The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-18

man walking in the same direction. AS
Mt. Sutherland unused over this he
found himself peering through the
small window at the back of the bug
gy. striving to catch another glimpse
of the two men plodding behind him.
He could see them both. his sons form
throwing it's long shadow over the
moonlit road. followed only too closely
by that other. whose ungainly step he
feared to acknowledge to himself was
growing only too familiar in his eyes.
Falling into 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 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
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 a fresh blow. Mr.. Suther-
land bowed before it for a moment
Then he rose hurriedly and stepped
down into the road beside the driver.
"Get in again." said he. "and drive
on. Ride a half mile. then come back
for me. I must see the Widow Jones'"
The driver. awed both by the oeca-
sion and the feeling it had called up in
Mr.. Sutherland. did as he was bid and
drove away Mr. Sutherland. with
glance back at the road he had just
traversed. walked painfully up the
path to Mrs. Jones door.
4 moments conversation with the
woman who answered his summons
proved the drivers superstition to be
correct. Philemon had passed away.
He had never rallied from the shock he
had received He 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 as she saw the affection
her tidings caused in this much rever-
ed friend
The assent Mr.. Sutherland gave was
mechanical He was anxiously study
ing the road leading toward Porches-
ter.
Suddenly he stepped hastily in.
"Will you be so good as to let me sit
down in your parlor for a few min
utes?" he asked. Il would like to rest
there for an instant alone. This final
blow has upset me-"
The good woman bowed Mr.. Suther-
lands word was law in that town. She
did not even dare to protest against
the ''alone" which he had so pointedly
but left him after making
him, as she said, comfortable and
went back to her duties in the room
above.
1t was fortunate she was so anne
nable to his wishes. for no sooner had
her steps ceased to be heard than Mr..
rose from the easy chair in
which he had been seated and. putting
out the lamp Widow Jones had insist
ed on lighting. passed directly to the
through which he began to
peer with looks of the deepest anxiety
A man was coming up the road.
young man-Frederick. AS Mr.. Suth-
erland recognized him he teamed for
ward with increased anxiety till at the
appearance of his son in front his scru-
tiny grew 50 strained and penetrating
that it seemed to exercise a magnetic
influence upon the pasSerby, for when
directly opposite the window Frederick
nyoluntarily reused from his abstrac-
ion and looked up. The glance he gave
The house was but momentary, but in
hat glance the father saw all that he
lad secretly dreaded. As his sons eye
ell on that fiuttering bit of Grape, tes-
flying to another death in this already
much bereaved community, he stagger-
I'd wildly, then in pause of doubt
lrew nearer and nearer till his fingers
,rasped this symbol of mourning and
lung there. Next moment he was far
Town the road. plunging toward home
n state of great mental disorder.
With sinking heart Mr.. Sutherland
ct his eyes drop from this flying figure
o search for the man whom a little
While before he had seen following i'm
nediately behind his son. He was fol-
owing him still and fastened by the
louse just as Mr.. Sutherland's glance
ell on him, so that whatever was
TRANCE or pitiful in the foregoing scene /
must have had this man for a witness.
a half hour afterward Mr. Suther- |
and reached home. He had not over (
AIKEN Frederick again or even his ac-
shadow. Ascertaining at /
lis own door that his son had not yet /
ONE in. but had been seen going far /
her up the hill, he turned back again /
nto the road and proceeded after him /
N foot.
The next place to his own was occu- i
led by Mr. Halliday. AS he approach
d it he caught sight of a man stand
ng half in and half out of the honey /
uckle porch. whom he at first thought.
o be Frederick. But he soon saw that
t was the fellow who had been follow
ng his son all the way from Porches-
er. and. controlling his first movement