The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-22
MY CHRISTMAS MYSTERY.

Bucn nADlS nhu tIllb DeCOuo Jndb hoNoN
thought of Christmas except in association
with the old anor-house which they lived in,
and the wintry aspect Of the pleasant scenery
surrounding 1t. The understanding was that
/ should not wait for an invitation; but in the
December of the year of which l am going to
speak-a year not very remote-I did receive
a letter from my old friends, oOuohed in such
warm, cordial terms that could not have re-
fused to accede to their wishes, whatever
other arrangemementB l might have contem-
plated.
A special day was named for my going
down, and l was advised to take the train
leaving London at five in the afternoon, so
that the carriage might meet me at the station
when the train came in, and take me and my
luggage on to the manor-house. To this l
assented in my letter acknowledging the
invitation, and SO was not only pledged to
spend the holidays at particular place, but
also to start on given day, at a fixed hour.
These arrangements subsequently became
important, because, had they not been entered
into, / might not have gone to the manor
house that year. | certainly should not have
started on the day agreed upon, for on the
morning of that day very unpleasant cir
cumstance happened. The mornings post
brought me letter from stranger, of rather
a startling nature. 1t was in woman's hand
writing, and signed Martha Rathgrave. The
letter commenced in fercely indignant and
upbraiding terms, and it charged me with
cOwardice and villsiny. Then the tone
changed to one of piteous appeal and entreaty.
1t is not necessary that should set down the
exact terms of the letter here enough that, as
! gathered, the writer was frantic mother
whose daughter had been tempted from her
home by some designing scoundrel, and who
distracted between indignation and misery
besought in hysterioal and incohGrent terms
that as far as possible the injury might be
repaired by the restoration of the misguided
Agnes Chat was the name given) TO her home
and friends.
The shock of such an epistle may be ina
gined. Ny astonishment at the receipt of it
was unbounded. That it was intended for
me there could be no mistake. My name
appeared in full ON the envelope, with my
address-Hare court, Temple-and my name
was repeated at the bottom of the fourth
page Of the sheet of note paper. Yet swear
] had never heard the name of Rathgrave
before; and as to being party to the abduc-
tion of the unfortunate Agnes, the charge was
simply ludicrous.
Martha Rathgrave wrote from Chertsey.
Had the day been at my disposal should GER
tainly have started off at once in search of
the lady, with view OF clearing up the mys-
terry. But there was my packing, and had
fifty little matters to see about before the hour
at which IL was inevitable that | should catch
my specified train. There was nothing for it
but to write letter, and l sat down for the
nurpOga. I ept down. hut l1nSar tha piror,nn-
stances letter was difficult thing to write.
What could / say that would in any way
satisfy Mrs. Rathgrave To tell her that
she was mistaken, and that ! vas not the
man she supposed, would obviously to her
mind be adding untruth to the catalogue OF
my misdeeds. She had called me a coward;
] hesitated at convincing her that l was a
liar.
While sitting pOndering over this, I pre-
Bently bethought me of an expedient. l
could not 60 to Chertsey myself, but l could
send friend. Exactly; but who' thought
and. thought, then suddenly hit upon it.
There was Gilbert Stone. The very man;
young, smart, fond of adventure, and ever
ready to do man a service. Moreover he
was easily to be found-his chambers were
only in the next court. Without further re-
Election / resolved to take him into my conf
dence in this strange business, and to ask him
to fathom the mystery for me.
With the open letter in my hand, started
of for stones chambers. They were on he
fourth floor, and when l had mounted to the
top of the gloomy staircase found, to my dis
appointment, that his outer door WAS closed
Thinking it still possible that he might be
there, gave a sharp rap, but there was no
response from within. The case was hopeless.
Ihad decided this, and was about to turn
away, when heard somebody begin slowly to
mount the stairs. It was a heavy, weary step,
but came on steadily, round after round.
leant over the balustrade, and was mentally
contrasting the step with Stones light agile
bound, when, to my intense astonishment, on
the figure coming into sight, recognized Stone
himself. AT the same moment he caught sight
of me, and certainly his astonshment was not
less than mine. He started and put out a
hand against the wall to steady himself.
"Wh-what do you wantH" he gasped in an
angry tone.
"You're not wellf" rejoined, giving him
question for question.
Nonsense Never better in my life. What
is itf"
said IL would be necessary to go into some
little explanation, and he then craWled up the
few remaining steps, and putting his back
against the stair-window, folded his arms, and
intimated that he was ready to hear what
had to say. He seemed to have no intention
of asking me into his chambers, and though |
thought this odd, would not appear to take
any notice of it.
There is seldom too much light in the
Temple in December, and this morning was
specially gloomy. So, in the position Gilbert
Stone had taken up, his face was wholly dark
to mel could not see a line of it. In fey
words | explained what had happened, and
m aA tba latt Ha