Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-10-24

tainly be base poltroon If should
disappoint ycu or her twice."
He paused, drew himself from his IA
theirs arms and glanced almost solemn
ly out ri the window. Il swear that
will henceforth act as IL she were still
alive and watching me-" III
There was strange intensity in his
manner. Mr.. Sutherland regarded him
with amazement. He had seen him in
every mood natural to reckless man,
but never in SO serious one, never
with look of awe or purpose In his
face. 1t gave him quite new idea of
Frederick.
eyes" the young man went on. rails
Ing his right hand, but not removing
his eyes from the distant prospect on
which they We're fixed: II swear that
will henceforth do nothing to discredit
her memory. Outwardly and inwardly
will act as though her eye was still
upon me and she could again suffer
grief at my failure or thrill at my sue
cess"
A portrait of Mrs. Sutherland paint
ed when Frederick was lad of 10
hung within few feet of him as he
spoke. lie did net glance ut 1t, but Mr..
Sutherland did and with look as II he
expected to behold a responsive light
beam from those pathetic features.
"She loved you very dearly" was the
slow and earnest comment. 1--WE have
both loved you much more deeply than
you have ever seemed to realize, Fred
erick"
II believe It." responded the young
man, turning with an expression Of
calm resolve to meet his fathers eye.
".As proof that am no longer insensi-
BILE to your affection have made up
my mind to forego for your sake one OF
the dearest wishes of my heart. Fa-
ther"-he hesitated before he spoke the
word, but spoke it firmly at last-.am
right in thinking you would not like
Miss Page for a daughter?"
Like my housekeeper's niece to take
the place in this house once occupied
by Marietta Sutherland? Frederick,
have always thought too well Of you
to believe you would carry your forget
fulness Of me SO far as that, even when
saw that you We're influenced by her
attractions"
you did not do justice to my selfish
ness, father. did mean to marry her,
but have given up living solely for
myself, and she could never help me to
live for others. Father, Amabel Page
must not remain In this house to cause
division between you and me.''
81 have already intimated to her the
ACCESSIBILITY of her quitting home
where she Is no longer respected" the
old gentleman declared. "She leaves on
the 10:45 train. Her conduct this morn
Ing at the house Of Mrs. Webb-who.
perhaps, you do not know was most
cruelty and foully murdered last night
was such Us to cause comment and
make her an undesirable adjunct to
any gentleman's family"
Frederick paled. Something in these
words had caused him great shock.
Mr.. Sutherland was fond enough to be-
lieve that 1t was the news Of this ex-
traordinary woman's death. But his
sons words, us soon US he could find
any, showed that his mind was running
on Amabel, whom he perhaps had
found 1t difficult to connect even in the
remotest way with crime.
"She at this place of death? How
could that be? Who would take a
young girl there"
The father, experiencing perhaps
more compassion for this soon to be
disillusionized lover than he thought II
incumbent upon him to show, answer.
ed shortly. but without any compro.
mise of the unhappy truth:
"She went. She was not taken. No
one. not even myself, could keep her
back after she had heard that a murder
had been committed In the town. She
even intruded into the house and when
ordered out of the room of death took
up her stand in the yard In front,
where she remained until she had the
opportunity Of pointing out to us a
stain of blood ON the grass which might
otherwise have escaped our attention.
impossible" Frederick's eye was
staring. He looked like a man struck
dumb by surprise or fear. "Amabel