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

Cr'S SuppOSfttOn 10 DC correct.
back TO Sutherlandtown. He said In
eXcuse for his INDIGESTION that he had
undertaken to walk, but had found his
strength inadequate to the excrtion.
He vas looking very pale and tremblcd
SO that the landlord, who took his or
der, asked him II he were i'll. liut Mr..
Sutherland insisted that he was quite
well. only In a hurry. and showed the
greatest lmpatience till he was again
started upon the road.
For the first half mile he sat perfect
ly silent. The noon was now up and
the road stretched ItfOre them flooded
with light. AS long as no one was to
be seen on this road or on the path
running beside it Mr.. Sutherland held
himself erect, his eyes fixed before
him In an attitude Of anxious inquiry,
but as soon rs any sound came to
break the silence or there appeared In
the distance ahead Of them the least
appearance of a plOdding wayfarer he
drew back and hid himself in the re-
cesses Of the vehicle. This happened
several times. Then his whole man
ner changed. They had just passed
Frederick, walking, with bowed head,
toward Sutherlandtown.
But be was not the only person on
the road at this time. \ few minutes
previously they had passed another
man walking in the same direction. AS
Mr.. Sutherland unused over this he
found himself pcering through the
small window ut the back of the bug.
Gy. striving TO catch another glimpse
Of the two men ploddlng behind him.
He could see them both. his sons form
throwing its long shadow over the
moonlit road, followed only too closely
by that other. whose ungainly step be
feared to acknowledge to himself was
growing only too familiar In his eyes.
Falling into n troubled ~reverie. he be-.
held the well known houses and the
great trees under whose shadow he
had grown from youth to manhood fit
by him like phantoms In q dream. But
suddenly one house and one place
drew his attention with a force that
started him again into an erect atti-
tude. and. selling with one hand the
arm Of the driver, he pointed with the
other at the door Of the cottage they
were passing. saying in choked tones:
"See. see! Something dreadful has
happened since we passed by here this
morning. That Is Grape. Samuel. Grape.
hanging from the doorpost yonder!'
"Yes. II Is Grape" answered the driv.
er, jumping out and running up the
path to look. philemon must be dead,
the good Philemon"
Here was n fresh blow. Mr.. Suthcr.
land bowed before II for a moment.
Then he rose hurricdly and stepped
down into the road beside the driver.
Get In again." said he, land drive
on. Ride n bali mile. then come back
for me. must see the Widow Jones'
The driver. awed both by the occa.
sion and the feeling ii had called up in
Mr.. Sutherland. did as he was bid aud
drove away. Mr.. Sutherland. with a
glance back nj the road he had just
traycrscd. walked painfully up the
path TO Mrs. Jones door.
A moments conversation with the
woman who answered his summons
proved the drivers suppositlon TO he
correct. Philemon had passed away.
He had never rallied from the shock he
had received, lie had joined his below,
ed Agatha on the day OF her burial. and
the long tragedy OF their mutual life
was over.
1T Is a mercy that no inheritor OF
their misfortune remains" quoth the
good woman rs she saw the affection
her tidlngs caused In this much ever
ed friend.
The assent Mr.. Sutherland gave was
mechanical. He was anxlously study.
Ing the road leading toward Porches
ter.
Suddenly he stepped hastily In.
WIFI you be so good as to let me sill
down In your parlor for a few min,
utesT' he asked. II would like TO rest
there for an instant alone. This final
blow has upset me-"
The good woman bowed. Mr.. Suther