Evening star., 1899-04-08

outline of form lying stretched in speech
less misery across grave; but when i'm
PEELED by an almost irresistible compassion,
he strove to speak, his tongue Glove to the
roof of his mouth and he only drew back
further into the shadow.
He had recognized the mourner and the
grave The mourner was Frederick and
the grave that of Agatha Webb.
A few minutes later Mr.. Sutherland re-
appeared at the door of the inp and asked
for gig and driver to take him back to
his indecision. that he had undertaken to
walk, but had found his strength made
q1ate to the excrtion. He was looking very
pale, and trembled so that the landlord,
ill. But Mr.. Sutherland insisted that he
was quite well, only in hurry and showed
the greatest impatience till he was again
started upon the road
For the first half mile he sat perfectly
silent. The moon was now up. and the road
stretched before them, flooded with light.
AS long as no one was to be seen on this
road, or on the path running beside it, Mr..
Sutherland held himself erect, his eyes
fixed before him, in an attitude of anxious
inquiry. But as soon as any sound came
to break the silence, or there appeared in
the distance ahead of them the least ap-
pearance Of a p,odding wayfarer, he drew
back, and hid himself in the recesses of the
vehicle. This happened several times. Then
his whole manner changed. They had just
passed Frederick, walking, with bowed
head. toward Sutherlandtown.
But he was not the only person on the
road at this time. few minutes pre-
viousiy they had passed another man walk
ing in the same direction. AS Mr.. Suther-
land unused over this he found himself
peering through the small window at the
back of the buggy. striving to catch an
other glimpse of the two men plodding be-
hind him. He could see them both, his
sons form throwing its long shadow over
the moonlit road. followed only too closely
by that other, whose ungainly shape he
feared to acknowledge to himself was
growing only too familiar in his eyes.
Falling into a troubled reverie he beheld
the well-known houses and the great trees
under whose shadow he had grown from
youth to manhood fit by like phantoms in
dream But suddenly one house and one
place drew his attention with a force that
startled him again into an erect attitude,
and seizing with one hand the arm of the
driver he pointed with the other at the
door of the cottage they were passing, say
ing in choked tones:
"See! see! Something dreadful has hap
pened since we passed by here this morn
ing That is Grape, Samuel. Grape. hanging
from the doorpost yonder!.
"Yes, it Is GRAPE" answered the driver,
jumping out and running up the path to
look. Philemon must be dead; the good
Philemon s7G
Here was a fresh blow. Mr.. Sutherland
bowed before it for moment. then he rose
hurriedly and stepped down into the road
beside the driver. T. -1i
ISl IN again, SalQ ne, ana QT1Ve on
Ride half mile, then come back for me.
must see the widow Jones"
The driver. awed both by the occasion and
the feeling 1t had caliedlup in Mr.. Suther-
land. did as he was BID and drove away
Mr.. Sutherland, with a glance back at the
road he had just traversed, walked pain
fully up the path to Mrs. Jones' door
moments condensation with the wo-
man who answered. his, summons proved
the drivers superstition to be correct Phile-
mon had passed away. ale had never raj
lied from the shock he had received. He
had Joined his beloved Agatha on the day
of her burial, and the long tragedy of their
mutual life was over.
TT is a mercy that no inheritor Of their
misfortune remains" Quoth the good wo-
man. as she saw the aff1iction her tidings
caused in this much revered friend
The assent Mr.. Sutherland gave was me-
chanical. He was anxiously studying the
road leading toward Portchester.
Suddenly he stepped hastily in.
will you be so good as to let me sit
down in your parlor for a few minutes ?'
he asked 81 would like to rest there for
an instant alone. This final blow has up
set me-"
The good woman bowed Mr.. Suther-
lands word was law in that town. She did
not even dare to protest against the alone
which he had so pointedly emphasized. but
left him after making him, as she said,
comfortable and went back to her duties In
the room above.
It was fortunate she was so amenable to
his wishes, for no sooner had her steps
ceased to be heard than Mr.. Sutherland
rose from TIA ~>--. chair IN which he had