, 1884-12-25

beauties OF the south; and | was glad to 10
heve that the thought Of visiting what
might almost DO called her native land wns
beginning to awaken her interest. Only let
mo be able to show her that life could still
promise a pleasant future. and the moody
memories OF the past months might be ban
fshed forever.
I am sure that no ono who could have seen
US that morning would have dreamed that
out of that party OF three, consisting OF a
comfortable. pleasant-looking English mn
iron, a strangely beautiful girl and myself.
tho were flying from the hands of justice.
Our appearance was certainly such as to
disarm all suspicion.
"But whore are we goingf' asked my
mother. II object to go wandering about
without knowing where our pilgrimage is to
end"
Eve arc going to Paris first. then to Spain
to wherever we can find the warmth AMI
sunshine which il necessary to my existence.
II we can't find them In Spain, we will cross
over to Africa, and. II needful go Town to
the Equator"
Then you young people will have to go
alone draw the line of my good nature
at Europe"
l glanced at Philippa. Her long curved
lashcs hid her eyes. but a telltale blush was
on her cheek 1 knew that the day was not
so very distant when she would answer my
appeal as l wished. / know that. could /
but sweep away the record OF that one night,
all might yet bs we'll with her. Oh. that
she may never recall what l alone knewi
As we were nearing FolkestSns / remem-
berod tho letter which had been given me at
tho bank. l drew it from my breast, in
tending to read t.; hut the sight OF the
Roding postmark on the outside made mo
rhanoa urv fnfapfton raunaurbQral Mra
Wilson's half promise to send me some COM
mmication- Ilonged and yet l dreaded 10
break tho seal. | fclt IL would be better for
me to read that letter alone. Whatever
might DO the tenor OF is contents, | was sure
IL had soma bearing on Philippa's relations
with Sir Mervyn Ferrand.
We were soon on board the stoamer and
under way. Although the Arctic rigors of
the last three weeks had departed. the air on
the sea was too keen TO make tho channel
passage an enjoyable one. | persuaded my
mother and Philippe to take refuge in tho
saloon, and then | found a quiet spot where
/ was able to read my letter without fear Of
interruption or OF hetraying myself by the
emotion It's contents might cause. 1t was
we'll | did 50, for the first words blnnched
my che elk. The letter began abruptly, so:
"I know or guess all. / know why Sir
Mervyn Fsrrand did not reach my house
that night l know the reason for her
strange excited state. know why she left
my house before you came to sock her. l
know how he met with the death he de-
served.
"Ahl she is Drawer than l am. She has
lone what years ago ! swore l would do;
and yet I had not the courage. l was base
enough TO forego revenge for the sake of the
beggarly maintenance he offered me-for
the sake, perhaps, OF my children l sank
low enough to become his tool-to do as he
bads me, even to taking under my roof the
woman who thought herself his wife. Yes,
sho has boon Drawer than l. But her wrongs
were greater than mine for | had but my
self to hlame for being in such n degraded
position that he could throw me- aside like
an old glove. He never married me.
Fear nothing for your sister, II she DO
your sister. Tell her my lips are sealed to
the death; and for tho sake of her brave act
tell her this:
'Sir Mervyn Ferrandis first wife died On
the 18th Of June, 1856, three month"; before
tho day on which he married your sister.
| She died at Liverpool, at No. 5 Silver street.
She WINS buried in the cemetery, under the
name OF Lucy Ferrnnd. She has friends
alive. 1t will DO eaay TO prove That she was
the woman whom he married. Hor maiden
name was King. He hated her. They
parted. He gave her a sum OF money on
condition that she never called herself his
wife. He lost sight of her; l never did.
For years l hoped she would die, and that
he would marry me- She died too late for
the hope to be realized. l told him OF her
death: but I changed the date. would not
tell him whore she died. Part OF his object
in coming to Roding that night was to en-
deavor to wiring the information from me.
BE would never have had it. No other
woman should a been his wife so long as
1 could stop 1t.
"Now that he is dead. you can tell your
brave sister that she may, II she likes, take
the name. title, and what wealth she can
claim. Foar nothing from me; I Will be
silent as death