Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-01-16
.sked the constable, VINO was or an

smile sufficient to affect a much mor
cultivated and callous nature than his,
and though he had been proof against
1t one he could not quite resist the
effect of its repetition.
Il Insisted upon entering" said she.
"Do not blame the men. They did not
want to use force against a woman"
She had not a good voice and she knew
IL, bur she covered up this defect by a
choice Of lntonations that carried her
lightest speech to the heart. Hard
yisaged Amos Fenton gave n grunt,
which vas rs near an expression Of
approval as lie ever gave to any one.
We'll, WELL" he growled. but not i'll
uaturedly. Its n morbid curiosity
tiGt brings you here. Better drop it,
girl II won't do you any good in the
eyes Of sensible people"
THANK you" was her demure reply,
her lips dimpling at tie corners in a
way to shock the sensitive Mr.. suther.
laud.
CHANGING from her to the still out
lines Of the noble figure on the couch,
he remarked with an air Of mild re-
proof:
Il do not understand you. Miss Page.
IL this solemn sight has no power to
stop your coquetries nothing can. AS
for your curiosity, It is both i'll timed
and u%nwomanly. Let me see you leave
this house at once, Miss Page. and IL
In the few hours which must elapse
before breakfast you can find time to
pack your trunks, you will still further
obllge me-"
"Oh, don't send me away, | entreat
you"
1t was a cry from her inner heart,
which she probably regretted. for she
instantly sought TO cover up the anxl-
ETY. 1t showed by a submissive bend Of
the head and Il step backward. Neither
Mr.. Fenton nor Mr.. Sutherland seemed
to hear the one or see the other, their
attention having returned to the more
serious matter in hand.
THE dress which our poor friend.
wears shows her to have been struck
before retiring" commented Mr.. Suth-
erland, after another short survey of
Mrs. Webb's figure. IF Philemon
Excuse me, sir" Interrupted a voice,
but the young n Is listening to
what you say. she Is still In the hall"
1t was the young nan speaking, who
had hecn left in the ball.
"She Is, Is she!' exclaimed Fenton
sharply. his admiration for the fascin.
atlng stranger having oozed out ut his
companions rebuff. Il will soon show
her. But the words melted into thin
air as he reached the door. The young
girl had disappeared, and only Il faint
perfume remained in the place where
she had stood.
"A most extraordinary person."
grumbled the constable, turning hack.
but stopping again as a faint murmur
came up from below.
"The gentleman is waking" called
up a voice whose lack Of music was
quite pcreeptible ut 4 distance.
With a bound Mr.. Fenton descended
the stairs, followed by Mr.. Sutherland.
Miss Page stood before the door Of
the room in which sat Philemon Webb.
AS they reached her side she made a
little bow that was half mocking, half
deprccatory, and slipped from the
house. An almost unbearable sensa-
ton Of incongrulty vanished with her,
and Mr.. Sutherland, for one, breathed
like a man relieved.
81 wish the doctor would come"
FeDton said, as they watched the slow
lifting Of Philemon Webb's head. "OuT
fastest rider has gone for him, but he's
out dorchester way, and 1t may be an
hour yet before lie can get here"
"~PhiIemon.'
Mr.. Sutherland had advanced and
was standing by his old friends side.
"Philemon, what has become Of your
guests? You've waited for them here
till morning"
The old man with a daZed lock sur
veyed the two plates set on either side
of him and shook his head.
Flames and John are getting proud
said he, "or they forget, they forget"
James and John. He must mean the
Fables, yet there were many Others
answering to these names in town. Mr.
Sutherland made another effort.
"Philemon, where is your wife? l dc
not see any place set here for herr
"Agatha's sick, Agatha's cross; she
don't care for poor old man like me-"
"Agatha's dead and you know It,
Numbered back the constable with Ill
judged severity. "Who killed her? Tel
me that. Who killed herr"
A sudden quenching of the last sparl
of Intelligence in the old mans eye
was the dreadful effect of these words
Laughing with that strange gurgl'
which proclaims an utterly irresponsl
BILE mind, lie cried:
"The pussy eat! 1t was the puss,
cat. Who's killed? I'm not killed
Let's 20 to Jericho"
Mr.. Sutherland took him by the arm
and led him upstairs. Perhaps tn
sight Of his dead wife would restor,
him. But he looked at her with tn,
same Indifference he showed to every
thing else.
81 don't like her calico dresses" sail
he. ''She might have worn silk, BIZ
she wouldn't. Agatha, will you wea
silk to my funeral?'
The experiment was too painful, an,
they drew him away. But the consta
ble's curiosity had been reused. an
after they lad found some one to TAX
care OF him lie drew Mr.. SutherlanI
aside and said:
"What did the old man mean by say
ing she might have worn silk? Ar
flick better of than they scpnf'