, 1884-12-25

AAt1t WaAhAAE u lew plNt1 MIS-. WILSON,
turned and came back to ma. give me an
address, " shs said, II may want to write to
you"
i hesitated; thon l told her that any let
ters sent to my bankers In London would
rench mo sooner or later. 1t was too soon to
excite suspicion by concealment OF one's
movements
It -as after l had gazed at that white
tomb by the roadside that my impatience to
remove Philippe grew 1ercer and fiercer.
Moreover, / had at last made up my mind
what to do with my precious charge. As
soon as she would be we'll enough to bear tho
journey, l resolved to take hor to London
and place her in the hands OF ons Of the
truest, noblest, tenderest women in tho
worid-my mother
She was in London, waiting for me to Join
her. / had written, telling her that the Sc
rious Illness of a friend prevented mo from
leaving my home for some days. Now / re-
solved to go TO her, and toll hsr all Philip
pas sad tale-all save the ole dark chapter
Of which she herself, hoped, knew nothing.
! would take her TO my mother. l would toll
my mother how loved her; I would appeal
TO her love for mo, and ask her to take my
poor stricken girl to her heart, ever as she
would tax q daughter; and l dared to hope
that, II only for my sake, my prayer would
be granted
Philippe wal now thoroughly Gonzales
cent As / lay down my pen for amoment
and think Of that time, with its fears and
troubles, It Ia a marvel to me that l could
have dared to wait so long before removing
her from the neighborhood can only at
tribute my lingering to the sense of fatality
that all woul go right. or to the professional
instinct which forbade mo urging a patient
to do anything which might retard recovery;
but the time had at last come.
Save for her quiet and subdued manner,
my love was almost her old self again. Her
words and manner 70 me wero tender, affec-
Tomato and sisterly. Ineed hardly say that
during that time no word crossed my lips
which l would have recalled Love, II not
the thought OF It, I had laid aside until hap
pier days dawned; for-I say 1t advisedly,
and at risk OF csnsure-Philippa was to mo
pure and innocent as on the day when first
we met II her hands were stained with the
blood OF Bir Mervyn Ferrand. she knew 1t
not Her wrongs had goaded her TO mad
ness. and her madness was responsible for
thu act, not she herself.
The mans name never crossed her lips.
For all she spoke OF him he might never have
existed, or, at the most, been but a part OF a
forgotten dream As soon as she was weil
enough to rise from her bed, and 1 could for
hours enjoy her society. we talked OF many
things; but never OF Sir Mervyn Ferrand
and tho immediate past.
But, nevertheless, there were times when
her look distressed me. Now and again /
found her gazing at mo with anxious,
troubled eyes, as II trying to read some
thing which l was hiding from her. Once
she asked mo how she came to my house
that night.
"Out Of tho whirlIng snow l said as
If~Ltl~~ ~. I r~.,1I frVau - ~ n hf.A
state Of fever and delirium-"
'swhers had l beenl What had l been
dolngfn,
"You came straight from Mrs Wilson's. l
suppose. know no more"
Then she sighed and turned her head
away; but ] soon found her troubled dark
eyes again liked on my own. 1 could do
nothing but most their gaze bravely, and
pray that my poor love might never. nevor
be able to I'LL those hours which were at
present 4 blank to her.
At last. exactly a fortnight from the fatal
day, we left my home. / was now what Is
legally termed an accessory after the act,
and was making avery effort to ave tho
poor girl from Justice. In order to avert
suspicion, decided it was better not to shut
up my house; so l left the faithful William
10 take care Of II, aud await my fnstruc-
lions. At present it was advisable that any
inquirers should learn that / had gone TO
London with my sister, and that the time
OF our return was uncertain. By and by,
II all went well. l could got rid Of my cot
tage in an ordinary way. ], for one. should
never wish to visit he place again
Philippe acquicsced in all my arrange
ments. She was quits willing to accompany
mo to town She trustol me with childish
simplicity. "But, Basil. afterward-what
after wardfn she nskei.
Even in the midst OF the menacing peril it
was nll I could do to refrain from kneeling
at her feet and telling her that my love
would solve the question OF the future.
81 have a surprise for you in London" /
said, as chesrfully a. l could Trust
yours III to me; you will not regret it"
Shs took my hand. Whom else nave !
to trusti" she said simply. Basil, you
have been very good to me. / have mnde
your life miserable: 1t is too late to atone;
but ! shall never forget these days"
Her eyes wors full OF tears. l kissed her
hand revorently, and told her that when l
saw the old smile back upon her lips, all l
ha done would be a thousand times repaid
but rs l spoke / trembled at the thought OF
what might be in store for both OF US,
We drove 10 Roding. and were perforce
Obliged to take the road which passed by
Mrs. Wilson's house. Philippa half rose
from her scat, and seemed TO be on the
point OF asking mo some question; but she
changed her mind. and rclapsed into silence
I feIt a horrible dread lest tho roadside oh
jocts and landmarks should awaken recoL
lection, and my heart beat violently as we
neared tho white hoap by the hedge. TINT
heap which l believed held our secret / felt
that l grewdsadly pale. was forced to turn
my head away nnd look out OF the opposite
window. My stn.s Of mind was not made