Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-09-10
DARK DAYS.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER ii. -CONTINUED.

hours. Long hours they would
be. This letter would aid m, to make them
pass Philippe made no objection to my
keeping II. She sat motionless, gazing
gloomily into the fire.
You knew the mans right name ana
title?" asked.
Eyes. from the first All! there l wrong
ed myself, Basil! The rank, the riches, per
haps. tempted M; and-Basil, loved MN
them"
Oh, the piteous regret breathed in that
last sentence! ground my teeth, and 1elt
that there was stronger passion than even
love. THAT man and meet tom GROW"
told myself softly.
But you spoke Of a chi!d"' said, turn
ing to Philippe.
1T Is dead-dead-dead! she cried, with
o wild laugh. "A fortnight ago 1t died:
Dead Ny grief then; my JOY to-day! See!
am in mourning; tomorrow ! shall put
that mourning of. Why mourn for what IS
q happy event? No black after tomorrow.
Her mood had once more become excited.
AS before her words came with feverish
rapidity. took her hands in mine; they
were now burning.
'Philippa, dearest, be calm. You will see
that man no more?'
II will see him no more. 1t is to save my
self from seeing him that come to you.
Little right have to ask aid from you; but
your words came back to me in my need.
There was one friend to turn to. Help me-
Basil! come to you as sister may come
to brother"
LAS sister to q brother" echoed. Il
accept the trust" added, laying my lips
reverentially ON her white forehead, and
vowing mentally to devote my life to her.
you will stay here now?' l asked.
mo, l must go back. Tomorrow l will
come-to-morrow. Basil, my brother, you
will take III. far away--far away?"
where you wish. Every land is as one
to me now"
She had given me the right, brothers
right, to stand between her and the villain
who had wronged her. Tomorrow that
man would be here! How ionged for the
moment which would bring us face to face!
Philippa rose. II must CO." She said.
pressed food and wine upon her; she
would take nothing. She made, however,
no objection to my accompanying her to her
home. We left the house by the easement
by which she entered. Together We step
ped out on the -whitened road. She
took my arm and we walked toward her
home.
asked her with whom she was staying.
She told me with widow lady and two
children, named Wilson. She went to them
at Sir Mervyn Ferrands command. Mrs.
Wilson, he told her. was distant connec-
ton of his own, and he had made arrange
ments for her to look after Philippa during
her illness.
"What name do they know you by?'' l
asked.
He said was to call myself by the false
name, which, for purposes of his own, he
chose to pass under. But felt myself alb
solved from my promise of secrecy. Why
should I stay in strange house with strange
people by Sir Meryyn Ferrand's request,
unless could show good cause for doing
so? So told Mrs. Wilson everything"
''She believed you?'
"She was bound to believe me. l would
have no doubt cast upon my word. show
ed her the certificate of my marriage. What
ever she may have thought at first. she saw
then that was his wife. No one else knows
it except her. To her am Lady Ferrand
Like me, she never dreamed to what mans
vllainy can reach. Oh, Basil! Basil! why
are such men allowed to live"
TOI lilc uISt tiLAS uilippa Sctmcu W
break down. Till now the chief character.
istics of her mood had been scorn
and anger. Now, sheer grief for the time
appeared to sweep away every other emo
ton. Sob after sob broke from her. l en-
deavored to calm her-to comfort her. Alas
how little l could say or do to these ends
She leaned heavily and despondngly on my
alm and for long while we walked in ST.
| J-,N .l,. = y
; close at hand.
! Listen, PhiIippa," said; II shall come
In with you and see this lady with whom
! you are staying. shall tell her l am your
/ brother; that for some time have known
| how shamefully your husband has neglected
you; and that now, with your full consent
| ! mean to take you away. Whether this wo
man believes in our relationship or not
matters nothing. suppose she knows that
| man is coming tomorrow. After his heart
less desertion, she cannot be surprised a
your wish to avoid meeting him."
paused. Philippa bent her head as il
asserting to my plan.
"To-morrow," continued. 'long before
that wretch comes here to poison the yer,
air we breathe, shall come and fetch you
E-rty in the morning will send my ser
want for your luggage. Mrs. Wilson ma.
know me and my man by sight. That make
no difference. There need be no conceal
ment. You are free to come and go. 70,
have no one to fear. On Thursday morn
ing we will leave this place"
YES" said Philippa, dreamily, "to-mor
row l will leave-l will come to you. Blu
will come alone. In the evening, mos
likely, when no one will know where hav,
gone"
but how much better that should TAX,
you away openly and in broad daylight a
brother would take a sister,
NO; will come to you. You will no
mind waiting, Basil. There is something
must do first. Something to be done to-mor
row. Something to be said; some one to b
seen. What is it? who is it? Icannot reco!
lect"
She placed her disengaeed hand on he
brow. She pushed back her head little
and gave sigh of relief as she felt the keel
air ON her temples. Poor girl! after wha
she had that day gone through, no wonde
her mind refused to recall trivial details an,
petty arrangements to be made before sh
Joined me. Sleep and the certainty of m
sympathy and protection would no doub
restore her wandering memory
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