Weekly commercial herald., 1885-09-25
Continued from Second Page
DAYS.
BY HUGH CONWAY.

H LSoASN ASSJy our eyes once clO6eQt We should,
4 from sheer exhaustion, sleep for hours, and
4 SO miss the morning train. She was ever tl
n picturlng the horror Of that poor unknown
I; man, being led from the dock, with the
! death sentence ringing in his ears.
! 30 the time which elapsed before we started
= Ior Iewnham we spent in the hotel be-
spoke rooms by telegram, sent when we
reached Folkestons We made an apology
Ior meal; in fact, what we could get at
tnat time OF night was of itself little more
than apology. We sat all but silent, watch
ing the hands of the clock, which told us
now last the precious moments were passing
away we saw the gray morning struggle
Min' and at last conquer, the yellow gas
ilgn6 we heard the hum of traffic growing
louder and louder in the streets below us.
linen we turned to make what may be right
called our last adieus. Who could say
that to-day my wife and / might not be
parted foreveri
n, While at the hotel tried to obtain the
LIE OF the Times. | wanted to look back
ana see if could find the account of magis-
tterial proceedings against this uniucky Viii
nam evans. He must, of course, have ap-
Peared before the lesser tribunal, and could
see the account of his appearance should
pe able to judge as to the strength of the
case against him. But the file was not forth
coming. Perhaps it did not exist; perhaps
tne sleepy-eyed Teutonic waiter did not un-
oerstand whatl wanted; so. still in the dark
as to why suspicion should have fallen upon
thls innocent man, we left the hotel and
uroVe to Liverpool street station
AT o'clock our journey was ended. We
STOOD on the platform of Tewnham railway
station. My poor wife wore thick black
veil, SO her face could not see; but / knew
1t was as pale as death. Now and again her
hand, which rested on my arm, pressed it
convulsively think we were the most I'M
happy pair on the earth
We We're even denied the time for any
more farewells or expressed regrets. The
hour was Ginning from the old cathedral
tower. The business of the courts, knew,
always began at 10 o'clock, and considering
the crowd which would most surely be at
tracted by so interesting case as this trial
Tor murder committed so many months ago,
felt sure that unless we proceeded at once
to the Shirehall our chance of gaining en-
trance would be but small one. l hailed
one of the close cabs which. were waiting
outside the station.
AS did so felt heavy hand laid upon
my shoulder and heard rich, pleasant
sounding and not unfamiliar voice exclaim,
"Basil North as Pm a sinnerr'
That any one should at this moment ad-
dress Basil North in a merry way seemed
positive inconGruity. turned around al
most angrily, and founu myself face to face
with an old friend. He was a barrister
named Grant; man four or five years my
senior, but one with whom, before l for
swore the society of my fellow-men, had
been on intimate terms. had not seen him
for 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 grasped his hand warmly. Az
ter all it seemed q relief to find that had a
friend left in the world.
"What brings you here3" asked.
"The only thing that could bring me to
such place-circuit work. have an i'm
portant case on to-day. That's the worst
of place so near London as this one. One
is tempted to spend the nights in town,
in the morning. But youl Why are you
here? heard you were as rich as Midas,
cnd living abroad in luxury"
II have been abroad for some time I
hope to go back again very soon"
Happy mani" he calculated. I could
scarcely keep the bitter smile from my lips
as thought how i'll applied were his words.
AS he spoke he glanced at Philippe, whose
grace and beauty Of form defied the con-
cealment attempted by thick veil and SOM
bre garments.
townW continued Grant.
l hesitated for a moment. Then think
ing that truth, or at least half truth, was
the best, told him had come down to wit
ness the trial for murder
Il should doubt your getting into court"
he said. ''The morbid interest excited
around about here is, am told, very great.
The sheriff is besieged by applications for
tickets"
Couldn't you help me1 The fact is l
have particular reason, not mere curiosity,
for wishing to be present at this trial"
81 don't think can" said Grant "Does
your-the lady wish to go with your
"My cousin-yes,h | said seeing that he
expected All introduction. He raised his
hat and made some courteous and pleasant
remark to which Philippa, to my surprise,
replied in a calm and fitting way.
Grant knew l had no sister. called her
cousin because | had wild hope that IL the
worst happened, might be able to conceal
the true relationship in which we stood, and
so be permitted to give evidence on her be-
half. trusted my wife would guess that
had good reason for this deception.
"Try and manage this for me, Grant"
said so earnestly that my friend made no
further demur.
"Take me in your cab, and 1 will see what
con do"
During our drive to the Shirehall asked
Grant what he knew about the impending
trial.
Nothing" he said. frankly. II hate
murder cases-hate even to read about them.
Of course know that Sir Mervyn Ferrand
was killed and hidden in the snow for days
and days. But know no more"
"Who is the accusedF'
~ don't know. thought, from your
anxintV Won must know him
"Will he be found guiltyT'
"a don't know. Stay, heard some one
who ought to be well Informed say yester-
day that the case for the prosecution vVas
most feeble. lie seemed to doubt il the
grand jury would return true bill"
AS heard this pressed Philippa's hand
secretly. felt that she was trembling.
The drive to the Shirehall occupied only
few minutes. We did not go to the public
entrance, In front of which | could see a
crowd of people nearly blocking up the
street We stopped at another door, and
Grant, after looking around, caught sight of
what appeared to be an inspector of police.
He entered into a little conversation with
him. the result of which was that we were
given into his care.
nv friend as he bade me goodbye. s'You
Will have to atone for it by handsome
gratuity,"
We followed our guide. Philippa, al
though walking with a firm step, leaned
heavily upon my arm. scarcely know by
what door we entered that palace Of Jus
tice. The stalwart policeman led us through
echoed with the tread of our feet, and at
last we found ourselves before double
swinging plain oak door, over which In old
English letters was written "Criminal