Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-26

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beat ing heart said:
"Your secrets, IL you have such,
might better be intrusted to your ia
ther. You have no better friend" And
there he stopped with Mortified, de-
spairing feeling of inward weakness.
If Frederick had committed n crime,
anything would be better than know
Ing 1t. Turning partially aside, he fin
gered the papers on the desk before
which he was standing. A large en-
velope. containing some legal docu-
ment, lay before him. Taking it up
mechanically, he opened it. Frederick
Us mechanically watched him.
~ know" said the latter, that /
have no better friend. You have been
too good, too indulgent What is 1t,
father? You change color, look Ill.
What is there In that paperY"
Mr. Sutherland Strengthened himself;
there was great reserve of strength
in this broken down man yet. Fixing
Frederick with n gaze more penetrat-
ing than any he had yet bestowed
upoA I'LL, AG lOluCu lahNb OSAiAu
him, with the document held tightly
between them, and remarked:
when you borrowed that money
from me, you did it like man who
expected to repay it. Why? Whence
did you expect to receive the money
with which to repay me? Answer,
Frederick; this is your hour for con-
fession."
Frederick turned SO pale his father
dropped his eyes in mercy.
"Confess?" he repeated. what
should confess? My sins? They are
too many. AS for that money, /
hoped to pay 1t as any son might hope
to pay his father for money advanced
to pay gamblers debt. l said 1
meant to work. My first money earn
ed shall be offered to you. p
well? Well" His father was hold
ing the document he had just read
opened out before his eyes.
Didn't you expect thisY he asked.
"Didn't you know that that poor wom-
an, that wretchedly murdered, most
unhappy woman, whose death the
whole town mourns, had made you her
heir? That by the terms of this docu-
ment seen by me here and now for the
first time, am made executor and
you the inheritor Of the 100000 or
more left by Agatha Webb?"
"Now cried Frederick, his eyes glued
to the paper, his whole face and form
expressing something more akin to ter
ror than surprise. HAS she done this?
Why should she? hardly knew her"
mo, you hardly knew her. And she?
She hardly knew you; If she had, she
would have abhorred rather than en-
riched you. Frederick, had rather
you were dead than stand before me
the inheritor of Philemon and Agatha
WebDs hard earned savings"
you are right; 1t would be better"
murmured Frederick, hardly needing
what he said. Then, as he encounter
ed his fathers eye resting upon him
with implacable scrutiny, he added in
weak repetition: But why give her
money to me? What was to her that
she should will me her fortuneY
The fathers finger trembled to GER
tain line in the document which SEEM
ed to offer some explanation Of this,
but Frederick did not follow it He
had seen that his father was expecting
reply to the question he had pre-
viously put, and he was casting about
In his mind how to answer it.
when did you know Of this will p
Mr.. Sutherland now repeated. "For
know Of 1t you did before you came to
me for money"
Frederick summoned up his full
courage and confronted his father res
olutely.
NO" said he, 81 did not know of it.
1t Is as much Of surprise to me as It
is to you"
He lied. Mr.. Sutherland knew that
he did and Frederick knew that he
knew 1t. A shadow fell between them,
which the older, with that unspeakable
fear upon him reused by Sweetwater's
whispered suspicion, dared no longer
. to attempt to lift.
After few minutes, In which Fred
erick seemed to see his father age be-
fore his eyes, Mr.. Sutherland coldly
remarked,
DIR. Talbot must know of this will.
1t has been sent here to me from Bos-
ton by lawyer who drew it up two
years ago. The coroner may not as
yet have heard of it. Will you accom-
pGny me to his Office tomorrow? l
should like to have him see that we
wish to be open with him in an affair
Of such Importance"
Il will accompany You gladly" said
Frederick, and, seeing that his father
neither wished nor was able to say
anything further, he bowed with dis
tant ceremony as to a stranger and
quietly withdrew. But when the door
had closed between them and only the
memory of his fathers changed coun-
tenance remained to trouble him, he
paused and laid his hand again on the
knob, as If tempted to return. But he
left without doing SO, only to turn
again at the end Of the hall and gaze
wistfully back. Yet he went on.
AS he opened his own door and dis
appeared within he said half audibly:
easy to destroy me now, Amabel.
One word and am lost!"