WHY DID HE LOVE HR?

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9885, 6 March 1901, Page 3

WHY DID HE LOVE HR?

CHAPTER XXXVllL—Continued,

"If she —can she be my mother? Has she reared me to sustain a false character from my childhood? Oh! Philip, this is too infamous—too dreadful," and she buried her face in his bosom.

"Savella," he whispered, "hear the worst at once. I have known this since—since I changed in my temper so much. It made me miserable; but I could not escape from the coil th^y had thrown around me. I have abetted their villany, though I scorned and detested it. Pity me; forgive me; and I promise to be all to you that the most devoted husband can be."

The form he clasped trembled violently, and Savella. burst mto a passion of tears. At length, calmed by this outburst of emotion, sne slipped from his embrace, and bowed her face upon her hands and sobbed:

"Oil! Philipi what cannot love like mine forgive. Be to me what you were in the first days of our union, and I can still be happy. Take me far from this woman, who has been a mother in name, but from whom 1 have never received one token of maternal affection. This money, which has caused such sin and degradation, is little to what I can win by my own efforts. We will go to Europe, where my voice will be fully appreciated, and I will give you wealth in return for your protecting Ivoe. Only give me that, and I shall be happy."

Touched, overwhelmed by such generosity, Philip lifted her to his heart, and mingled his tears with hers. For the first time he felt he could truly and tenderly love her.

When their emotion subsided, he gradually unfolded to her the story of Isola, and after a long and confidential conversation, their future plans were arranged. Savella then packed up her clothing without assistance, and prepared to depart. She had an affecting interview with Fontaine, in which she assured him of her own innocence, and entreated his forbearance towards her husband. He kindly reassured her, and pledegd himself that Philip's name should not be stained by permitting his acquiescence in the fraud of her stepfather to become known.

Savella then entered the apartment of the Senora to bid her a final adieu. She was hard and cold as ever, and manifested no emotion when her daughter informed her that they must meet no more. She assured her that so long as she possessed any means of her own, she would share them with her ; but future companionship was impossible. The Senora only said:

"When you go on the stage, and make a fortune, pay my husband all he has spent on you.l ask no more—"

"I pledeg myself to do that," replied Savella, and thus they parted.

Philip Vane and his wife returned to Dunlora, there to -inform his mercenary parents of the signai downfall of his brilliant prospects. Their bitter disappointment was softened by the assurance of Savella that by the exercise of her musical abilities she could yet give Philip larger fortune than the one they had lost..

This promise was in time realised; Philip could not live in the Valley with such a cloud hanging over him ; he induced his parents to offer Dunlora for sale, and go with him to Paris where Savella made a successful debut as a cantatriee. Philip gracefully spent the money she lavished on him without stint, but he was not unmanly enough to recede from the promise pledged in that hour-of forgiveness.

Dunlora was purchased by Henry Fontaine for his son-in-law, and Isola was installed there as mistress. Her father remained in Virginia till late in the summer, and'then returned to Russia, for he could not be prevailed upon to relinquish his ambitious aspirations for the quiet enjoyment of domestic life.

Before he left, the two brother readtogether the letter of their father, which had so deeply moved the elder one when he returned to his home so many years before. It ran thus:

"My beloved Claude. —A dreary fear is pressing on my heart, for the fearful tidings that have come to me have given even a deeper stab than my poor Henry's death has inflicted. "My son, every line in your letter breathes a depth of remor.'e which can only be the offspring of guilt. Yes — guilt; though my heart exonerates you from intentional evil. If Henry died through any fault of yours, I know it was an involuntary one, and in the sight of heaven you are free from the crime of fratricide.

"I am about to join him who has gone from earth; but .my heart yearns inexpressible tenderness towards you, my noble and true boy. Do not think that this blow has destroyed me, Claude. My doom was written before it fell, and I am sure it has not hastened it.

"Take comfort, take peace to your heart, and become all that I hoped you would in the future—a noble, true and courageous man, bearing the heavy cross that has been laid upon you in Christian humility. May God speedily send the Comforter to you, is the prayer of your loving father, "Claude Fontaine.

Henry Fontaine wrung the hand of his brother, and said, with emotion:

"Ah, if I had been more like him, I should have spared you years of suffering. Forgive me, Claude, as I trust God will pardon me for my hardness of heart."

"I trust He lias pardoned' us both for our wrong doing," replied Fontaine, devoutly. "I can never be grateful enough for the mercy He has shown to me."

Before Baron Fontani lef'u his native land he had the satisfaction of seeing his brother restored to health and happiness; and the same evening that gave Fanny's hand to her lover, uleo bestowed a new mistress on La Fontaine, in the person of "that faithful one who would have sacrificed her own fortune to keep Claude Fon--1 nine's roof over his head during those dreary days of darkness from which a merciful Providence had delivered him. THE END.