Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-26
DARK DAYS
BY HUGH con w y Y Z.
author Of scaled Boch.
CHAPTER II.
A VILLAINS BLOW.


to a brother"
'As sister to a brother" | echoed. al
accept the trust" | added, laying my lips
reverentially on her white forehead, and
vowng mentally to devote my lie to her.
"You will stay here nowF asked.
mo, | must go back Tomorrow | will
come-tc-mofrow, BASIL my brother, you
will take ms far away-tar awayf
where you wish. Every land is as one
to me now
Sho Lad given me the right, brothers.
right. to stand between her and the villain
who had wronged her Tomorrow that man
would be here! How | long for the moment
which would bring us face t. fac!
Philip n arose. 81 must CO." she said
| press food and wine upon her; she
would take nothing. She made, however,
no OF lection to my accompanying her TO
her home. Wcleft the house 10y the case
ment by which She entered. Together we
stepped cut on the snoW-Nhitened road.
She took u arm and We walked toward
her home.
asked her with whom she vas staying.
She told me with a widow lady and two
children named Wilson. She went TO them
at Sir Mervyn Ferrand's command. Mrs.
Wilson, he tod her, was a distant cunnec-
ton of his own, and he had male arrange
ments for her to look after Phlippa during
her illness.
1t was Iut another proof of the mans re-
voting cynicism To send the woman who
falsely believed herself to he his wife TO one
of his own relatiove Oh, | would have a
full reckoning with hml
"What name do they know you byf' l
asked
Ike said was to call myself by the false
name, which, for purposes of his own, he
.ft I1ttf falt nh
solved from my promise Of secrecy. Why
should ] stay in strange house, with
with strange people, by Sir Mervyn Fer
rand's request unless | cuud show good
cause for doing 80. SO told Mrs. wilson
everything.
"She believed your
''She was bound to believe me. | would
have no doubt cast upon my worl. | showed
her the certificate of my marriage What
ever she may have thou, hs at first, she saw
then that was his wife. No one else knows
it except her To her | am Lady Ferrand.
Like me, she never dreamed of what mans
villainy can reach. Oh. Basil, Basil! why
are such men allowed to liver
For the first time Philpla seemed to break
down. Till now the chiot characteristics of
her mood had been scprn and anger Now,
sheer grief for the timo appeared to sweep
away every other emotion. Sob after sob
broke from her. endeavorcl to calm her
to comfort her Alas! how ll't.e | could
say or do to these ends. She leaned .avily
and despondngly on my arm, and for n lon.
while walked in silence. At last she told
me her home was close at hand.
Listen, Philippa," l said; II shall come
in with you and see this lady with whom
you are staying. shall tell her | am your
brother; that for some time | have known
how shamefully your husband has neglected
YOU; and that now, with your full consent,
/ mean to take you away. Whether this
woman believes in our relationship or not
matters nothing. | suppose sho knows that
man is coming tomorrow After his heart
less cslrtion, she cannot b. surprised at
your wish 10 avoid meeting him"
paused. Pnilippa bent her head as if as
senting TO my plan
"To-morrow," l continued, "long before
that wretch comes here t. poison tho very
air We breathe, shall come and fetch YOU
Early in the morning | will send my servant
for your luggage Mrs. Wilson may know
me and my man by sight. That makes no
difference There need be no concealment.
You are free to come and go. You have no
one to fear. On Thursday morning We will
leave this place"
Yes" said Philippa, dreamly. "to-mor-
row ! will eave-I will come to you. But
will como alone. In the evening, most
likely, when no one will know where have
gone"
but how much better that should take
you away openly and in broad daylight, as
brother would take away sister,"
"No; Will come to you. You will not
mind waiting, Basil There is something
mus. DO first. Something to be done to-
morrow. Something to be said: some one
to be seen. What is it, who is it! | cannot
recolleGt'
She placed her disengaged hand on her
brow. She pushed back her head little
and gave a sigh of relief as she felt the keen
air ON her temples. Poor girl! after what
she had that day gone through, no wonder
her mind refused to recall trivial details
and petty arrangements to be made before
she joined m. Sleep and tn, certainty of
my SYM athy and protection would no
doubt restore her wandering memory.
However, although l again and again
urged her to change her mind, she was firm
In her resolve to come to me alore. At last,
very reluctantly, | was obliged to give way
on this point; but was determined to see
this Mrs. Wilson tonight; so when we
reached the house entered with Philippe.
l told her there was no occasion for her to
be present at my interview with the hostess
She looked frghtfully weary and at my
suggestion went StIdlBhL W Hbl room 10 re-
tire for the night. | sat down and awaited
tho advent of Mrs. Wilson. She soon ap
peared.
A woman of about five and thirty; wei
but plainly dressed. AS | glanced at hel
with some curiosity l decided that wher
young she must, after certain type o.
beauty, been exceedingly cool looking. I'm
fortunately hers was one Of those faces cas-
In an aquiine mold-faces which, as sooI
as the bloom of youth is lost or the owner
thereof turn to thinness, become, as a rule
sharp, strained, hungry and severe looking
Whatever the woman's charms might one
have been she could now boast Of very few
There were lines around her mouth ant
Oh her brow which told of suffering; and
as judd -cd it, not the calm, resigned suffer
ing which often leaves "A sweet if sad ex
preston on the face, but fierce, rebelious
constrained suffering, such rs turns youn
heart into an old one long before its time