Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-04-03
CONTINUED
CHAPTER XXIV.
FATHER AMI son.

one else, KNEW were III sunni ltEuluo
made worse rather than better by the
admissions aud revelations Of this
~eventful day-AEnes, for instance.
How could lie meet her pure gaze?
But 1t was his father he must first con-
front, his, father 10 whom he would
have TO repeat in private the tale
which robbed the best Of men Of n
past and took from him n son, almost
a wife, without leaving him one memo
ry calculated to console him. Frederick
was so absorbed In this anticipation
that be scarcely noticed the two or
three tlmid hands stretched out In en-.
enlargement toward him and was NOV.
ing slowly toward the door, behind
which his father had disappeared so
many hours before, when lie was re.
called TO the interests OF the moment
by a single word. uttered not very far
from him. 1t was simply, "Well?' But
ii was uttered by Knapp and repeated
by Mr.. Courtney.
Frederick shuddcrcd and was hurry
ing on when he found himself stopped
by a pltcous figure that, with appealing
eyes and timid gestures. stepped up be.
fore him. 1t was Amabcl.
~"For;iye.' she murmurcd, looking
like a pleading saint. ~ did not know,
| never dreamed you were 50 much Of
n man. Frederick; that you bore such n
heart. cherished such gricfs. was so
worthy of love ana a woman's a1mlra-
tion. II | had
Her expression was eloquent, more
eloquent than he had ever seen ii, for
It had real feeling in Il. but lie put her
coldly ny.
"WLcn NY fathers white hairs be
GONE Hack again. and the story Of my
shame is forgotten In this never forget
ting world, then come Lack and / will
forgive 5uu.'
And %" wa passing on whru another
touch q aimed him. lie turned, this
time in alup impotence. only To meet
the ffuu& eyes of Swegtwatcr. rs he
knew very littlc of this young Lam
save that lie was the amateur detective
who had By some folly Of his own been
carried OK on the IIclper ana who was
probably the only mai saved from its
wreck he was about ~ greet him with
some commonplace phrase of congratu.
lation WHOM Swcctwater Interrupted
Him with the following words:
81 only wanted TO say that 1t may b,
easier for you 10 approach your fathcl
with the revelations you are about L
make II you knew that In his present
frame Of mind he Is much more likely
to be- relieved by such proofs Of limo
cence as you can give him than over
whrlmcd by such as show the lack Of
kinship between you. For two weeks
Mr.. Sutherland has been bending un-
der the belief Of your personal crlmi.
nallty IN this matter Of Mrs. Webb's
death. This was his secret, which was
shared by me-"
"By your
ayes. by me. | am more closely link.
ed to this affair than you can readily
imagine. Some day | may be able ia
explain myself, but not now. Only re-
member what | have said about your
father-pardon me, Mr.. Sutherland
and act accordingly. Perhaps 1t was
to tell you this | was forced back here
against my will and best interest by
the strongest series Of events that evel
happened 10 a man. But he added
with n sidelong look Mt the group Of
men still lowering about the coroner
table, II had rather think 1t was 70
some more important Office still. Blu
this the future will show, the futur,
which I seem to see lowering In tn
faces over there"
And, waiting for no reply, he meltc'
into the crowd.
Frederick passed at once to his ia
Their,
No one interrupted Frederick afte
he had shut that door behind him, bu
the large crowd that in the halls an
On the steps OF the building awalte
his temperance showed that the pul
lie interest was still warm In n matte
affecting so deeply the heart aul IL
terests Of their best citizen. Whe!
therefore, that long closed door fiua
ly opened and Frcdcrlcl; was seen e.
corting Mr.. Sutherland on his arm
the tide Of feeling which had not 81
subsidized since Agatha's letters wei
read vented itself in one great SO
of relief. for Mr.. ~Suthcrland's face W.
calmer than when they had last sec
1t and Ills step more assured, and
leaned or made himself lean on Ere,
erick's arm, rs II to impress upon a
who saw them that the ties OF yea
cannot he shaken off SO easily and TN
he still looked upon Frederick as Ii
son.
But he was not contentcd with Ill
dumb show, eloquent MS 1t was. AS n
crowd parted and these two lmposir
figures took their way down the steI
to the carriage which had been Sc
for them Mr.. Sutherland cast one de-
and long glance about him on faces
knew aud faces he did not know,
those who were near aud those WI
were far, and, raising his voice, viii
did not tremble as much as might ha
been expected, said deliberately:
MY son accompanies me to his HON
If lie should afterward be wanted.
Will be oun at his Owl iireside. Goo
day, my friends. | thank you for Il
good will you have this day shown
both"
Then he entered the carriage.
The solemn way In which Frederi,
barred his head In acknowledgment
this public recognition of the hold
still retained on this one faithful hea
struck awe Into the hearts of all wi
saw IL So TINT the ARIA 90 roll,