Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-03-13
CHAPTER MI.

IL was the last day Of the inquest,
and 30 many it babe fair TO be the
least Interesting. All the witnesses
Who Ind anything TO say had long ago
gi,pa ia their testimony. and when at
or ucar noon Swcctwatpr slid into On"
luonpspiouogs seat lie had succeeded
in obtaining near the coroner it was Ia
iiuo In two faces only any signs of
cag"ruosG and expectancy that filled
his pwa breast 10 s~uHocltion. But as
these faces were those Of Agnes IIalli-
day and Auabcl lago he soon rccog-
nizal that his own judgment was not
Mt fault ana that Notwithstanding out
ward appearances and the languid In
tcrcst shown in the now tagging pro.
ccclings The moment prusugcl an event
full Of unseen but vital consequence.
Frederick was not visible in the
great hall; hut that lr was near at
hand soon became evident from the
change SwcatWatcr now saw In ANA
bel; for. while she had hitherto sat uli-
der the universal gaze with only the
faint smile Of conscious beauty 81 her
luscrutalle features, She reused rs the
hands of the clock moved toward nuo
and glanced at the great door Of on.
trance with an evil expectancy that
startled even Swectwatpr, so little had
he really understood the nature Of the
passions lab0ring In that venomous
breast.
Next moment the door opened, and
Frederick and his father came in. The
air Of triumphant satisfaction with
which Amahcl sank back into her seat
"a as marked IN It's character as her
previous suspense. What did ii mean?
Swectwatcr. noting 1t and the vivid
contrast It offered 10 Frcderlck's air
Of depression, felt that his return had
been well timed.
Mr.. Sutherland was looking very fec.
bic. AS lie took the chair offered him
the change in his appearance was ap,
parent to all who knew him, and there
were few there who did not know him.
And startled by these evidences Of suf-
fcrlng which they could not understand
and feared TO interpret, eycn to them
selves, more than one devoted friend
stole uneasy glances at Frederick 10
see If he, too, were under the cloud
which seemed TO envelop his father al.
most beyond recognition.
But Frederick was looking at ANA
bel, and his erect head and determined
aspect made him n conspicuous figure
in the room. She VINO had called w
this expression and alone comprehend
I'd Il fully, smiled, as she met his eye,
with that curious slow dipping OF her
dimplcs which lad more than once con.
founded the coroner and rendered hel
at onC the admiration aud abhorrencC
Of the crowd who for so long a time
had had the opportunity of watching
her.
Frederick, TO whom this smile con.
veycd n last hope rs well as n last
threat, looked away as so0 as posi-
Bile. but not before her eyes had faller
In their old, inqulring way TO his hands
from which he had removed the ring
which mp to this hour he had invari
ably worn on his third finger. In thii
glance Of hers and this action of hi
began the struggle that was to max,
that day memorable In many hearts.
After the first stir occasioned by tn,
entrance Of two such important per
SONS and possible witnesses the Grove
settled back into Its old quietude under
the coroner's hand. A tedious wltnes.
was having his slow say, and to him 1
full attention was being given in tn,
hope that some real enlightenment.
would come 10 last to settle the qucs
lions which had been raised by ANA
bells Incomplete and unsatisfactory ties
timony. But no man Fan furnish wha.
he does not possess, and the few fina
minutes before noon passed by with
out any addition to the facts which
had already been presented for genera
consideration.
As the witness sat down the clocl
began to strike. As the slow, hesltat
Ing strokes rung out Sweetwater saw
Frederick yield to a sudden but mos
profound emotion. The old fear. whicl
we understand IL Sweetwater did not
had again seized the victim OF ANA
bells ambition, and under her eye
which was blazing full upon him nov