El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-30
CHAPTER XXI.
HAD BATSY LIVED.

HAD
1t was the last day of the inquest.
and to many 1t babe fair to be the
least interesting. All the witnesses
who had anything to say had long ago
given in their testimony, and when at
or near noon Sweetwater slid into the
>inconspicuOus seat he had succeeded
in obtaining near the coroner it was to
find in two faces only any signs OF
eagerness and expectancy that filled
his own breast to suffocation- But as
these faces were those of Agnes Halli-
day and Amabel Page he soon recog-
nized that his own judgment was not
at fault and that Notwithstanding out
ward appearances and the languid in
terest shown in the now lagging pro-
ceedings the moment presaged an event
full of unseen but vital consequence.
Frederick was not visible in the
great hall; but that he was near at
hand soon became evident from the
change Sweetwater now saw in ANA
bel; for, while she had hitherto sat I'M
der the universal gaze with only the
faint smile Of conscious beauty on her
inscrutable features, she reused as the
hands of the clock moved toward noon
and glanced at the great door Of en-
trance with an evil expectancy that
startled even Sweetwater, SO little had
he really understood the nature of the
passions laboring in that venomous
breast
Next moment the door opened, and
Frederick and his father came in. The
air Of triumphant satisfaction with
which Amabel sank back into her seat
was as marked in its character as her
previous suspense. What did it mean?
Sweetwater, noting it and the vivid
contrast it offered to Frederick's air
of depression, felt that his return had
been well timed.
Mr.. Sutherland was looking very fee
BILE. AS he took the chair offered him
the change in his appearance was ap-
parent to all who knew him, and there
were few there who did not know him.
And startled by these evidences of suf-
ferng which they could not understand
and feared to interpret. even TO them
selves. more than one devoted friend
stole uneasy glances at Frederick To
see if he. too. were under the cloud
which seemed to envelOp his father al
most beyond recognition.
But Frederick was looking at ANA
bel. and his erect head and determined
aspect made him a conspicuous figure
in the room. She who had called up
this expression and alone comprehend
ed it fully. smiled, as she met his eye.
with that curious slow dipping Of her
dimples which had more than once con-
founded the coroner and rendered her
at once the admiration and adherence
Of the crowd who for SO long a time
had had the opportunity Of watching
her.
Frederick, to whom this smile con-
veyed a last hope as we'll as a last
threat. looked away as soon as posi-
BILE. but not before her eyes had fallen
in their old. inquiring way to his hands.
from which lie had removed the ring
which up to this hour he had invari-
ably worn on his third finger. In this
glance of hers and this action OF his
began the struggle that was to make
that day memorable in many hearts.
After the first stir occaSioned by the
entrance of two such important per-
sons and possible witnesses the crowd
settled back into its old quietude under
the coroner's hand. A tedious witness
was having his slow say. and to him
full attention was being given in the
hope that some real enlightenment
would come at last to settle the ques-
tons which had been raised by Anna
bells incomplete and unsatisfactory tes-
timony. But no man can furnish what
he does not possess, and the few final
minutes before noon passed by with
out any addition to the facts which
had already been presented for general
consideration.
ITO be Continued Next Saturday,