, 1884-12-25

easier by knowing that Philippa was gazing
at me with that troubled look In hor eyes
Altogether l felt that the strain wes b9eom-
ing too much for mo. and I began to wohdar
II my Life would ever again know a happy
or secure moment
TELL me. Basil, lave you heard from that
manf'
shook my head
where Is hei He was coming that night
Did he conner
81 suppose not Why do you askf'
Basil. a kind Of horrible dream haunts
me. There was something / dreamed OF
that fearful night. something l dream Of
now. Tell me what It was"
Tn p~srpirntion rose to my brow.
Dearest" / said, mo wonder you dream.
You are well now. but that night you were
quite out OF your senses. Your fancies are
but the remains Of that deIirium- Think
no moro Of that wretch; be Is probably
living in Paris. after tho manner Of his kind.
Think only that life Is going TO be calm and
happy"
Anything to keep the knowledge OF her
fatal act from heri l forced myself to talk
In a light. cheerful manner. I jested at the
appearance of the fow mufied-up country
people whom we passed on tho road !
pointed out the beauty OF the trees on the
wayside, each branch OF which bore foliage
OF glistening snow. l did all / could to turn
her thoughts into other channels-to drive
that strange questioning look from her eyes.
Right glad l felt when We were at last In the
train, and the first stage Of our flight an
accomplished fact.
Upon renching London drove straight
to tho hotel at which my mother was stay.
ing. IL was one OF those high priced 70
spectacle private hotels in Jermyn street
] engaged rooms for my sister and myself.
sent Philippe to her room TO rest, and
then went to And my mother. In another
minute / was In her arms, and ere half an
hour was over / had told her Philippa's story,
and my love for the woman on whose be
half l besought her protection
Yes, / had done right to trust her. ]
knew her noble nature; her utter freedom
rom the petty trammels OF society. ]
'enew the love she bore her son. Let ma
ERE thank her onc3 more for what she did
.or me that day.
She heard all my outpourings In silence.
/ told her all, ave two things-ths name OF
the man who had wronged my love and the
fate which had ~overtaken him. l told her,
as l have told you, how / had loved-how ]
loved Philippa; how l now dared to hope
that In time to come my love would b re
warded- Iprayed her to take my poor girl
to her heart, AMI by treating her as q
daughter restore. II It were possible, her
self-respect
My mother heard me. Her sweet face
grew a shade paler. Her lips quivered, and
the tears stood in her eyes. knew all that
was passing through her mind. know how
proud she was OF me. and what great things
she had hoped l should do In the world. She
was a woman. and, woman-like, had counted
upon her sons bettering himsslf by mar
riage; but, in spite Of all this. l knew / was
right In counting Upon her aid. Once again,
my sweet mother. l thank you.
Sh rosa. Let mo SOC the woman you
love. Where is shot / will 90 to her."
"She Is here In this housa. All, mother.
knew you would do this for me-"
She kissed my forehead Bring her to
me,n she said.
1 went out, and sent word to Philippa thai
l wanted her. Shs soon came to me. She
had removed the stains Of travel, and, al
though pale. looked the perfection OF grace-
full beauty. lied her to my mothers room.
She stopped short as she saw It tenantsd by
a lady. A quick blush crossed her cheek.
"Phiiippa. dearest" L said. this b my
mother. l have told her all, and she "a
waiting to welcome you"
6tll she stood motionless, save thather bead
ben down and her form hsaved- Ny mother
came to her side. and. placing her kind arms
around her. whispered some words which ]
neither heard nor tried 60 hear. Philippe
broke into a storm Of sobs. and for soma
moments wept on my mothers shoulder.
Then she raised her head and looked at
me, and my heart leaped at the expression
in her fearful eyea ''Basil, my brother,
you are too good to mer' she calculated
My mother led her to the sofa, and, with
her arms still round har. nat down nv has
side. / loft them, knowing that my love
had now the truest. nobiest heart TO sol
against; the quickest, most sympathetic eai
to listen to the tale Of her wrongs; and the
s~oftest, kindest voice 10 soothe and console
her.
Ali how happy 1 should havs felt could
that one nights dark work nave bcsn un-
dons-could that white tomb forever hold
its CHASTITY secreti