The Red Cloud chief., 1884-02-22
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
At MIR. REY's
Philip left the house, toward the mo-
ment of entering which he had vearned
so eagerly, and for such long and weary
weeks, and passed out into the street
again. During the ten minutes or
quarter of an hour which had elapsed
since he had driven up 10 the door, no
great CONFUSION of nature had taken
place. Was it likely that anything of
the kind should have Occurred? And
yet it seemed to Philip, and no doubt
would have so seemed to nine men Out
of ten in his position, amazing that
everything should look just as it had
done befOre-the sun still shining with
April brightness-the people quietly
passing up and down the familiar street;
ven one or two faces that he knew; an
ugly omnibus conductor with one eye.
there he was. in his old place. rs the
vehicle went down. All outside was as
before; it was only within himself.
Philip Massey, that such awful stupen-
dous changes seemed TO have taken
place.
Oh course. he did not in the least
realize what had happened yet; but he
knew there vas some horrible calamity
in the distance which hung over him
and oppressed him like i distant thun-
der-clOud in a summer sky. The cloud
would roll up, and burst in a storm. So
would his calamity roll up soon, and
burst upon his mind in full force. False
hood. treachery, the most hideouS,
fyrlffl lsns fhn ho,, 1..< s.,
trigues-soon ne would have to grasp
it all, and understand that they hau all
been practiced--a all these abOminat ;Ons--
by the woman whom he had set up in his
heart as in a shrine. and wOrsh ped with
his whole soul. He shulderel a little
in anticipation of the coming horror,
but managed to stave it off for the pres
ent, and to arrive at the well-knOwn
Office. looking tranquil and self-pos-
sessed.
He went into the room full of clerks,
who looked up rs he entered, and
of them began civilly:
What can I-why, Philip Massey!
So it is. Are YOU back, old fellow! and
how are you?"
Hearty hand-shakes ami warm greet
ings from all his old friends, and the
admiring chances of new hands fol-
lowed, after which Philip suggested
that he would like to see Mr.. Slarkie.
and was straightway u-lcred into that
gentleman's private room.
Here, too. the greetings were warm. |
for Philip had done we'll the work which
had been intrlStcd to him. and by his
prOmptitude. decision and presence of
mind had saved his firm from considera-
bic pecuniary loss as well rs losses in
reputation which would have been more
serious to them; and they, being liberal
men. were ready to acknowledge good
service of whatever kind.
While Philip was deepin explanations
to Mr.. Starkie, and feeling IN occasion
al slight shiver a there started across |
his mind 4 sense of what was awaiting
him when the excitement should be
over, and he alone with himself and his
thoughts, in the midst of this Mr.. Grey
entered. Mr.. Grey was a handsome.
broad-shOuldered. distinguished looking
young man of about thirty, said to be
somewhat reserved and distant, but
whom Philip had :sways liked in the
slight and rare intercourse he had ever
had with him. He greeted Philip with
cordiality, entered into conversation
with him, and interested i'm what Philip
told him, invited him to return with him
that afternoon 20 his house. spend a
couple of nights with him, and be in
PRODUCED to his wife.
At any other time the prospect would
have been d;stasteful to Philip. or
rather, his heart, which was warm and
simple, As true mems hearts are. would
have rebelled at the idea of going to
strange houses, and visiting strange
persons. while he had scarce spoken
half a dozen words to his ~favOrite sister, |
and his father and mother, at home at
~FOulhaven, did not even know that he
was again in his native land. But these
circumstances were quite abnormal.
The idea OF getting into completely new
scenes and places was a tempting one.
He accepted MIR. Grey's invitation, and
sent TO Grace the note which has al
ready been spoken OF.
CalliardS, Mr.. Grey's place, was
some eight Or nine miles out of Irkford, |
a pleasant spot in the fresh, unpOlluted
country, with purple mOOrs and green
woods around it. Mr.. Grey drove there
when business was over, and the drive
through the April evening was pleasant
the air was cool. the sun was setting
with clear beams and casting long
shadows; they bowled swiftly along the
pleasant country roads. and turned in
before it was dusk along a limestone
drive with n fir plantation on ether
side. and up 10 alarge, pleasant, irregu-
lar gray stone house. They entered
through a tiled hall into a bright-look-