Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-01

code Of honor, and dreading shame and
cowardice. finds it far easier to avoid than
to bring himself to commit. No, every sin
Is not easy!
But all the same my struggle was mortal
one. At times fancy-it may be but fancy
that even now my mind bears some traces
OF that conflict; a conflict in which my vic
tory meant ruin to my nearest and dearest.
Was not right when | said that my tempta-
ton was an all but unparalleled one? Yet
in reasserting this let me humbly disclaim
all credit for not having yielded. l strove
to YIELD but could not.
1t was only when had conquered, and
put the temptation from me, that l was able
TO see how utterly useless such crime as
that urged upon me would have been.
Doubtless Philippa, sooner or later, would
have learned that Sir Mervyn Ferrand's sup
posed murderer had paid the penalty of the
crime. How would it have Jared with us
then-then, when reparation was placed out
of the question? Knowing as / did every
thought of my wifc'S, every turn of her iu-
pulsive, sensitive nature, was fain to tell
myself that such news would be simply her
death-blow.
But what was to be done? Finding that
dared to mediate, cast about for another
loop-hole of escape. What if were to re-
turn to England, and accuse myself of the
crime? To insure Philippa's safety Iwonld
right willingly give away my own life. IL
showed the state to which my mind was re-
duced when | say that considered this
scheme in all its bearings and for while
thought it furnished a solution TO my diff
\ 4
ing?
L laughed in bitter merrimant as the alb
surdity of my new plan forced itself upon
me- L had forgotten Philippa, and what
the effect of such a sacrifice would be upon
her. had forgotten that she loved me,
even as loved her; that nv dying for her
sake-for the sake of saving her from the
consequences of that gruesome night-would
make an expiation, if any were due from
her, the most fearful which human or dia-
boiical ingenuity could devise.
No! Neither by SHINING against my fel-
bowman nor by a voluntary sacrifice of my
own life could | save her. After all my pro-
tracted mental struggles, all my lonely
hours of anguish and wild scheming, was
forced to return to the point from which
started. Philippa must surrender herself.
and free this innocent man. There was, in
deed, no alternative!
And a day gone, or all but gonel The
trial on the Goth! To reach Engiand-to
reach Tewnham in time to stop that trial,
we must travel day and night. Day and
night across sunny or starlit Spain-acrosS
pleasant France-we must speed on, until
we reached our own native land, now lying
in. all the rich calm Of the early autumn.
nsList lead my wife, my love, 10 her doom!
rose from the ground. felt weary, and
rs if had been cudgeled in every limb. l
dragged myself slowly back to my home.
''She must be told; she must be told. But
how to tell her?' muttered as went along
My appearance must have been wretched;
for received the impression that several
grave-looking SevillanoS turned and looked
after me as passed by. Even as coward
ly felOn who drags himself slowly to the
ScaffOld. / dragged myself TO the gate of our
pleasant home, and on tottering feet passed
into that fragrant space in which the hap
piest hours of my life had been spent.
As Ientered, the remembrance Of some
tale which once had read flashed through
my mind-a tale of the ferocity Of a bygone
age. 1t was of a prisoner who was forced
by his captors to strike dagger into the
heart of the woman he loved. | know not
where the tale is to be found or when l read
It
But it seemed to me that minewas paral-
lei case.
Pity me!