Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-19

being dead, only COO ana MS own
heart could know that the facts Of that
awful half hour were as he had told
them.
Had God in his justice removed in
this striking way his only witness as a
punishment for his sins and his mad
indulgence in acts so little short of
crime as to partake Of its guilt and
merit its obloquy?
He was asking himself this question
as he bent to fasten the gate. His IA
ther had passed in. The carriage had
driven off, and the road was almost
solitary, but not quite. AS he leaned
his arm over the gate and turned to
take a final glance down the hillside he
saw with what feelings no one will
ever know the light figure Of Agnes ad-
vancing on the arm of her father.
He would have drawn back, but a
better impulse intervened. and he stood
his ground. Mr.. Halliday, who walked
very close to Agnes, cast her an ad-
monitory glance, which Frederick was
not slow in interpreting, then stopped
reluctantly, perhaps because he saw
her falter, perhaps because he knew
that an interview between these two
was unavoidable and had best be
quickly over.
Frederick found bis voice first.
agnes" said be, II am glad Of this
opportunity for expressing my graft
tude. You have acted like friend and
have earned my eternal consideration.
even if we never speak again."
There was a momentary silence. Her
heart. which had dropped under his
greeting, rose again. Her eyes, humid
with feeling, sought his face.
"Why do you speak like that" said
she. "Why shouldn't we meet? Does
not every one recognize your inno-
cence. and will not the whole world
soon see, as l have. that you have left
the old life behind and have only to be
your new self to win every ones re-
gard?"
Agnes" returned Frederick, smil-
ing sadly as he observed the sudden
alarm visible in her fathers face at
these enthusiastic words, you know
me perhaps better than others do and
are prepared to believe my words and
my more than unhappy story. But
there are few Agneses In the world.
People In general will not acquit me,
and If there was only one person who
doubted"-Mr. Halliday began to look
relieved" would fail to give any
promise of the new life you hope to
see me lead If | allowed the shadow
under which l undoubtedly rest to fall
in the remotest way across yours. You
and l have been friends and will con-
tinue such, but we will hold little In
tercourse in future, hard as find 1t
to say so. Does not Mr.. Halliday con-
slider this right? As your father he
must"
Agnes eyes, leaving Frederick's for
a moment, sought her fathers. Alas,
there was no mistaking their language.
Signing deeply, she again hung her
head.
'"Too much care for peoples opin-
ion," she murmured, land too little for
what is best and noblest in US. l do
not recognize the necessity Of fare
we'll between us any more than l rec
ognize that any one who saw and heard
you today can believe In your guilt"
"But there are so many who did not
hear and see me. Besides" here he
turned a little and pointed to the gar
den in his rear, ''for the past week
mani need not state who or under
what authority he acts-has been In
hiding under that arbor watching my
every movement and almost counting
my sighs. Yesterday he left for short
space, but today he is back. What does
that argue, dear friend? Innocence
completely recognized does not call for
such guardianship"
The slight frame Of the young girl
bending so lnnocently toward him
shuddered involuntarily at this. and
her eyes, frightened and flashing,
swept over the arbor before returning
to his face.
'If there Is q watcher there and II
such fact proves you to be In danger
Of arrest for crime you never CON-
mitted, then it behooves your friends
to show where they stand in this mat.
ter and by lending their sympathy
give you courage and power to meet
the trials before you."
"Not when they are young girls"
murmured Frederick. and, casting a
glance at Mr.. Halliday, he stepped
softly back.
Agnes flushed and yielded to her ia.
theirs gentle pressure.
"Goodby, my friend" she said, the
quiver in her tones sinking deep into
Frederick's heart. Some day it will be
good morrow" and her head. turned
back over her shoulder, took on beau
tiful radiance that fixed itself forever
In the hungry heart Of him who watch
ed 1t disappear. When she was quite
gone, man, not the one whom Fred
erick had described us lying in hiding
in the arbor, but q different one-in
fact, no other than our old friend the
constable-advanced around the corner
Of the house and presented a paper to
him.
1t was the warrant for his arrest on
a charge Of murder.
CHAPTER XVI.
SAVED.