Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-01-30
DARK DAYS
BY HUGH CONW AY.

CHAPTER VIII.

was the predominant sensation. In the first
place, if Mrs Wilson kept her promis, of
secrecy, il seemed to ma that all danger of
suspicion falling upon Philippe was re-
moved. There would be no one else to make
known the fact that upon tbs hight of Sir
Mervyn's death a wronged, distracted wo-
man left her home-a woman whose lfc's
happiness had been cloudel by the villain;
treacherous act-a woman of strong pas
lions, who in her temporary dclirium might
easily be turned to take such vengeance for
which l. at least, held her quite unaccount-
able If / could but feel sure of the silence
of the ono person whom dreaded, we might
even return to London, and fear nothing |
wayered After all there is something con-
temptihle in flight. Should | trust to Mrs.
Wilson's promise, and return with my COM
panions by tho next boat from Boulognrl
No, a thousand times no! Philippians vel
fare is far too precious to me to be trusted
in the hands of one eXcitabie woman--a wo-
man. moreover, who has wrongs of her own
calling for vengeance. Tomorrow her
mind may change. and instead of further.
ing our safety she may be urging ON the
pursuit. Let me trust no one save myself
For my loves sake, was overiovel to
hear that, supposng the womans statement
and date were correct, Philippa was the
for one moment paliated the guilt Of his i'll
tention, or lessened the contempt and hatred
| bore towards him; not that it changed in
my eyes by one iota my loves position.
Married or unmarried, to me she was all
that a woman could be. Though a black
guards craft had wrought what would be
her shame in the eyes of the world; though
her hands were unconsciously red with a
mans blood, to me she was as pure as a YES
tai, innocent as a child.
Yet for her sake the news gladdened me
knew that if ever the time should come
when | could place proofs in her hands that
she was a wife-that she could, if she chose
bear her worthless husbands name, AMI face
the world without fear of scorn, the restora-
lion of her self-respect would bring with it a
Joy which only woman can rightly COM
prehend. And Philippa, with all her pride
and passion, was a true woman, full of the
ioftness and delicate dread of shame which
,haracterizes the best of her sex.
Yet when should | be able to tell herr
Whenever did so I must also reveal the
5art of her husbands being dead, and my
ioipg so must bring the whole story of his
death to her knowledge. l trembled as /
thought what this might mean. Surely its
dramatic surroundings must suggest somr-
thing to her mind-must bring back the
night and its horrors; must, in fact, tell her
what she had done in her madness! Rather
than risk this ! mist let her continue It
bear the cruel weight of what she thought
her shame My aim must be to make hey
believe that Sir Mervyn Ferrand is still
alive and troubling nothing as to what has
become of the woman whom he once falsely
swore to love and cherish until death |
cursed the wretch's memory thought of
him.
The sending of Philippa to live under the
charge of one of his own discarded mis-
tresses was but another proof Of the mans
revolving cyniciam. Mrs. Wilson's accept
ance of the charge showed me to what a
level woman could sink 1t told me
moreover, that in spite OF her letter she was
not to be trusted A woman who could
lend herself to her former lovers purposes
in such a way as this must have parted with
every atom of pride. 1t seemed to me that
the woman and the man were well matched
III baSeness.
Still her letter lifted a load from my
mind | felt that for awhile there could be
no pursuit. yet | resolved to risk nothing,
but hurry on with all possible speed. Only
when we crossed the frontier of Spain could
l sleep in peace.
All res arches with view to obtaining
evidence of the first Lady Ferrand's death
postponed indefinitely Some day, if al
went well, | would return to England anC
procure the documents necessary to prov,
the validity of Philippa's marriage There
was no pressing hurry As to any money
which should be hers, never with my consen
should she touch penny which had belonged
10 the dead man.
Protractel as my meditations seem on pa
per, they wero in reality much longer; in
deed, they were not at an end when the boa
steamed into Bouiogne harbOr | Wen ii
search of my companions, who, | was gla'
to find, had borne the voyage well. W.
were soon in the train, and, without any
events occurring worth recording, at eigh
O'Clock stood on the Care du Nord, Paris.
We drove through the brightly lit street
TO the Hotel du Louvre The stains of trave
washed away, my mother gave sigh o
satisfaction as she seated herself at the din
ner table. Like a sensible woman, she wa
no despiser of the good things OF this life
There were other late diners in the grea
coffee room and many a head was turned t
look at the beautiful girl who sat on m
right hand; for every day which brough
her new health and strength brought ais
to my love an instalment of her forme
beauty. In a very short time she would b
to all appearances the Philippa of old.
elbow long shall we stay in Paris, Basil
asked my mother.
sit is now half-past nine; our train start
at S:45 in the morning. Calculate tn
time
"Oh, nonsensel 1t is years since l hav
been in Paris. ! want to look at the shop
80 does Fhilippa ! am sure"
"My dear mother, the man, much NOR
the woman, who fingers in Paris is lost
you are going elsewhere the only way Is
go straight through, or else you get no flu
ther, ! have proved this, and mean to ru
no risk"
But remember we are only weak womel
This poor child is far from strong"
She smiled at Philippe, whose eyes thankt
her for the airectionate appellation.
Don't b. merciless, Basil, she continue,
''give us at least one day"
'Not one. | am just going to look after
courier, that you may travel in all poss
BILE comfort"
My mother seemed almost annoyed, al
again said | was merciless What wou