Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-03-05
CHAPTER XVII.
CLEAR SKIES.

CLEAh ShlES-
Although England was now to me and to
my wife land very different from the one
we quilted some eight months ago, we were
anxious to get back to Seville, if only to set
at rest my mothers fears She, poor woman,
as letter showed was much exercised as
to what manner of business could have
made us leave her in SO unceremonious a
way. The moment the glad truth had be-
come known to ME, had telegraphed, say
| ing that all was well with us. and that we
should join her, Two things only detained
| us.
The first was that we wanted the con-
vict's confession. Although Philippa said
little on the subject, knew that until it ar
rived she would not be quite happy There
was with her a haunting dread that tine
man, in the hope of mitigating his sentence,
had pleaded guilty to crime of which he
was innocent Even the accurate account
which gave her Of the interview with tho
| solicitor did not quite satisfy her. So we
waited impatently for the full explanation,
which might or might not come.
| The second thing which kept us in London
was this. determined that before I left
| would have the fact that when married
| Philippa I married Lady Ferrand fully &C
| l;nowledged. found my way to the gen
| tlemen who were winding up the dead
mans affairs, and stated my case to their
incredulous ears At first they treated me
as an impostor.
But not for long. Indeed, my task was half
done. They had already, without any as.
surance from Mrs Wilson, ferreted out the
date and particulars of the death of the first
Lady Ferrand. They had but to assure
themselves that the marriage certificate
which l laid before them was no forgery.
and surrender at discretion.
1t was poor estate, the administrators
told me. Sir Mervyn had died intestate.
He had during his lifetime made away with
nearly all he could ALLEVIATE. Still, there
was some personal property, of which my
wife could claim a share, and a certain
amount of real property, on which she was
entitled to dover. But it was a very poor
estate.
cut them very short. told them that,
let the deceased's wealth be great or little,
not one penny piece of it should soil my wife's
fingers. If Sir Mervyn Ferrand's heir was
in want of the money, it should, provided he
was different stamp of man from his i'm
mediate predecessor. be given to him free
gift If not, some hospital should be bene-
fitted by it. All wanted was that it should
he clearly understood that Sir Mervyn Fer
rand left a widow.
The administrators, one of whom was, by
the by, the heir, evidently looked upon me
as most eccentric parsonage. Perhaps it
was for this reason, or-as do not wish to
cast unmerited blame--perhaps it was be-
cause the estate wound up to nothing-wel,
any way, even to this day we have received
10 communication, much less remittance,
from the administrators; nor, to tell the
truth, have l troubled them again. Phil
ippa's marriage admitted, washed my hands
of all the Ferrand brood. 2,
The confession did not arrive; but per-
suaded Philippe to leave England. Mr..
Crisp could send whatever he had to send to
Seville just as we'll as to London So once
more, and this time in all but perfect hap
piness, we took the long journey which was
by now quite familiar to us.
The joy, the wild joy, with which Phil
ppa threw herself into my mothers arms
checked all the upbraidings and reproach
which We apparently merited Our return
was like the return of q prodigal son and
daughter. Laughter, tears and happiness
Although told my mother nothing as to
the object of our mysterious journey; al
though she asked me nothing; although no
word evidencing her knowledge of what had
passed has ever crossed her lips, l know
that all has been revealed to her; that Phil
ippa has sobbed out the whole strange tale
en- her breast. know it by this. that since
the day of our return my mothers deep
love for my wife has shown itself even ten
derer sweeter and deeper. Yes, l was
spared the telling of the tale. My mothers
eyes the next day showed me that Philippa
had given her the history, as have given it
here from beginning to ond.
No, not quite the end Sit by me once
more, as asked you at the beginning of my
story to sit by me; but this time. not by the
side of a smoldering fire, but out i'll the fair,
gay patio of our Andalusiun home. Philippa
and are side by side. The post has just
come in and brought me a bulky packet, OH
which, in a clerkly hand, is written my
name and address l tsnr ths wrapper open
with eagerness I know what it contains
Phiippa knows. / wish to read it first alone,
but the appealing look in her eyes turns me
.rom my purpose. After all there is nothing
tn fear, there can be nothing which she
ylould not know. So, with our cheeks all
out touching, we read together. Sit by us,
lean over my shoulder. and read with ma