, 1885-01-01
ls plead guntyr 1 asked.

"but Dhy ala ne plead guttVY' 4 asked.
because he tOas a fool" raped out M.
Crisp.
Because he was a fool, !" raped out Mr..
Crisp. at was like committing suicide. l
don't care a button for the man himself; but
/ confess | was annoyed at seeing my case
all knocked to pieces by his obstinacy. /
went to him; IL you we're in court you no
doubt saw me. | begged him to Withdraw
his plea. l told him l could save him. Yet
tho fool insisted"
did %pcnitencs or remorse urge himfn
"Idon't know. He could have had more
time for penitencs 'and rsmorse II he had
let me save him from the gallows. No; he
says, It's no good-not a bit Of good. You
don't know all l know. There's some one in
court who knows all about it-saw 1t all
done. She's come to hang me- have no
idea What he meant"
l started. ! knew what the man meant.
He, in common with every one else in that
court, had turned and looked at Philippa as
she rose from her seat and addressed the
judge. 1t was the sight OF Philippe that
had taken away the wretch's last hope Of
escape.
~ wash my hands of the fellow, of
course" continued Mr.. Crisp; "but / did
take the trouble to inquire IL any witnesses
for the prosecution had been allowed to enter
1a1 &S1A1 AAA Na4 WoA1 al A0DI
in waiting outsids.n
l sat for some moments in deep thought.
The solicitor looked at me as IL he fancied l
had already taken up as much Of his valu-
able time as he could spare.
us there any way Of gaining access to the
condemned mani" ! said. could you, for
instance, got an order to SEQ himr'
"No doubt l could but l have no object in
seeing him"
at ill ufva m ok4o.k " 7 IL
want you to see that man, and IL possible
get a written, or at least dictated, confession
from him-not OF the bald fact that be is
guilty, but of all particulars connected with
the murder"
Mr.. Crisp looked surprised, and expressed
his opinion that 1t was all but impossible to
obtain what l wanted.
/ lac taken rather a fancy to tho brisk
spoken. sharp little man. He seemed to me
trustworthy; so that, after consideration. l
determined to conflde to him my reasons
for making this request. Under the assur-
ancs Of professional secrecy, I told him
briefly so much as l thought ft OF Philippa's
and my own connection with the events Of
that night. He listened with an interest
which augured well for the reception which
awaits the sombre tale / now give to the
world. His curiosity soemed excited, and
he promised to SEQ the convict. and il posi-
BILE learn all | wanted to know. l left my
address and. babe him good day.
1 did not care to linger at Teynham; so l
walked down to the railway station, intend
ing to return to town by the next train. As
l waited on the platform a down train
came in. A sudden impulse seized me. The
day was still young l had time to spare.
l crossed the bridge. entered the train, and
in a quarter of an hour was at Roding. /
went there because | was impslled by a de-
sire to once moro visit the actual scene Of
the beginning of all these troubles
l walked that road which Sir Mervn
Ferrand had walk ed that dark night But
oh, how changed every thing wasi Yet not
more changed than our own livssi It was n
glorious afternoon In September. The rain
Of the preceding day had left the earth
moist and fresh. The fields, on either side
of the road, were cleaning with that bright
pure emer aid which they wear after the
ruthless soythe has swept away tho ripe
grass and the marguerites and other flowers
which grew among It; or else they wore
filed from hedge to hedge with a golden
sea of waving corn, or sheaves waiting
to be garnOred; for the harvest that
year was not early. The wild roses were
long over. but fragrant honsysuckle and
other wild flowers still made gay the hedge
rows and banks. The birds had awakened
from their August silence and were singing
once more. The great sleepy cows lay under
the shade OF the trees. The large mows OF
new hay stood side by side with their dingy-
looking but more valuable elder brothers
The whole land seemed wrapped in happy
autumnal repose. The scene was calm, peace
full and thoroughly typical OF England. So
beautiful 1t was, so full Inow felt Of love for
my native land that had those pages been
then written ! should upon my return home
have erased all my glowing description OF
Seville.
A breath Of soft but fresh air came blow.
ing from the faraway downs / drew in a
deep draught, l thraw back my shoulder
and stood erect. laughed aloud in my great
happiness as a comical picture, familiar to
my childhood, OF Christian losing his bur
den. rose before my mind, and seemed to ba
the exact thing wanted to illustrate my own
case. Yes, the burden ! had borne had fallen
from my back foreverl
Ali here Is the spot-the very spot where
Sir Mervyn fell. 1t was here, just under
that cluster of ragged-robbins, / must have
have placed his corpse, little thinking that
the kind white snow would hide It and save
my love and me, oh. how l prayed in those
days that the bitter weather might last; that
Its iron grip would hold the world fast until
Philippa's health and strength returnedl 1t
did so, and saved usl
when are the SHOWS that foil last Year,
IN H.. Onat.nn.5a