The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-23
CHAPTER XIV.
FATHER AND son.


FATHER AND SON.
But Fredericks day of trial was mo-
yet over. There was closed door Z,
open. a father TO see Gas in his hear
he still called Mr.. Sutherland). Their
there were friends to face. and foes
under conditions be. better than any
one else. knew were i'm some regards
made worse rather than better by thu
admissions and revelations of this
eventful day-Agnes. for instance
How could he meet her pure gaze:
But 1t was his father he must first con
front. his father to whom he would
have to repeat in private the tale
which robbed the best Of men Of a
past and took from him a son. almost
wife. without leaving him one memo
~ calculated to console him. Frederick
was so absorbed in this anticipation
that he scarcely noticed the two or
three tiniid hands stretched out in en-
COZ utent toward him and was NOV
ing sgly toward the door. behind
which, his father had disappeared so
many hours before. when he was re-
called to the interests OF the moment
by a single word. uttered not very far
from him. 1t was simply. "WellT Eut
It was uttered by Knapp and repeated
by Mr.. Courtney.
Frederick shuddered and was hurry
ing on when he found himself stopped
by piteous figure that. with appealing
eyes and timid gestures, stepped up be-
fore him. 1t was Amabel.
Forgive" she murmured. looking
like a pleading saint. II did not know,
II Araa Of
a man. Frederick; that you bore such a
heart, cherished such griefs, was so
worthy of love and a woman's admira-
ton. If / had
Her expression was eloquent. more
eloquent than he had ever seen it. for
1t had real feeling in it. but he put her
coldly by.
when my fathers white hairs be-
come black again. anu the story or my
shame Is forgotten in this never forget
ling world, then come back and / will
forgive YOU"
And he was passing on when another
touch detained him. He turned, this
time in some Impotence. only to meet
the frank eyes of Sweetwater. As he
knew very little of this young man
rave mat NC w ID llc ahaSCut 0CICS(lNc
who had by some folly Of his own been
carried OF on the Hesper and who was
probably the only man saved from it's
wrccs X" was about to greet him with
some amonplace phrase of congratu-
latiou when Sweetwater interrupted
him with the following words:
II only wanted to say that it may be
rasier for you to approach your father
with the revelations you are about to
make if you knew that in his present
frame of mind he Is much more likely
to be relieved by such proofs of inno-
renee as you can give him than over
whelmed by such as show the lack of
kinship between you. For two weeks
Mr.. Sutherland has been. bending I'M
der the belief Of your personal crimi-
nality in this matter of Mrs. Webb's
death. This was his secret. which was
shared by me-
by you?"
yes. by me. I am more clos <
ed to this affair than you can lily
imagine Some day 1 may be aisle TO
explain myself. but not now. Only re-
member what l have said about your
father-pardon me. Mr.. Sutherland
and act accordingly. Perhaps it was
to tell You this was forced back here
against my will and best interest by
the strongest series Of events that ever
happened to a man. But" he added,
with sidelong look at the group Of
men still lowering about the coroner's
table, Il had rather think it was for
some more important office still. But
this the future will show. the future
which / seem to see lowering in the
faces over there"
And. waiting for no reply. be melted
Into the crowd.
Frederick passed at once to his IA
Their.
No one interrupted Frederick after
be had shut that door behind him. but
the large crowd that in the halls and
On the steps OF the building awaited
bis temperance showed that the pub /
lie interest was still warm in a matter
affecting so deeply the heart and in I
terests Of their best citizen. When. /
therefore. that long closed door final /
" opened and Frederick was seen es- |
PORTING Mr.. Sutherland on his arm. |
The tide Of feeling which had not vet |
subsidized since Agatha's letters were
read vented itself in one great sob /
pf relief. for Mr.. Sutherland's face was I
calmer than when they had last seen
and his step more assured aud he
eaUed or made himself lean On Fred