Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-09-11

eN " Vue Vi MS own discarded mis-
tresses was but another proof of the mani
revolving cynicism. Mrs. Wilson's accept
ahce oil the charge showed me to what :
ieVel a woman could sink. It told ne
moreover, that in spite of her letter she wa,
not to be trusted. A woman who could
!end herself to her former lovers purposes
IN such a way as this must have parted with
every atom of pride. 1t seemed to me thai
the woman and the man were well matched
in baseness.
otlu her letter lifted a load from nv
mind felt that for awhile there could be
no pursuit; yet l resolved to risk nothing,
but hurry on with all possible speed. Only
Wnen we crossed tie frontier of Spain could
sleep in peace.
All researches, with a view to obtaining
evidence OF the first Lady Ferrand's death
l postponed indefinitely. Some day, if all
went well, would return to England and
procure the documents necessary to prove
Inc validity OF Philippa's marriage. There
was no pressing hurry. AS to any money
which should be hers, never with my consent
should she touch apenny which had belonged
to the dead man.
frotracted as my meditations seem on pa
per, they were in reality much longer; in.
deed, they We're not at an end Then the boat
steamed into Boulogne harbor. went in
search OF my companions, who, l was glad
TO md, had borne the voyage well. We
were soon in the train, and, without any
events occurring worth recording, at eight
O'Clock stood OH the Care du Nord, Paris.
We drove through the brightly lit streets
10 the HOfal dII TOuura Tho etai,, oe kro vi
washed away, my mother gave q sigh of
satisfaction as she seated herself at the din
ner table. Like a sensible woman, she was
no despiser of the good things OF this life.
There were other late diners in the great
coffee room, and many a head was turned to
look at the beautiful girl who sat on my
right hand; for every day which brought
her new health and strength brought also
to my love an installment Of her former
beauty. In a very short time she would DO
to all appearances the Philippe of old.
Chow long shall we stay in Paris, Basilr'
asked my mother.
"lt is now half-past nine; our train starts
at 845 in the morning. Calculate the
time"
"Oh, nonsensel 1t is years since l have
been in Paris. l a to look at the shops.
So does Philippe, l am sure"
"My dear mother, the man, much more
the woman, who fingers in Paris is lost. If
you are going elsewhere the only way is to
go straight through, or else you get no fur
Their. 1 have proved this, and mean to run
no risk"
"But remember we are only weak women.
This poor child is far from strong"
She smiled at Philippa, whose eyes thanked
her for the affectionate a%ppellation
Don't be merciless, Basil" she continued,
s'give us at least one day"
''Not one. l am just going to look after a
courier, so that you may travel in all posi-
BILE comfort"
My mother seemed almost annoyed, and
again said l was merciless. What would
she have said had she known that, unless |
had received that letter. instead of going to
our present comfortable quarters we should
have driven to the Orleans railway, and
taken the first train to the southl How
little she knew-how little, l trusted, Phil
ippa knew-from what we were flyingl
l felt l must give my mother some reason
for my haste; SO, before going in quest of
my courier, l took her aside.
at is not we'll for Philippa to stay in
Paris" l said. "Some one whom she ought
not to meet was here a short time ago."
l blamed myself for the deception; but
what could l do7 Alas! it seemed to me that
my life, which once was fearlessly open to
the inspection of all, was now full of little
else save receptions. Should l ever again
be my true self2
My mother raised no further objection. /
found a courier-a bearded gentleman of
commanding presence, who spoke every
European language with impartial perfec-
ton. / gave him instructions to SEQ to every
thing next morning; to collect our luggage
save the small quantity we carried with us,
and to register it through to Burgos. had
no particular reason for choosing Burgos,
but it seemed a convenient place at which
to take Our first thorough rest.
The next days journey was adult, dreary,
wearisome affair. My companions had not
shaken of the fatigue Of the previous day,
and now that felt Philippa's safety was,
comparatively speaking, assured, a reaction
set in with me. No wonder. Ishudle now
as l think of the strain to which both body
and mind had been subjected during the last
fortnight. was moody and l~istleSs. The
air was full of fog and mist. The so-called
express train pounded along after the we'll
known style of French railways. Orleans,
Blois, Tours, Poictiers, An youleme, CoutFas
and other stations passed ma as one in a
dream. The dull day crept on until dark
evening was upon us, and we were all thor
oughly glad when our days journey ended
at Bordeaux.
My mother, who was rather great at guide
books, had beguiled part of the journey by
a Murray, which somehow made its appear
ance from her travelling bag. AS she knew
we were to sleep at Bordeaux she had been
laying down the law as to what we were to
look at. We were to see the curious high
wooden fifteenth century houses of the old
town; the cathedral, with its fine towers; the
very old churches of st. Croix and st.
Seurin, and a variety of other interesting
objects. 1t needed all the assurance l pos
sessed, all the invalid's querulousness and
insistence l could assume, to induce her to
consent to resume our journey the first thing
in the morning. Even Philippa pleaded for
delay, and gave me to understand that she
thought | was using my mother unfairly.
But l was firm. If l could l would have
hurried on by the midnight train. Any
way, now that we were within a few hours
Journey of the frontier and of safety, 1
would leave no more than l could help to
chance.
So in the early morning I got my party
together, and before it was light led them to
the train. 1 believed that by now my
mother looked upon me as rather out of my
senses. She frankly owned she could not
see the necessity of making a toll out Of