
There was a momentary silence. Her
cart which had dropped under his
.reeting, rose again. Her eyes, humid
With feeling. sought his face face. t,,.n cold
he. why shouldn't we meet. Does not
very one recognize your innocence, and
will not the whole world soon see, as
ind and have only to be your new self
o win every ones regardZ
agnes" returned Frederick, smiling
adIv as he observed the sudden alarm
isible in her fathers face at these en-
husiastic words. You know me per-
ans better than others do and are pre- |
AIRED to believe my words and my |
lore than unhappy story. But there
re few Agneses in the world. People |
l general will not acquit me, and if |
here was only one person who doubt |
d. Mr. Halliday began to look re-
eved-"I would fail to give any prom
% of the new life you hope to see me |
lad. if / allowed the shadow under |
hitch 1 undoubtedly rest to fall in the !
emotest way across yours. You and / |
ave been friends and will continue |
UGH. but we will hold little intercourse |
l the future, hard as / find it to say |
D. Does not Mr.. Halliday consider
mis- right2 AS your father he must"
Agnes eyes, leaving Frederick's for
moment. sought her fathers. Alas. |
1ere was no mistaking their language. |
ighing deeply, she again hung her
cad.
'Too much care for peoples opinion
ne murmured, land too little for what
best and noblest in us. / do not
scognize the necessity of a farewell |
etween us any more than l recognize
lat any one who saw and heard you
,day can believe in your guilt"
But there are so many who did not |
ear and see me. Besides '(here ne
lrned little and pointed to the gar
en- in his rear) for the past week a
AM need not state who, or under
hat authority he acts-has been in
ding under that arbor, watching my
Yery movement. and almost counting
Y signs. Yesterday he left for a short
,ace, but today he is back. What does
lat argue, dear friend? Innocence,
recognized, does not call for
ich guardianship"