Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-21

proper reasons Tor DONG 1t. ana no WORD
to my detriment would pass his reticent
lips. No, there was little to fear from
William.
| had blamed myself deeply for the i'm
pulse which had urged me to hurl the
fatal weapon away. Why did | not
keep it and bury it fathoms deep? If
that pistol were found, it would possibly
furnish a clue which might be followed
up, and undo everything. My only hope
was that | had thrown it to some spot
where it might lie for years undiscovered,
until all association between it and the
murder Lad disappeared.
To sum up briefly, l was bound to de-
eide that the damning circumstantial evil
dence which would be furnished by
Mrs. Wilson drove me back to
my original idea There was no chance
Of my poor PhiliDpa's remaining unac-
cused or unsupported of the deed she
had unwittingly done; SO her only hope
of safety-indeed, considering ALL may
also say my only hope of safety-Was
rapid flight. We must gain some land
in which we could dwell without fear of
being arrested. What land was there?
Many a one. The date Of my story is
before 1873, when nearly all the extra
dition treaties were made. At that time
such treaties existed with only two for
eign countries, France and the United
States; SO that our choice of a resting
DldCC WAS lOL 30 11lAlCCu tuOSS WV
are flying from the clutches Of the law
find it today. However, in order to
make certain, [ paid visit to legal
friend of mine, and, by quoting a sup
posititious case, managed to acquire
good deal of information respecting the
dealings of one nation with another, so
far as fugitives were concerned.
I found that although, with the two
exceptions above named, there was no
oot4Io1 inf tiOna1 la the SUhlnct.
there was q kind of unwritten substitute,
which was known by the name OF the
Comfy Of Nations. Under this code OF
courtesy, a notorious criminal, who had
sought refuge in the arms OF another
country, was not uncommonly, although
there was no law under which he could
be arrested, given up to his pursuers,
by being simply driven across the from
tier of the country in which he had
hoped to find security. However, / gath
cred that this so-called comfy was
scarcely expected to be exercised by the
most friendly state, unless the fugitive
had fled almost red-handed. and SO
placed his guilt beyond doubt. No one
exactly knew how far this obliging ex-
pulsion might be counted upon. 1t was
generally supposed to be decided by the
amount of influence or persuasion winch
one government exercised on the other
This information rather upset my pre-
which safety might be obtained; but re
Election told me | had little to fear. The
case against PhiliDpa could be nothing
more than one Of suspicion. No one,
not even / myself, had seen the deed
done warrant would, no doubt, DE
issued for her arrest; but II our nlght
Drecluded its execution, | did not pc
lieye that any government would put it
self out of the way to aid the Enghsh
law. There was no one, save myselI,
who could positively swear that Sir Mer-
yyn Ferrand had been killed by Phllppa.
I learned that Spain was then, even
as it is now, the land safest against
English law Perhaps the reason is that
the grave, yet at times hot-blooded Span
lard reckons human life at a lower value
than more northerly nations. Anyway,
it was to Spain that | turned my eyes;
Spain that I resolved to reach without
an hours enforced delay.
The very next day | preached the sub
iect of foreign travel to my mother. Al
though SO short time had passed since
they first met, / was OverJoyed to see the
terms upon which she and Philippa stood.
The girl seemed to cling to her as to
natural protector-seemed ready to IN
stall her in the place of the mother she
had lost. After all, the love of her own
sex is indispensable to a womans hap
piness. 1t did my heart good to see the
two together. PhilipDa talked to my
mother as she had never yet talked to
me; and 1 knew that when the day came
upon which should ask for the only re-
ward / wanted, my mothers kindness
to the forsaken and shame-stricken girl
would be an advocate that pleaded
strongly in favor of my suit.
But could it ever be? Could we know
happiness in the face of that dark nights
work? All me! my heart sank as
thought that any day might bring the
crushing blow. Let there be no delay.
Let me not blame myself hereafter for
any negligence or false security. Let
us away from the peril.
Mother | said, will you come
abroad with Philippa and me!'
abroad, Basil"' have only just
come home"
Let us go to some place where there is
warmth and bright sunshine. Let us go
Spain! why Spain? Besides, surely
Philippa is not fit for long journey
cit will do her good. Her recollections
of this country are but sad ones"
''Well, in a week or two [ will see
about it,
''No, at once. Let us start tomorrow
or the next day. Mother, | ask it as a
favor"
''Give me some good reason, Basil,
and l will do as you wish.
''Look at me and you will see the rea-
son. Can you not see that I am i'll,
worn out, nervous? must have
change, and at once"
She gazed at me with solicitude. eyes,
l know you are not we'll; but why
Spain?'
"A Wilma sick mans fancy.
Perhaps because it is Philippa's
fathers country put it into
my head: Mother, tell me. how do you
like her?"
''She is the woman you love; she is
very beautiful; she has been cruelty
treated she is blameless; to say more
after so short an acquaintance would be
exaggeration.'
''You will come to Spain with me
with her?"
She kissed me. and gave in to my
whim. Then | sought PhilipDa.
"My mother is going to take us
abroad" l said, with a smile, which was
forced, as all my smiles now were. ''She
will see to everything for you"
''She is kind-she is sweet" said Phil
lima clasping her hands "Basl I am