, 1884-12-27
P x


=Onoo conquered-once convinced that
tho obstacles which her solicitude for my
welfare raised against my wish were not
insuperable-Philippa offered no further TO
sistance; while as for me, every day that
might DO counted before l called her my
wife seemed n day spoiled, II not entirely
wasted. With my mothers arguments to
back my own forvent persuasion, l had no
difficulty In winning Philippa's consent to
our marriage taking place as soon as the
noodful formalities could DO complied with.
And yet, although tho day was fixed, It
was at my Instance changed, and the cere-
mony postponed for awhile.
My reason for deferring my browning
happiness was this. Knowing all that l
knew, the question arose, under what name
was Philippe 10 be married. Under her
own maiden name; under the false name
which for some time Sir Morvyn Ferrand,
for reasons best known 70 himself, had
made her assume; or under that name
which. ~supposing Mrs Wilson had spoken
tho truth, she was legally entitled TO bearl
30 anxious, so resolved wns l that there
should be no shadow OF doubt as to the
validity OF her second and happier mar
riaRo, that after due consideration / deter
mined to sacrifice my own inclination, and
postpone our wedding long enough TO give
me time to pay n flying visit to England,
whore l could do my best 10 obtain such
evidence as would show that Phiiippa was
the dead mans widow.
made the excuse that / found many mat
tiers OF business connected with my Property
must be attended 10 before I could be mar
ried. travelled TO E~ngland-to Liy6rpool-
as fast as 1 could. Istayed there for a veok.
aud during that time made full researches
Into the life and death Of a woman who, as
NJ NNTf.-- - 49, IE-l
date, and been buried under the name Of
Lucy Ferrand.
The information l acquired a. TO her ante
cedents Is OF no consequence to my story.
Whatever her faults may have been. her
history was a sad ono; indeed It seemed 10
mo that the history OF any woman who had
bean cursed by Sir Mervyn Ferrand's lows
was a sad ono. However, the result OF my
Investigations was. In short, this: Ferrand
had married the woman many years ago.
They had parted by mutual consent With
his cynical caroleasness no had troubled no
more about her; and, stranger Atill, she had
not troubled him She died on the date
given by my informant The question Of
Identity could DO easily settled; so that II
ever Philippa chose TO claim the rights ap
pertaining to Sir Morvyn Ferrand's widow,
she would ave no difficulty in making that
claim good. But | trusted that years might
pass before abe learned that the man was
dead.
1made my presence IN England known to
no one; In fact, I felt that in returning 10
my native country / ran a certain amount
OF risk. For all l know to the contrary,
there might be q warrant out against me.
II suspicion as TO the author Of that nights
work had in any way been directed to Phil
ippa, l. the partner OF her flight, could not
- g.
myself by thinking that IL danger menaced
Us / should have heard something about It,
as after our FIRST hurried start l had made no
attemp ito conceal our whereabouts. II would
have been useless. Ny mother had friends
In England with whom she exchanged let
terS ! had an agent and lawyers with
whom, II only for financial reasons, l was
bound to correspond. I had been Obliged 10
write to my stolid William, and instruct
him TO got rid Of the cottage as best he could,
and TO look out for a fresh place for himself.
But all tho sams 1 did not care to let II
DO known that | was now in England. o
While engaged upon rRking up evidence
on Philippa's behalf. l did not neglect TO
make such inquiries a. | could respecting
tho event which had happened that night
near Roding. 1 found that. so far as the
general public knew. the crime was still
yelled In mystery. No one had been arrest
ed; no one had been accused; no reason for
tho deed had been discovered, and as yet
suspicion pointed to NO one. Indeed, in spite
Of the hundred pounds reward offered by
government II seemed TINT Sir Mervyn
Forrand's murder was relegated to swell the
list Of Undiscovered crimes By this knew
that Mrs Wilson had kept her promise OF
silence; and now that months had gone by;
now that public attention had been turned
49,. ~ .L-III.-- 49,. nlan--
seemed as far or farther than ever from CIV
ing any token which ugaezt ted The awnkan.