Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-29

to hear. For certain reasons I should
be very glad to know, We should be very
glad to know, if during your investga-
tons into the cause and manner Of Agatha
Wabbs death you have come upon a copy
of her will"
NO"
Talbot was at once interested, so was
Knapp, while Sweetwater withdrew fur
Their into his corner in anxious endeavor
to hide his blanching cheek. I'VE have
found nothing. We do not even know that
she has made a will.
Il ask" pursued Mr.. Sutherland with
a slight glance toward Frederick, who
seemed, at least in Sweetwater'S judg-
ment, to have braced himself up to bear
this interview unmoved, because L have
not only received intimation that she made
such will, but have even been intrustad
with a copy of It as chief executor of the
same. 1t came to me in a letter from Bos-
ton yesterday. Its contents were surprise
to ma. Frederick, hand me a chair. These
accumulated misfortunes-for we all suffer
under the Affections which have beSet this
town-have made me feel my years"
Sweetwater drew his breath more freely.
He thought he might understand by this
last sentence that Mr.. Sutherland had come
here for a different cause than he had at
first feared. Frederick, on the contrary, be-
trayed failing inability to hide his emo
ton. He brought his father a chair placed
it and was drawing back out of sight when
Mr.. Sutherland prevented him by a mild
command to hand the paper he had brought
to the coroner.
There was something in his mannsr that
made Sweetwater lean forward and Fred
erick look up, so that the father and sons
eyes met under that young mans scrutiny.
But while he saw meaning in both their
regards, there was nothing like collision,
and, baffied by these appearances which,
while interesting, told him little or MOTH
ing, he transferred his attention to DR..
Talbot and Knapp, who had drawn togeth-
er to see what this paper contained.
LAS I have said, the contents of this
will are surprise to me-, faltered Mr.
Sutherland. They are equally so to my
son. He can hardly be said to have been a
friend even of the extraordinary woman
who thus leaves him her whole fortune.
Il never spoke with her but twice." eX-
claimed Frederick with a studied GOODNESS,
which was so evidently the cloak of inner
agitation that Sweetwater trembled for its
effect Notwithstanding the state Of his own
thoughts, which were in a ferment. Fred
erick, the inhertor of Agatha Webb'S for
tune! Frederick. concerning whom his ia
Their had said on the previous night that he
possessed no motive for wishing this good
woman's death! Was it the discovery that
such a motive existed which had so aged
this man in the last twelve hours? Sweet
water dared not turn again to see. His
own face might convey too much of his
own fears, doubts and struggle.
But the coroner, for whose next words
SWeetwater listened with acute expectancy,
seemed to be moved simply by the unex-
pectedness of the occurrence CHANGING at
Frederick with more interest than he had
ever before shown him, he cried with a
certain show of enthusiasm
"A pretty fortune! very pretty for
tune! Then with a deprecatory air natural
to him in addressing Mr.. Sutherland,
Would 1t be indiscreet for me to ask to
what our dear friend Agatha alludes in her
reference to your late lamented wife? His
finger was on a clause Of the will and his
lips next minute mechanically repeated
what he was pointing at:
In remembrance of services rendered
me in early life by Marietta Sutherland,
wife Of Charles Sutherland of Sutherland
town, I beQueath to Frederick, sole child
of her affection, all the property, real and
personal, of which / die possessed Ser
vices rendered! They must have been very
important Ones" suggested DR.. Talbot.
Mr.. Sutherland's expression was one of
entire perplexity and doubt.
Il do not remember my wife ever speak
ing Of any special act of kindness she was
enabled to show Agatha Webb They were
However, Agatha could be trusted to make
no mistake. She doubtless knew to what
she referred. Mrs. Sutherland was fully
capable OF doing an extremely kind act in
secret"
For all his respect for the speaker, Dr.
Talbot did not seem quite satisfied. He
glanced at Frederick and fumbled the
paper uneasily.
Perhaps you were acquainted with the
reason for this legacy; this large legacy"
he emphasized.
Frederick, thus called upon; nay forced
to speak. raised his head, and without
glances at his father, or perhaps bestowing
so much as thought on the young man
behind him, who was inwardly quivering in
anxious expectancy of some BETRAYAL on
his part which would precipitate disgrace
and lifelong sorrow on all who bore the
name OF sutherland, met DR.. Talbots in