Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-03-06

Sweetwater. lie loves ncr. bur ne
doubts her. as who could help doing
after the story she told US day before
yesterday. Indeed he has doubted her
ever since that fatal night. and II is
this which has broken his heart and
n~ot-not'- Again the old gentleman
paused; again be recovered himself,
this time with a touch of his usual dig.
nifty and self command. Leave mer'
he cried. Leave u.s. Nothing that you
have seen has escaped me. but our In
terpretations Of II may differ. | will
watch over my son from this hour, and
you may trust to my vigilance"
Sweetwater bowed.
"You have a right to command me-"
said he. You may have forgotten, but
| have not, that | IVA my life to you.
Years ago-perhaps you al recall it; II
was at the Black pond-I was going
down for the third time, and my moth.
er was screaming In terror on the bank,
when you-you plunged In and Well.
sir, such things are never forgotten,
and, as | said before, you have only to
command me-" He turned 70 60, but
suddenly came back. There were signs
Of mental conflict In his face aud voice
also. "Mr. Sutherland, ! am not a
laxative man. If | trust your vigil
lance, you may trust my discretion.
Only | must have your word that you
will convey no warning TO your son;
that you will not eve let him see be
lies under any suspicion, least of all
your own"
Mr.. Sutherland made an indefnable
gesture, and Sweetwater again dlsap-
peared, this time not 10 return. AS for
Mr.. Sutherland, he remained standing
before Mr.. Halliday's door. What had
the young man meant by this emphatic
repetition Of his former suggestion ?
That he would be quiet also and not
speak of what be had that night seen?
Why, then But TO the hope thus Civ
en- this honest hearted gentleman would
yield no quarter, and. seeing a duty be.
fore him. n duty he dare not shirk, be
brought his emotions, violent as they
were, Into complete and absolute sub
lection and, opening Mr.. Halliday's
door, entered the house. They were
old nelgbbors, and ceremony was ig-
nored between them.
Finding the hall empty and the par
lor door open, he walked Immediately
into the latter room. The sight that
met his eyes never left his memory.
Agnes, his little Agnes. whom he had
always loved and whom he had vainly
longed to call by the ~cndearing name
OF daughter, sat with her face toward
him, looking up at Frederick. That
young gentleman had just spoken to
her, or she had just received something
from his hand, for her own was held
out, and her expression was one of
gratitude and acceptance. She was
not a beautiful girl, but she had a
beautiful look, and at this moment 1t
vas exalted by a feeling the old gen.
tleman had once longed. but now
dreaded inexpressibly, to see there.
What could 1t mean? Why did she
show interest, devotion, passion al
most, at this especial moment of her
life, when In all the years that had
gone by. and when 1t was the dearest
wish Of his heart to see these two
united. she had never betrayed In all
their intercourse anything but distrust,
II not an uneasy dislike? 1t was one
Of the contradictions of our mysterious
human nature. and at this crisis and in
this moment of secret heartbreak and
miserable doubt it made the old gentle
man shrink, with his first feeling Of
actual despair.
The next moment Agnes had risen.
and they were both facing him.
Good evening. Agnes"
Mr.. Sutherland forced himself to
speak lightly.
"Ah, Frederick, do | find you heref"
The latter question had more OF con
straint in II.
Frederick, with a slight flush suf-
fusing his cheek. which had been only
too pale until now, acknowledged his
fathers greeting with a smile In which
that father was surprised to see a
faint shade of relief II not Of Joy. Then
be backed toward the door.
81 was just leaving" said he. ~
was the bearer of a message to Miss
Halliday" lie had always called her
Agnes before.
Mr.. Sutherland. who had found his
faculties confused by the expression be
had surprised on the young girls face.
answered with a divided attention:
And | have a message to give you.
Wait outside on the porch for me.
Frederick, till | exchange q word with
our little friend here"
Agnes, who had thrust something she
held into a box that lay beside her on a
table, turned. with a confused blush, to
listen.
Mr.. Sutherland waited till Frederick
had stepped into the hall. Then he
drew Agnes to one side and remorse-
lessly. persistently. raised her face to-
ward him till she was forced to meet
his benevolent but searching regard.