The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-12

SO gave them luLO Cne guardianship
of the most conscientious person, /
know. hope you won't demand to
see those letters. Indeed, sir, l hope
you won't demand to see them. They
were not written for your eye, and !,
would rather rest under your displeas-
ure than have them in any way made
public
Frederick showed such earnestness
rather than fear that Mr.. Sutherland
was astonshed.
"When were these letters written?"
he asked. Lately or before You
say they are old. How old?"
Fredericl's breath came easier.
''Some Of them were written years
ago-mpst of them. in fact 1t is per-
sonal matter Every man has such.
wish l could have destroyed them
You will leave them with Agnes, STRIP
>"Seu astonish me- said Mr.. Suther-
land, relieved that he could at least
hope that these letters. were in nowise
connected with the subject>o his own
frightful suspicious. CA young girl to
whom you certainly were most indif-
ferent a week ago is a curious guar
dian of letters you decline to show
your father
81 know it, was Frederick's sole re-
ply
Somehow the, humility with which
this was uttered touched Mr.. Suther-
land and reused hopes he had supposed
dead. He looked his son for the first
time directly in the eye and with a
beating heart said:
"Your secrets, if you have such,
might better be intrusted to your ia
Their. You have no better friendS' And
there he stopped with a Mortified, de-
spairing feeling of inward weakness.
If Frederick had committed crime,
anything would be better than know
ing it. 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
as mechanically watched him.
81 know" said the latter, that
have no better friend You have been
| too good, Atoo indulgent. What is it,
father? You change color, look ill.
| What is there in that paper?"
1 Mr. Sutherland Strengthened himself;
there was a great reserve Of strength
in this broken down man yet. Fixing
Frederick with a gaze more penetrat-
ing than any he had yet bestowed
upon him. he folded his hands behind
| him, with the document held tightly
between them, and remarked:
when you borrowed that money
4 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. ''Wha1
should confess? My sins? They are
too many. AS for that money,
hoped to pay it as any son might hope
to pay his father for money advanced
to pay gamblers debt. said
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 reat
opened out before his eyes.
Didn't you expect this?" he asked
Didn't you know that that poor, WON
an, that wretchedly murdered, mos
unhappy woman, whose death tn
whole town molrns, had made you be
heir? That by the terms of this docu
ment seen by me here and now for tn
first time, | am made executor AM
you the inheritor of the 100000 o
more left by Agatha Webb?"
Nor cried Frederick, his eyes glue
to the paper, his whole face and forr
expressing something more akin to tel
, ror than surprise. HAS she done this
Why should she? | hardly knew her.
: "No, you hardly knew her And she
, She hardly knew you; IL she had, sh
would have abhorred rather than Ell
: riched you. Frederick, l had rathe
!. you were dead than stand before N
the inheritor Of Philemon and Agath
Webb's hard earned savings"
"You are right; it would be better,
: murmured Frederick, hardly heedin