, 1884-12-31
DARK DAYS.
IGaataZId.l

doWns md cnucavor 10 snatch an hours
aloep. She refused firmly. Much OF that
calm which had chnrncterlzod her since the
moment when / broke the fatal nows to her
had vanished. Its place was now taken by
an excitement, suppressed, but nevertheless
| clearly manifest to my eyes The fear that
we should not reach Tewnham in time for
tho trial seemed TO haunt her INCREASINGLY.
It was for this roascu sho so peromptorily
refused 70 lie down anu court sleep; She
feared lest our Dyes once closed. We should,
from sheer exhaustion, sleep for hours, and
80 mis- the corning train She was oycr
picturlng tho horror OF that poor unknown
1nn. being led from the dock, with tho
death sentence ringing in his cars.
So the time which elapsed before we started
for ewnha We spent in the hotel. / be-
spoke rooms by telegram, sent when we
reached Folkestone. We made an apology
for a meal; in fact, what we could get at
that time OF night was Of itself little more
than apology We sat all but silent, watch
ing tho hands OF the clock. which told Us
how fast the precious oments were passing
away. We saw tho grE morning, struggle
light. We heard the hum OF traffic growing
louder and louder In the streets below us
Then we turned 10 mako what may be right
l. ly called our last adieus. Who could say
that to-day my wffe and ! might not b.
parted ~foroverl
While at the hotel I tried TO obtain the
file OF the Times. I wanted TO look back
and SEQ II / could find the account Of magis-
~ q akAAAANN AAAA - 80
liam Evans. He must, Of course, have nP-
poared before tho lesser tribunal, and could
/ see the account Of his appearance / should
DO able to judge as 70 tho strength OF the
case against him. But the file was not forth
coming Perhaps 1t did not exist; perhaps
the sleopy-eyed Teutonfc waiter did not I'M
derstand what wanted; so, still in the dark
as to why suspicion should have fallen upon
this innocent man, we left tho hotel and
drove TO Liverpool street station.
At o'clock our journey was ended. Wo
stood on the platform OF Tewnham railway
station My poor wifo wore a thick black
veil, so her face / could not soc; but 1 know
It was as pale as death. Now and again her
hand, which rested on my arm, pressed 1t
convulsively. / think we were tho most I'M
happy pair on the earthl
We were oven denied tho time for any
more farowells or expressed regrets. Tho
hour was Ginning from the old cathedral
towor. Tho business Of tho courts, | know,
always began at 10 o'clock, and considering
tracted by so interesting a case as this trial
for murder committed so muny months ngo,
! felt sure TINT unless we proceeded mt once
10 tho Shirehall our chance OF gaining en-
trance would be but a small ona l hailed
ono OF the close cabs which were waiting
outside the station.
As l did so Lfelt n heavy hand laid upon
my shoulder and heard a rich, ~plensants
sounding and not unfamiliar voice exclaim,
Basil North. as Pm a s~innerfp
That any ono should Mt this moment ad.
dress Basil North in n merry way seemed
n positive in~congruity. l turned around al
most anRrily. and founu myself face TO face
with an old friend. He was q barrister
named Grant; n man four or five years my
senior, but one with whom, before l for
sworo the society of my fellow-men, / had
been on Intimate terms. | had not seen him
for a considerable time; but had heard,
casually, that he was making great strides
in his forensic career.
In spite of my distress l returned his
greeting and graspod his hand warmly. Az
tor all Il seemed a relief to find that I had a
friend loft In the world
"Whnt brings you hereF / asked.
THE only thing that could bring mo 10
such n placo-circuit work ! have an i'm
portant case on to-day. That's the worst
OF n place so near London as this ono. One
Is temptod to spend the nights in town,
which means getting up at an unholy hour
In tho morning. But you'll Why are you
herel hoard you wore ms rich rs Midas,
and living abroad in luxury
II have been abroad for some time. ]
hope TO go back again very soon"
Happy manr7 he calculated. I could
scarcely keep the bitter smile from my lips
ms ! thought how Ill applied were his words.
As he spoke no glanced at Philippe, whose
grace and beauty OF form deiied tho con-
cealment attempted by thick veil and SOM
bro garments.
But what brings you TO this sleepy old
town. continued Grant.
I hositated for n moment Then. think
ing TINT truth. or at least half truth, was
tho best, told him 1 had como down TO wit
ness tho trial FOR murder.
Il should doubt your getting into court
he said. 'The morbid interest excited
around about here is. l I'M told, very grent.
The sheriff Is besieged by applications for
Couldn't you help mes The fact is, l
have a particular reason, not mere curiosity,
for wishing to DO present at this trial.
IL don't think ] cam said Grant docs
your-the lady wish to go with your.
my ~cousin-yes," I said seeing that he
expected an Introduction. Ho raised his
hat and made some courteous and pleasant
remark, to which Phillppa, to my surprise,
replied in n calm md fitting way.
Grant knew ] had no sister. I called her
cousin because / had a wild hope that, II tho
worst happened. l might be able TO conceal
the truo relationship in which we stood, and
so DO permitted to give evidence on her be-
half. trusted my wife would guess that l
had a good reason for this deception.
TRY and manage this for mo, Grantn l
said so earnestly that my friend made no
further demur.
''Tale me in your cab, and l will 500 what
II can do.n
During our drive to the shirohal / asked
Grant what he know about tho impending
trial.
Nothing" he said. frankly. 81 hate
murder cases-hate even to read about them.
lOf course l know that Sir Mervyn Ferrand
was killed and hidden in the snow for days
land days. But l know no more
"Who IL tho accusedf'
~ don't know. l thought, from your
anxiety, you must know him.
"Wnl he DO found guiltyf'
81 don't know. Stay, | heard some one
lNho ought to DO well informed say ycster-
day hat tho case for the prosecution was
most feeble. He seemed to doubt II the
grand jury would return a true bilLn
As I heard this ! pressed Philippa's hand
secretly. l felt that she was trembling.
The drive 10 the Shirohall occupied only a
few minutes. We did not go to the public
Entrance, In front OF which ] could sec a
crowd OF people noarly blocking up the
street. We stopped at another door, and
Grant, after looking around, caught sight OF
what appeared 10 be an Inspector OF police.
He entered into n little conversation with
him, the result Of which WAS that we were
given into his care.
This is a breach Of the law whispered
my friend as he babe me goodbye. ''You
lwill have to atone for il by a handsome
We followed our guide. Philippa, al
though walking with n firm step, leaned
heavily upon my arm ! scarcely know by
what door we entered that palace Of JUS
hice. Tho stalwnrt policeman led us through
btone corridor and passages, which re-
hchoed with the tread OF our feet, and at
last we found ourselves before a double
Swinging plain oak door, over which in old
English letters was written Criminal
Court"
felt Philippe shudder, and know that
khe sight Of those words brought tho horror
bf the situation fully homo TO her. Mechan.
bcally / pressed a sovereign IN the land OF
tho venial inspector, Or whatever he was;
then. holding my wifes hand. l passed
Through tho n~oiseleas swinging door into the
hll but empty court
A few policemen and other officials were
lounging about Two or three people, who
had no doubt gained ndmittnnce in the same
lwny AS we had done, were seated in various
boignes Of vantage. led Philippa up tho
broad steps, and pointed to one Of the hard
wooden benches provided for tho accommo
hation OF the general public. These benches
were raised step by step, ono above another.
| 1--WE chnan nnr ~nnalNlnn nhnuL hall.-nu IN