Evening star., 1899-04-08

whose presence on the scene of guilt She
challenges me to explain! How about that,
sirs? And then the money so deftly re-
buried by her? Can any explanation make
whose fruits she lays her hand in way
tending solely to concealment? No, sirs,
and so I shall not relax my vigilance over
her actions, even II, in order to be faith
ful to 1t, have to suggest that a warrant
be made out for her imprisonment
you are right" acquiesced the coroner.
and turning to Knapp. he suggested that
Miss Page such an important witness
in this matter that perhaps 1t would be
better to have her down in the town where
she could be more easily under his eye.
Nothing could have pleased Mr.. Suther-
land better. Glancing at Frederick, and
seeing that he was rather pleased than dis
turbed by this suggestion, he gave his un-
qualified approval, and Miss Page was noti-
fled of the coroner's wishes.
She made no objection. On the contrary,
her cheeks dimpled, and she turned away
with alacrity to prepare herself for de-
parture. But before going she approached
the coroner and said persuasively:
Il have told you all that came to my
mind this moment. But after thinking it
ever l may remember some little details
that have escaped me today"
Call her back cried MIR. Courtney.
''She has kept back something; let us hear
il ALL
But Mr. Sutherland. with a side look at
Frederick, whispered. Wait! She is a sub
tie creature and under the excitement of
the moment will contrive to elude you
Catch her alone. Mr.. Courtney, catch her
alone and if she has secret you of all
men will succeed in surprising it,
He had noted that the rest were too pre-
occupied to observe that Frederick had
reached the limit of his strength and could
not be trusted to preserve his composure
any longer under this searching examina-
ton into the conduct of a woman from
whom he had so lately detached himself.
The next day was the day of Agatha's fu-
neral.
She was to be buried in Portchester, by
the side of her six children, and, as the day
was fine. the whole town, as by common
consent. assembled in the road along which
the humble cortege was to make its way to
the spot indicated.
From the windows of the farm houses
from between the trees of the few scattered
thickets along the way, saddened and Gu
rOuS faces looked forth till Sweetwa ter
who walked near as he dared to the i'm
n ediate friends Of the deceased. felt the
impossibiity of remembering them ALL and
gave up the task in despair.
Before one house, about a mile out of
town, the procession paused and at a ges-
ture from the minister every one within
sight took off their hats, amid hush which
made almost painfully apparent the tWit-
tering of birds and the other sounds of ami
mate and inanimate nature, which are in
separable from country road. They had
reached Widow Jones cottage, in which
, The front door was closed. and SO were
the lower windows, but in one of the upper
easements a movement was perceptfble
and in another instant there came into view
a woman and man. supporting between
them the impassive form Of Agatha's hus-
band. Holding him up in plain sight Of the
almost breathiess throng below, the woman
pointed to where his darling lay and ap-
peared to say something to him.
Then there was to be seen a strange sight
the old man. with his thin. white locks fiut-
tering in the breeze. leaned forward with a
smile, and. holding out his arms. cried In a
| faint but joyful tone: Agatha Then, as
| If realizing for the first time that 1t was
death he looked upon, and that the crowd
below was funeral procession, his face
altered and he fell back with low, heart
broken moan into the arms of those who
supported him.
| As his white head disappeared from sight
| the procession moved on, and from only one
pair of hps went up that groan of sorrow
| with which every heart seemed surcharged.
One groan. From whose lips did 1t come ?
| Sweetwater endeavored to find out but was
not able. nor could any one inform him un-
| less II was Mr.. Sutherland, whom he dared
| not approach
| This gentleman was on foot, like the rest
with his arm fast linked in that of his son
Frederick. He had meant to ride for tbe
distance was long for men past sixty: bat
l finding the latter resolved to walk. he had
consented to do the same rather than be
| separated from his son.
He had fears for Frederick; he could
hardly have told why, and as the cere-
] mony proceeded and Agatha was soiemuiy