Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-11-14
CHAPTER XII.

The Hallidays lived but few rods
from the Sutherlands. Yet as 1t was
dusk when Miss Halliday rose to de-
part Frederick naturally offered his
services as her escort.
She accepted them with slight
blush, the first he had ever seen on her
face or at least had ever noted there.
1t caused him such surprise that he
forgot Amabel's presence in the garden
until they came upon her at the gate.
"a pleasant evening" observed that
young girl in her high, unmusical
voice.
very" was Miss Halliday's short
reply, and for a moment the two faces
were in line as he held open the gate
before his departing guest.
They were very different faces in
feature and expression, and until that
night he had never thought of compar-
ing them. Indeed the fascination which
beamed from Amabel Pages far from
regular countenance had put all other
faces out Of his mind, but now us he
surveyed the two the candor and puri-
ty which marked Agnes features came
out 30 strongly under his glance that
the countenance of Amabel lost it's
charms, and he hastily drew his young
neighbor away.
Amabel noted the movement and
smiled. She had no fears Of Agnes
Halliday.
Perhaps she might have felt less con-
hdence II she could have seen the short
glances he cast his old playmate as
they proceeded slowly down the road.
Not that there was any passion In
them. He was too full Of care for
that but the curiosity which could
prompt him to turn his head a dozen
times in the course of SO short walk
to see why Agnes Halliday held her
face SO persistently away from him
had an element Of feeling in 1t that
was more or less significant. As for
Agnes, she was SO unlike her accus-
toned self as to astonish even herself.
Whereas she had never before walked
4 dozen. steps with him without In
dulging In some sharp saying, she
found herself disinclined to speak at
all, much less speak lightly. In mu-
tual silence, then, they reached the
gateway leading into the, Halliday
grounds. But Agnes, having passed in,
they both stopped and for the first
time looked squarely at each other.
Her eyes fell first, perhaps because his
had changed In his contemplation of
her. He smiled as he saw this and In
half careless, half wistful tone said
quietly:
"Agnes, what would you think OF q
man who, after having committed lit
tie else but folly all his life, suddenly
made up his mind to turn absolutely
toward the right and to pursue 1t In
face of every obstacle and every dis
couragement?"
81 should think, !" she slowly replied,
with one quick lift of her eyes toward
his face. that he had entered upon
the noblest effort Of which man is ca.
pable and-the hardest. I should have
great sympathy for that man, Fred.
| erick."
.Would you?" he said, recalling Anna
bells face with bitter aversion as he
gazed into the womanly countenance
he had hitherto sighted as uninterest
ing. sit is the first kind word you
have ever given me, Agnes. Possibly
1t is the first have ever deserved"
And without another word he doffed
his hat, saluted her and vanished down
the hillside. 4i
She remained, remained so long that
1t was nearly o'clock when she en-
tered the family parlor. As she came
in her mother looked up and was star
tied at her unaccustomed pallor.
"Why, Agnes" cried her mother
what is the matter?"
1 Her answer was inaudible. What
was the matter7 She dreaded, ever
feared, to ask herself.
Meantime strange scene was taking
place in the woods toward which sht
had seen Frederick go. The moon
which was particularly bright thai
night, shone upon certain hollow
where huge tree lay. Around 1t thu
underbrush was thick and the shadow
dark, but In this especial place thu
opening was large enough for the ray
to enter freely. Into this circlet Of
!, light Frederick Sutherland had come
Alone and without the restraint i'm
i posed upon him by watching eyes b.
showed countenance SO wan and full
4 of trouble that 1t was well 1t could no
be seen By either Of the two womel