Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-02-15
DARK DAYS
BY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTE NVI.-(ContinucdQ
WHERE ARE THE SHOWS THAT FELL
T,ASV YEAR?''

did not care 10 IIHScF III Lew HIlfthI-
so | walked down to the railway sta
ton. intending to return to town by the
next train AS | waited on the platform
a down train came in. \ sudden i'm
pulse seized me The day was still
young. l had time to spare crossed
the bridge, entered the train, and in
quarter Of an hour was at ROding. /
went there because | was impelled by a
desire to once more visit the actual scene
of the beginning of all these troubles.
| walked that road which Sir Melvyn
Ferrand had walked that dark night.
But oh. how changed everything was.
Yet rot more changed than our own
lives. 1t was glorious afternoon IN
September The rain of the preceding
day had left the earth moist and fresh.
The fields. on either side of the road.
were cleaning with that bright, pure
emerald which they wear after the ruth
less scythe has swept away the ripe
grass and the margueriteS and other
flowers which grow among 1t; or else
they were filled from hedge to hedge
with golden sea of waving corn, or
shcaycs waiting to be garnered: for the
harvest that year was not early. The
wild roses were long over. but fragrant
honeysuckle and other wild flowers still
made gay the hedgerows and banks.
The birds had awakened from their Au-
gust silence, and were singing once
more. The great. sleepy cows lay under
the shade of the trees. The large mows
eff new hay stood side by side with their
dingy-looking. but more valuable, elder
brothers The whole land seemed
wrapped in happy autumnal reDose. The
scene was calm, peaceful, and thorough
~ typical Of England So beautiful it
was. so full / now felt of love for my
native land. that had these pages been
then written, l should upon my return
home have erased all my glowing de
scrption Of Seville.
A breath of soft but fresh air came
blowing from the PARKWAY downs. l
drew in a deep draught; | threw back my
shoulders and stood erect. laughed
aloud in my great happiness as a comical
Christian losing his burden. rose before
my mind, and seemed to be the exact
thing wanted to illustrate my own case.
Yes. the burden / had borne had fallen
from my back forever!
All! here is the spot-the very spot
where Sir Mervyn fell. It was here,
just under that cluster of ragged-rob-
ins. / must have placed his corpse,
little thinking that the kind white snow
would hide it, and save my love and me.
Oh how | prayed in those days that the
bitter weather might last; that its iron
grip would hold the world fast until
PhiIippa'S health and strength returned!
1t did SO, and saved us!
''Where are the SHOWS that fell last
year," All. should | not rather sing,
"Where is the grief of yesterday"
Gone like the snow. Other snow may
fall, other grief may come. but last
years snow and Yesterdays grief are
gone forever!
Nevertheless, that SPOT was too sug
gestive Of horrible "reminiscences for me
to linger long over it. l turned away,
and in my great happiness could whisper
10 myself that / forgave the dead man
for the i'll he had wrought. May his
bones rest in peace. / walked along the
road. right on until | came to the cot
tage in which. like q coward who could
not face his troubles, | had spent those
aimleSs. miserable months. 1t was UNI
teranted. Half defaced auction bills
were IN the windows and on the door
posts: for some months ago the furniture
had been sold. l paused and looked
at the window by which Philippa had
entered, and felt that since that night
+ had passed through more grief pas
an ordinary lifetime. Then L turned
and shook the dust off my feet. Never
again would l come within twenty miles
of this place.
On the road back, to my annoyance,
/ encountered Mrs. Wilson. | tried to
she was too quick for me. She stood
in front of me, and j was bound to stop.
She was more haggard, more drawn,
more aquiline-looking than ever. Her
eyes alone looked young. They at least
had spirit and vitality in them They
positively blazed upon me.
''She did not do it, after all, she said
fiePcely
At first | thought of affecting surprise.
and asking her what she meant; but [
felt that any attempt at equivoque would
be in vain.
''She did not" l answered. shortly.
Fool that / VASE she cried. Fool,
10 be led away by an impulse! Why
did | tell her? l swear to you, Dr.
North, that had I not felt sure it was
her act, she should never have known.
She should have gone to her grave a
shamed woman, as l shall go.''
Her look was venom itself.
'Remember," / said, sternly, Lady
Ferrand is now my wife. l will not
hear her name coupled with yours
is now my wife. L will not hear her
name coupled with yours"
She laughed. scornfully. Your wife!
She soon forgot her first love. Why did
7 speak? / wish my hand had withered
before | wrote that letter Do you
know why | wrote it,"
mo; nor do | care"
Il wrote it for vengeance. She had,
have served him; but | hated her for it.
for I loved him still. SO | thought it
would be so sweet for her to know that
she had killed her husband, and FOR you,
her lover-I knew you were her lover
to know that | could at any moment
give her up TO Justice. [ was 4 fool.
Why did that man plead guilty? When
saw your wife rise in court. | laughed:
/ knew what was coming. Now, instead
Of harming her. have done her good. ;,
You have" ! said, CURLY, and turned
upon my heel. The malignity. of this
woman was SO intense that | felt thank
full she could in no way work Philippa
harm.
A quarter of mile up the road l
turned Mrs. Wilson, black spot on Il
fair scene. was standing gazing after
me- ! hurried on until Il bend i'll the
path hid her from sight. l hurried on
back to Philippa and happiness!
CHAPTER XVII.
CLEAR SKIES.
Although England was now to me and
i