340 I GO A -FISHING. 



ment the whole truth crossed his mind, and, with a courtly 

 bow to those who surrounded him, he said, ' I understand 

 all. Pardon me. It is I that am wanted' and without 

 further parley stalked into the room where the two girls 

 lay side by side. 



" ' Oh, God, it is he ! it is he !' shrieked the unknown, 

 in a voice of extremest joy, and, reaching out her two 

 hands to him with a smile, relapsed into unconsciousness. 



" Seeing two persons on the bed where he had thought 

 to see but one, he hesitated. 



" ' I beg pardon 



" At the sound of his voice, Bessie Laton leaned forward 

 suddenly and looked into his countenance. No one may 

 hope to describe the gleam that flashed across her face 

 as she spoke one word 



"'Philip!' 



" ' Bessie ! Bessie !' said he, staggering, rather than 

 rushing forward, and then he fell on the floor by the bed- 

 side, his hands seizing and his lips kissing the folds of 

 her garment that swept across the feet of the dead girl 

 who lay beside her. 



" ' Philip, is it you at last my husband, my beloved. 

 Have you come at last to see me die ?' 



" ' Die ! Who talks of death ? Marie, Marie. Bessie, 

 wake her, speak to her rouse her she is cold. Did 

 you say dead ? Dead ?' 



" ' What mean you, Philip ? Who is this ?' 



" < This ! She is Marie, Marie.' 



"'And what to you?' 



" ' To me ? She is my my my ' 



" ' Philip ! Speak not the word ; wife or what, I care 

 not. I see all now. Silence, I say ! They have called 

 me by the name you have given that child ! Oh wretch- 



