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 ?' 



" 'Tome? 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- 



