Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-10-27
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE WHITE CHAMBER.

The 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 them! Was that his
house set like a castle on the kill of to tie
left2 1t seemed impossible that any of his
old acquaintances should recognize him, but
here somebody was shaking hands with him.
'What, o Sool away from your young
wifef
Business, muttered Philip breaking away
from him inpatie2t!y. 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 compl1
Gently that night for the sudden calamity
that had fallen on the rich mans home, while
be 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 mysterioasly.
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 a new, hunted look i'll his face. He
fancied he saw peculiar expression in the
-'SSS Oh luS DN SJtll'ltIS. IOOlile Vi JucIll
peared to avoid looking at him.
at is this" Philip held his breath and
the man laughed at his humOr. Gone would
think you We're scared to death. ! was only
going to say my W fe and l 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
oil 1rrb bal bn
People don't call ont 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 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 nIur-
derers and foul mouthed thieves. The court
house galleries would be packed with ruflans
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 fasterm he shouted to the coach
man. Perhaps they had not seized her yet
and claSped their hideous iron bracelets about
ner dimpled arms.
If he We're 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
wife from her home! Let them dare to do it.
''Fasterl Drive faster"
The carriage rolled into 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 for"
How heavy hiS masters hand rested ON his
shoulder
"For the mistress, if you please, sir"
as she within, thenE'
Cant you hear her playn', sirY'
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 un-
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 notl
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, 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
ut home9 She should never go outside cell,
for such as she. She would die. Was there
no pity in their iron laws! Tomorrow her
name would be heralded abroad. Perhaps
her sweet face, almost too fair for kisses,
blazoned on the outside sheet of the lowest