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

~'@ los INV III NAnt bu0
did mot even dare 10 protest against
the ''alone" which he had so polntedly
emphasized. but left him after making
him. as she said. comfortable, and
went back TO her duties In the room
above.
Ii IA fortunate she was so anne.
nable 10 his wishes. for no sooner had
her steps ceased TO be heard than Mr..
Sutherland rose from the easy chair in
which he had been seated and. putting
out the lamp Widow Jones had insist
ed Gu lighting, passed directly TO the
window. through which he began to
peer with looks of the deepest anxiety.
A man was coming up the road. q
young man-Frederlck. AS Mr.. Suth-
erland recognized him be leaned for
ward with increased anxiety till ut the
appearance Of his son In front his scru.
tiny grew so strained and penetrating
that II seemed TO exercise n magnetic
influence upon the passerby, for when
directly opposite the window Frederick
lnvoluntarily reused from his abstrac-
ton aud looked up. The glance he gave
the house was but mouentary. but In
that glance the father saw all that he
had secretly dreaded. As his sons eye
fell on that tluttering bit Of Grape, tes-
tlfying to another death In this already
much bereaved community, he stagger-
I'd wildly. then In a pause of doubt
drew nearer and nearer till his fingers
graspcd this symbol Of mourning and
chung there. Next moment be was far
down the road, ~plunglng toward home
In a state Of great mental disorder.
With sinking heart Nr. Sutherland
let his eyes drop from this flying figure
TO search for the man whom u little
while before he had seen following i'm
mediatcly behind bis son. lie was fol.
lowing him still and FASTENED by the
house just as Mr.. Sutherland's glance
fell on him, so that whatever was
strange or pitlful in the foregoing scene
must have had this mar for a witness.
A balf hour afterward Mr.. Sutber.
land reached home. He had not V
taken Frederick again or even his ac-
companying shadow. Ascertaining at
his " door that his son had not yet
come In. but had been seen going far
ther up the hill, he turned back again
into the road and proceeded after him
on foot.
The next place to his W was occu-
pied by Mr.. Halliday. As he approach
ed it he caught sight of a man stand
Ing half in and half out of the honey
suckle porch. whom he nj first thought
to be Frederick. But he soon saw that
II was the fellow who had been follow
Ing his son all the way from Porches-
ter. and. controlling his first movement
Of dislike, he stepped up TO him and
quietly said:
"Sweetwater, Is this you?"
The young man fell back and showed
n most extraordinary agitation. quickly
suppressed. however.
Yes, sir; it is no one else. Do you
know what | am doing here?'
81 fear | do. You have been to Por-
chester. You have seen my som
Sweetwater made n hurried, almost
an %entreating, gesture.
"Nevcr mind that, Mr.. Sutherland. l
had rather you wouldn't say anything
about that. am as much broken up
by what | have seen as you are. ] nev-
or suspected him, sir: only the girl to
whom he has so unfortunately attach
ed himself. But after seeing him
abandoned TO grief in that place, over
that grave. what am | TO think? What
am | TO do? | honor you; | would not
grieve YOU, but-but-oh. sir, perhaps
which | have stumbled! Perhaps you
can assure me that Mr.. Frederick did
not leave the hall at the time she did.
I missed him from among the dancers.
| did not see him between II and 3. but
perhaps yol did. a~nd-and'-
His voice broke. lie was almost rs
profoundly agitatedA Mr.. Sutherland
As for the latter. who found himself
unable TO reassure the other on this
very vital point. having no remem.
brance himself Of having seen Fred
erick among his guests during those
fatal hours. he stood speeches.. lost
in abysses, the depth and horror OF
which only n father a appreciate.
Sweetwatcr respected his anguish and
for n moment was silent himself. Then
he burst out:
81 had rather never have lived TO see
this day than be the cause OF shame or
suffering to you. Tell me what to do.
Shall | be deaf, dumb
Here Mr.. Sutherland found voice.
"You make too much Of what you
saw" said he. 'My boy has faults and
~