The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-23

heart could know that the facts of thai
awful half hour were as be had told
them.
Had God In his justice removed in
this striking way his only witness as q
| 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
tber 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 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 interviewed. and he stood
his ground. Mr.. Halliday. who walked
very close to Agnes. cast her an adj
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 his voice first
| agnes" said he. 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 il there was only one person who
doubted'-Mr. Halliday began to look
relieved-T would fail to give any
promise Of the new life you hope TO
see me lead If l allowed the shadow
under which undoubtedly rest to fall
In tie 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 l find it
to say SO. Does not Mr.. Halliday con-
SiHnr this riohfr Az fo he
must"
Agnes eyes. leaving Frederick's for
q moment. sought her fathers. Alas,
there was no installing 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
well between us any more than | rec
ognize that any one who saw and heard
you today can believe in your guilt"
Put there are so nanv who did NOT
Hear and see me. resides" here he
turned a little and pointed to the gar
den in his rear. for the past week a
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 signs. 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 innocently toward him
shuddered involuntarily at this, and
her eyes, frightened and flashing,
swept over the arbor before returning
to his face.
IF there is watcher there and il
such fact proves you to be in danger
of arrest for crime you never COM
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
CULVER in her tones sinking deep into
Frederiek'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 it disappear. When she was quite |
gone. man, not the one whom Fred |
erick had described as lying in hiding |
in the arbor, but a 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 /
= charge of murder.
CHAPTER XVI
SAVED.
Frederick's arrest had been conduct