The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-04-01
DARK DAYS
H co N Y,
Author Of " Called Back"

CHAPTER Yu-THE MELTING OF THE
SNOW.
The first stage of our flight toward
safety accomplished, 1 sat down to
once more review the situation, and to
take such council rs I could give my
self. I endeavored to foreshadow the
consequences of the inevitable discov-
cry Of Sir Mervyn Ferrand's death. l
tried calmly to ascertain in what quar-
ter the danger Of discovery was situat-
ed, and how best TO guard against or
turn aside the peril.
Undoubtedly the chief person to fear
was Mrs. Wilson. She alone knew
that the man intended to reach Roding
that night. She alone knew what re-
lation or supposed relation, he stood
to Philirpa. The very night ofhis death
would be fixed by the snow storm; and
I felt sure that rs soon as the dead MAI
was Unidentified Mrs. Wilson could not
fail to associate her guests sudden de-
parture and subsequent illness with
the terrible event. The moment she
revealed what she knew or suspected,
suspicion must point to the right per-
son, and pursuit must at once follow.
My heart grew sick, as, think how l
would, I could see no loop-hole by
which to escape from this danger.
About secondary things I troubled
but little. Upon calm consideration
Ibid not believe that m; stolid Will
liam would for a moment jump at the
right conclusion. If he were led to
suspect either of us it would be me,
not Philippa; and I well knew that he
was so much attached to me that, al
though he felt certain 1 had done the
deed, he would feel equally certain
that had good and proper reasons for
doing it. and no word to my detriment
would pass his reticent lips. No,
there was little to fear from William.
/ had blamed myself deeply for the
impulse which had urged me to hurl
the fatal weapon away. Why did |
not keep it and bury it fathoms deep?
If that pistol were found, it would pos
sibly furnish a clue which might be
followed up, and undo every thing
my only hope was that 1 had thrown il
to some spot where it might lie
undiscovered, until all association be-
tween it and the murder had disap-
peared.
10 sum briefly, l was bound to de-
eide that the damntng circumstancial
evidence which could be furnished by
Mrs. Wilson drove me back to my
original idea. There was no chance OF
my poor Philippa's remaining unacused
or unsupported of the deed she had un.
Willingly done; so her only hope OF
safety Indeed, considering all, I may
also say my only hope CT safety-was
rapid flight. We must gain some
land in which we could dwell without
fear of being arrested. What land
was there?
Many a one. The date of my story
is before 1878, when nearly all the ex-
tradition treaties were made. AT that
time such treaties existed with only
two foreign countries-France and the
United States; so that our choice Of a
resting place was not so limited as
those who are flying from the clutches
of the law find it to-day. However in
order to make certain. I paid a visit tc
a legal friend of mine; and by quoting
a supposititious case, managed to &C
quire a good deal of information re-
specting the dealings of n nation
with another, so far as fugltives were
concerned.
Ifound that although, with the two
exceptions above-named, there was nc
settled international law on the sub
iect, there was a kind of unwritteD
substitute, which was known by the
name Of the Comfy of nations. Under
this code of courtesy, anotorious Grim.
inal, who had sought refuge in tile
arms of another country, was not I'm
commonly, although there was no law
under which he could be arrested
given up to his pursuers, by being
simply driven across the frontier OF
the country in which he had hoped
to find security. However, I gathered
that this so-called comfy was scarcely
expected to be exercised by the most
friendly state, unless the fugitive had
fled almost %red-handed, and so placed
his guilt beyond doubt. No n exact.
ly knew how far this obliging expul
sion might he counted upon. 1t was
generally supposed to be decided by
the amount of influence or persuation
which one government exercised on
the other.
This information rather upset my
precenceived ideas as to the ease with
which safety might be obtained; but
reflection told me I had little to fear
The case against Philippa could be
nothing more than one of suspicion.
No one, not even ], myself, had seen
the deed done. A warrent would, nc
doubt, be issued for her arrest; but il
our flight precluded its execution, I did
not BELIEVE that any government would
put itself out of the way to aid the En-
glish law. There was no one, save
myself. who could positively swear
that Sir Mervyn Ferrand had. been
killed by Philippe.
I learned that Spain wasthen, even as
it is now, the land safest against En-.
glish law. Perhaps the reason is that
the grave, yet at times hor-blooded,
Spaniard reckons human life at a
lower value than more northerly
nations. Any way, it was to Spain
that I turned my eyes; Spain that 1 re-
solved to reach without an hours un-
enforced delay.
The very next day I preached the
subject of foreign travel to my mother.
Although so short a time had passed
since they first met, I was overjoyed to
seethe terms upon which she and Phil
ippa stood. The girl seemed to cling
to her as to a natural protector-seemed
ready to install her in the place of her
mother she had lost. After all. the
love of her own sex is indispensable to
woman's happiness. 1t did my heart
good to see the two together. Philip
pa talked to my mother as she had
never yet talked to me; and l knew
that when the day came upon which 1
should ask for the only reward / want
ed. my mothers kindness to the for
saken and shame-stricken girl would
be an advocate that pleaded strongly
in favor of my suit.
But, could it aver be? Could we
know happiness in the face of that
dark nights work? All me! my heart
sank as l thought that any day might
bring the crushing blow. Lat thara he
no delay. Let me not blame myself
hereafter for any negligence of false
security. Let US away from the peril.
Mother" I said. will you come
abroad with Philippa and me?"
Abroad, Basil! L have only just
come home"
"No matter; come with us at once.
Let US 60 to some place where there is
warmth and sunshine. Let US 60 to
Spain"