El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-30
Continued From Last Saturday,

Finding the hall empty and the par
for door open. he walked Immediately
into the latter room. Tho sight that
met his eyes never left his memory.
Agnes. his little Agnes. whom he had
always loved and whom lie had vainly
longed to call by the cndcaring 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 beautiful girl. but she had q
beautiful look. and ut this moment IL
WAS exalted by n feeling the old gen
fleman had once longcd. but now
dreaded ineXpressibly. To see there.
What could it 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 il was the dearest
wish Of his heart TO see these tw"
united, she had never betrayed in all
their intercourse anything but dis'rust.
IL not an uneasy dislike: IL was one
bf the contradictions Of our mysterious
human nature. and mt this crisis and In
this moment OF secret heartbreak and
miserable doubt ir made the old gentle
MAJ 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 I fud you hereT
The latter question had more OF con-
straint in it.
Frederick, with n slight flush suf-
fusiug his cheek. which had been only
too pale until now. acknowledged his
fathers greeting with n smile in which
that father was surprised to see a
faint shade of relief if not of joy. Then
he backed toward the door.
II was just leaving" said he. 81
was the bearer of n message to Miss
Halliday" He had always called her
Agnes before.
Nj Sutherland, who had found his
faculties confused by the expression be
had surprised on the young girls face.
answered with a divided attention:
And l have a message to give You.
Wait outside on the porch for me.
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-
lesay, persistently. raised her face to-
bi no n
his benevolent but searching regard
DO You know" he whispered in
what he endea vored TO make a banter
ing tone. how very few days it is
since that unhappy boy yonder con-
fessed his love for a young lady whose
name I cannot bring myself to utter IN
your presence?
The intent was kind. but the effect
was unexpectedly cruel. With a droop
of her head and hurried gasp which
conveyed a mixture OF entreaty and
reproach Agnes drew back in a vague
endeavor to hide her sudden uneasi-
ness. He saw his mistake and let bis
hands drop.
Don't. my DEAR" he whispered. Il
had no idea it would hurt you to hear
this. You have always seemed indif-
ferent, hard even, toward my scape-
grace son. And this was right. for
for What could he say. how express
One-tenth of that with which his breast
was iaboring? He could not. lie dared
not, so ended. as we have intimated. by
a confused stammcring.
Agnes. who had never before seen
this object of her lifelong admiration
under any serious emotion. felt an I'M
pulse of remorse, as if she herself had
been guilt; of occasioninS him emoar-
rassment. Plucking up her courage.
she wistfully eyed him
Did you imagine" she murmured.
that I needed any warning against
Frederick. who has never honored me
with his regard as lie has the young
lady you cannot mention! I'm AFRAID
Won don't know me. Mr.. Sutherland.
Notwithstanding I have sat OH your
knee and sometimes plucked ut your
beard i'm my infantile Insistence upon
attention..
- am afraid I don't know you. be
answered. Il feel that know nobody
now, not even my son
He had hoped she would look up at
this, but she did not
.sWfll my little girl think me very Gu
rious and very impertinent II ask ner
what my son Frederick was saying to
her when l came into the room"
She looked up now and with visible
candor answered him Immediately and
to the point.
"Frederfck is in trouble. Mr.. Suther-
land. He has felt the need or trienu
who could appreciate this. and he has
asked me to be that friend Besides
he brought me a packet Of letters
which he entreated me to keep for him.
i took them, Mr.. sutherland. and