Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE WHITE cHAMBER.

Tho O'Clock train drew up at the Breton
vile station, and the young husband alighted
a changed man. The brick walls Of his mills
looked strangely unfamiliar to him. Was he
indeed the owner Of theml Was that his
house set like castle on the hill off to the
leftl 1t seemed impossible that any OF his
old acquaintance should recognize him, but
here somebody was shaking hands with him.
'rwhat, so soon away from your young
wifeF'
= "Business, muttered Philip, breaking away
from him impatiently. How the mans SIM
pie blue eyes would start out Of their sockets
If he guessed what the business had been.
How he would regale his eager family with
the infamous story, and sleep more compla.
Gently that night for the sudden calamity
that had fallen on the rich mans home, while
he was safe and his home spotless.
Another acquaintance drew Philips hand
through his arm before he could reach his
carriage. Something very confidential he
whispered mysteriously.
Then Philip had bribed the greedy lawyer
to keep a secret which he had already feasted
the whole country on. He glanced around
him with q new, hunted look in his face. He
fancied he saw peculiar expression in the
eyes of the bystanders. Some Of them ap-
peared to avoid looking at him.
''It is this" Philip held his breath and
the man laughed at his humor. zone wsuld
think you were scared to death. was only
going to say my wife and want to call to-
morrow on your charming bride"
"By all MEANS" Philip answered huskily,
and threw himself into his carriage. He had
nothing to fear from this man at least; he
clearly enough had not heard the news.
People don't call OMIT was too terrible He
let down the carriage window for fresh air.
The village policeman stood by the roadside
talking to a stranger. AS the carriage passed
they spoke of Breton, apparently, and
laughed. The man must be a detective,
armed with the authority to break into his
home and carry away his wife, They would
shut her in the dock, crowded close by mur-
derers and foul mouthed thieves. The court
house galleries would be packed with rufIians
to stare at her sweet, frightened face, and
her high bred friends would sit below and
look insolent disdain at her, and wonder how
they ever escaped contamination from her.
"Drive faster!" he shouted to the coach
man. Perhaps they had not seized her yet
and clasped their hideous iron bracelets about
her dimpled arms
If he were there they would not dare to
touch her. Would they dare burst in his gate
and break down his massive oaken doors,
stride with their soiled boots through his par
lors and tear her from his very arms? His
father created this very town, and the men
whom Philip Breton had befriended would
rush to his help Who ever heard of house
so grand as his being invaded by loud voiced
officers-of justice-they called it, to drag q
wife from her home? Let them dare to do it.
HFns+asi Dxi~o footcr ,-----
The carriage rolled icto his grounds and he
leaped out and looked about him. He saw
no signs of disturbance yet. His gardener
was cutting bouquet of roses Bless his
gray head, he would not be making bouquets
for an outraged, plundered home.
"Whom are you cutting the roses forF'
How heavy his masters hand rested on his
shoulder.
"For the mistress, if you please, sir"
SIS she within, thenf'
"Can't you hear her playin', sir?''
Thank God for that gentle breeze that
brought the music to his ears. 1t was that
same familiar air from "Traviata," that she
had played the night he had left her for the
labor meeting, before the first shadow had
crossed her life. And she was safe yet
He mounted the brown stone steps, and I'M
locked the door. He closed it very softly
after him and with noiseless step made his
way to the drawing room. The door stood
half open; he looked in at Bertha, his one
week wife. She wore no cloak or hat to
show she had soon to go, and her foot that
rested on the pedal was slippered; why mott
She had come to stay, night, morning, noon.
always. She had come to stay.
But sudden change passed over his face.
That proud faced woman was a-they called
it a criminal, a felon, on whose soft, white
shoulder any policeman in the state might
freely lay his rude hand. She would look to
him, but he could not help her; he had under
taken to protect her, but he must stand back
with breaking heart while they dragged her
away. Could they not let him imprison her
at home? She should never go outside; cell,
for such as She She would die. Was there
no pity in their iron lawsa Tomorrow her
name would be heral>+,d abroad. Perhaps
her c''':::.t Sc.:'., = 20 f,igg f. /. ,7es,
blaZoneu Oh the odtsi,io sheet of the lowest
picture papers, and the Sregs of the great
cities would revel in its insulting beauty.
Poor girl, she was thinking she had right
with him, that her LONE was in his arl.iG
perhaps dreaming of household whose
queen she should be- of pretty, proud faced
boys and blue eyed daughters, who should
sometimes cluster about her knees She was
living In q false world. Her children-Go1
grant that she may never have them-ah
tue law had bitter name for what their
children would be. He was the wealthiest
.aan in 100 miles, and he could not give his
children name Her children; how he
could love them; but each young face in
turn must mantle with shame. And was
there nothing he could do for this woman
She had given herself to him; all his vows
were upon him,
sRertha" She looked up and smiled OF
his stricken face and played on.
He came up behind her. She was his yet
He bent down and kissed her warm white
neck beneath her red gold hair The law
had not claimed her yet, and all the rites o.
religion had made her his wife. One moment
he stood by her side; the next he fell upon hi
knees, and imprisoned the quick flying hands
He felt he could not bear the music now, i
WIS u VAIN WdItA DIG WuS bOWci
his head in her lap.
"Why Philip, are youso tired!"
~ am weary unto DEATH" and his ben
form shook with agony and bafiied love.
Bertha's eyes rested calmly OH his head fo
q moment, then glanced ut the music sheet OF
Its rack; not spark of emotion showed ii
their clear depths. The perfect shape of he
mouth was not hurt by one disturbing quiye
Of the rare red lips; they did not curve down
ward in gentle tenderness, nor part in swee