Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-20
DARK DAYS
BY HUGH CON w AY
Author of "Cdlled Back. "
CHAPTER XVII.
CLEAR SKIES.

CLEAR SKIES.
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 SIT
at rest my mothers fears. She, poor woman.
as a letter showed, was much exercised as
to what manner of business could have
made us leave her in 50 uncerc monious a
way. The moment the glad truth had be-
come known to me- hal tclcgraplci, 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 il ar
rived she would not be qSto happy. There
was with her Il haunting dread that the
man, IN the nope OF mitigating his sentence,
had pleaded guilty to Il crime of which lie
was innocent Even the accurate account
which gave her of the interview th the
solicitor did not quite satisfy her. SO we
waited impatiently for the full explanation
which might or might not come.
The second thing which kept us in London
was this | determined that before | left
would have the fact that when | Marie
Philippe | married Lady Farrand fully ac
knowedSei. found my way to the n
tlemen who were winding up the dead
mans affairs, and stated my case to their
increduluus ears. At first they treated me
as an imrostor.
But not or long Indeed, my task was half
done. Tley had already, without any as
surance from Mrs Wilson, ferreted out the
date and particulars of the death of the first
Lady Frrrand They had but to assure
.hemselve, that the marriage certificate
which | 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 cain a share, and q certain
amount of real property, on which she wa $
entitled to dover. But it was a very poor
estate.
cut them very short. told them that.
let the deceaseds wealth be great or little,
not one penny piece of it should soil my wife's
fingers. If Sir Mervyn Ferrands heir was
in want of the money, it should, provided he
was different stamp of man from his i'm
mediate predecessor, bo given to him a free
gift If not, some hospital should be bene-
fitted by it. All ! wanted was that it should
tie 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 a most eccentric parsonage. Perhaps it
was for this reason, or-as do not wish to
cast unmeritcd blame-perhars it was be-.
cause the estate wound up to nothing-well.
any way, even to this day we have received
no comn'uni cation, much less remittance.
from the administrators; nor, to tell the
truth, have | troubled them again Phil
ippa's marriage admitted, | washed my hands
of all the Ferrand brood.
The con esSion did not arrive: but | per-
suaded Philippa to leave England. Mr.
Crisp could send whatever lie had to send to
Seville just as well as to London 50 once
more, and this time in all but perfect hap
piness, we took the long journey which was
Ly now quite familiar to us.
The JOY, the wild joy, with which Phil
ippa threw herself into my mothers arms
checked all the upbraidings and reproach
which we apparently merted; Our return
was like the return of Il prodigal son and
daughter Laughter, tears and happiness 1!
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 crosse her lips, | 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 Icturn my mothers deem
love for my wife has shown itself even ten
derer sweeter and deeper. Yes, | was
spared the telling of the tale NV mothers
eyes the next day showed me that Philippe
had given her the history as | have given it
here from beginning to Jnd,
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 in the fair,
gay patio of our Andalusian home Philippe
and are side by side. The post has Just
come in and brought me a bulky packet, on
which, in a clerkly hand, is written my
name and address. l tear the wrapper open
with easerness l know what il contains
Philippe knows. l wish to read it first alone,
but the appealing look in her ewes turns me
from my purpose. After all there is nothing
to fear, there can be nothing which she
should not know. So, with our cheeks all
but touching, we read together. Sit by US,
lean over my shoulder, and read with us