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

But. Frederick'S day of trial was not
yet over. There was a closed door To
open, father to see Gas in his heart he
still called Mr. Sutherland). Their
there were friends to face, and foes,
under conditions he, better 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 ii
was his father he must first confront
his father to whom he would have to
repeat in private the tale which
robbed the best of men of a past and
took from him a son, almost d wife,
without leaving him one memory cal
culated to console him. Frederick was
so absorbed in this anticipation that
he scarcely noticed the two or three
timid hands stretched out in encour-
agement toward him. and was moving
slowly toward the door. behind which
his father had disappeared so many
hours before, when he was recalled to
the interests of the moment by a single
word, uttered, not very far from him
1t was simply: "WeI?" But it was ut
tered by Knapp and repeated by Mr..
Courtney.
Frederick shuddered, and was hur-
rying on when he found himself stopped
by piteous figure that, with appeal
ing eyes and timid gestures, stepped
up before him. 1t was Amabel.
Forgive" she muttered, looking
like pleading saint. Il did not know;
1 never dreamed you were so much of
a man, Frederick; that you bore such
heart, cherished such griefS, was so
worthy of love and a woman's admira-
ton. If 1 had
Her expression was eloquent, more
eloquent that he had ever seen it, for
it had real feeling in it; but he put her
coldly by.
when my fathers white hairs be-
come black again and the story of my
shame is forgotten in this never-for-
getting world, then come back and l
will forgive you"
And he was passing on when another
touch detained him. He turned. this
time in some Impotence, only to meet
the frank eyes of Sweetwater. AS he
knew very little of this young man.
save that he was the amateur detec-
tive. who had by some folly of his own
been carried off on the Hesper, and
who was proba bly-th only man saved
from its wreck, he was about to greet
him with some commonplace phrase of
congratulation, when Sweetwater, inter-
rupted him with the following words:
II only wanted to say that it may be
easier for you to approach your father
with the revelations you are about to
make if you knew that in his present
frame of mind he is much more likely
TO be relieved by such proofs of inno-
cence as you can give him than over
whelmed by such as show the lack of
kinship between you. For two weeks
Mr.. Sutherland has been bending under
the belief of your personal criminality
in this matter of Mrs. Webb's death
This was his secret, which was shared
by me-
by you?"
Yes, by me, 1 am more closely
linked to this affair than you can read
fly imagine. Some day 1 may be able
to explain myself, but not now. Only
remember what 1 have said about your
father-pardon me, Mr.. Sutherland-and
act accordingly. Perhaps it was to tell
you this / was forced back here against
my will and best interest by the
strongest series of events that ever
happened to a man. But" he added,
with sidelong glance at the group of
men still lowering about the c0roner's
table, Il had rather think it was for
some important office still. But this
the future will show, the future which
seem to see lowering in the faces
over there"
And. waiting for no reply, he melted
into the crowd.
Frederick passed at once to his
father.
No one interrupted Frederick after |
he had shut that door behind him, but |
the large crowd that in the halls and |
on the steps of the building awaited |
his temperance showed that the pub !
lie interest was still warm in the mat |
ter affecting so deeply the heart and in |
terests of their best citizen. When, |
therefore. that long-closed door finally |
opened and Frederick was seen escort |
ing Mr.. Sutherland on his arm, the tide |
of feeling which had not yet subsidized |
since Agatha's letters Were read, vented I
itself in one great sob of relief For |
Mr.. Sutherland's face was calmer than |
when they had last seen it, and his