Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-01-16
DARK DAYS
BY HUGH CONW AY /.

CHATTER V.
\ W HIT l. TO MR.


would 'cv lie able to reach ue in such
weather: II was st,l showing fiercclv. For
more than twenty 'Our hours the mad white
revel had continued without intermission
Indeed, thai storm Wilch burst upon the
world as turned from Philip as house on
the preceding night is now historical; il was
the beginning of the h'aviest and longes
fall which the record OF fifty years can show.
For two NIGHTS and a day the snow came
down in what NAV almost he called drifting
masses During that dismal day ! saw from
the window the heaps against the wall grow
deeper and deeper, and even in my preoccu-
pied state of mind found myself mnrvelling
at the sustained fury of tho storm.
At II o'clock at night | sally gave mp all
hope of the much needed assistance arriving.
After all, it seemed that William had found
il impossible to fight against the weather:
so / made my preparations for another night
of solitary watchfulneSs | was all but worn
out with fatigue; yet dared not sleep. If
the mania returned, what might happen
were not at hand to restrain Philippa's
actionsl My hope that the madness had
really left my patient, not, if she were prop
erly treated, to return, was a growing one,
but not yet strong enough to allow me to
leave her for any length of time.
My delight then may he imagined when,
looking for the hundredth time up the road,
saw close at hand two flashing lights, and
knew that William. the faithful, had done
nv bidding. In few minutes two respect
able women from one of the best of the
London nursing institutions were within my
walls
The train hall of course, been late, very
late. At one or two places on the lin
il had almost given up the battle, and set
d
and iron had conquered, and Mt last it did
get to Roliug. There William, knowing
nv dire necessity, offered such a magnificent
bride that he soon found an entarprising
carriage proprietor who was willing TO make
the attempt to force two horses and n car
riage over six miles of road between Roding
and nv house The attempt was successful,
although the rate of progression was slow
and William triumphanty ushered his
charges into my presence.
After giving them time for rest and re.
freshmen, | explained the nature of the
case. set out the treatment | wished to be
adopted. and then led them to Philippa.
left the poor girl in their charge for the
night, then went to take the sleep Of which
/ stood so much in need.
But before going to bed saw William.
dreaded to hear him say what gruesome
sight he had seen that morning; yet | was
bound to learn if the deed had yet been
made public
Did you manage to get to Roding all
right this morningr' l asked with assumed
carelessness
checrfully.
"Snow deep on the roadF
Not so deep as fancied 'twould be. All
driftel and blown un to one side, like
never seen such thing. Drift must have
been fec deep this morning. What must it
be now, wonder! Something ike the Arctic
regions, l should think, sir'n
For the first tim4 for hours and hours a
ray of hope flashed across me. William haG
walked tnat lonely road this morning, and
noticed nothing except the driitel snow! !
remember d now placed the dead man in the
little hollow at the bottom OF the bank.
Could it he that the kindly, mercirul snow,
which have already described beginning
to form in wmding-sheet hal hiiden and
buried him! That a pure white. shape
less heap which told no tales, concealed for
while the dark deed from the vorlll Oh
that Philippe were well enough to leave this
place to- morrow! We might fly and leave
no trace behind US. She might never know
what she had done in her madness. The
fearful secret would be mns alone. A bur-
den it would DO, but one which | might
easily find strength enough to bssr. Bear
it'll could bear it, and be happy; for some-
thing told me that could but save her from
the peril which menacel hsr, Philippe and I
would part no moro in this world ntil d esth,
tho only conqueror of such love as mino
swspt US asundsr.
Once more | looked out into the night
Still the snow flakes whirled down. Oh
brave, kind snowl Fall, fall. fall! Pile tbs
masses on the dead wretch. Hide him deer
in your bosom. Fall for weeks, for months
foreverl Save my love AMI me!