The Forrest City times., 1891-07-10

eau-de-C Cologne, and filings some of it's contents freely over the fainting girl. Florence, with sigh, rouses herself, and sits upright.
 There Is no time to lose" she says confusedly. "Oh, Dora!" Here she breaks down and bursts into tears. Try to compose yourself" entreats Dora, seeing the girl has some impor- tant news to impart, but is so nervous and unstrung as to be almost incapable of speaking with any coherence. But presently Florence grows calmer, and | then, her voice becoming clear and full, she is able to unburden her heart.
 All this day 1 have been oppressed by curious restlessness," she says to Dora; and, when you left me this af- ternoon, your vague promises of being able to elucidate the terrible secret that is weighing us down made me even more unsettled. 1 did not go down to dinner"
 Neither did l." puts in Mrs. Talbot sympathetically.
 I wandered up and down my room for at least two hours, thinking always, and waiting for the moment when you would return, according to promise, and tell me the success of your hidden enterprise. You did not come, and at half past nine, unable to stay any lon- ger in my own room with only my own thoughts for company, l opened my door, and, listening intently, found by the deep silence that reigned through out the house that almost every one was gone, if not to bed, at least to their own rooms."
 Lady FitzAlmont and Gertrude passed to their rooms about an hour INx~., 4 |. think, are still in the smoking-room."
 T did not think of them. l stole from my room, and roamed idly through the halls. Suddenly great can not help thinking now a super naturally strong-desire to go into the servants corridor ok possession of me. Without allowing myself an in- stant hesitation, turned in it's direc- tion, and walked on until l reached it."
 She pauses here, and draws her breath rapidly.
 Go on" entreats Dora impatiently. The lamp was burning dimly. The servants were all down-stairs--at their supper, 1 suppose-because there was no trace of them anywhere. Not a sound could be heard. The whole place looked melancholy and deserted, and filled me with sense of awe | could not overcome. Still it attracted me. I fingered there, walking up and down until it's very monotony wearied me; even then 1 was loath to leave it, and, turning into small stting-Ioom, I stood staring idly around me. At last, somewhere in the distance 1 heard a clock strike ten, and, turning, 1 decid- ed on going back once more to my rOom."
 Again, emotion overcoming her Flor elfce pauses, and leans back in her chair.
 Well, but what is there in all this to terrlfy you so much?" demands her cousin, somewhat bewildered.
 "Ah, give me time! Now I am com ing to it." replies Florence quickly. You know the large screen that stands in the corridor just outside the slttlng-room 1 have mentioned-put there, 1 imagine to break the draught? Well, l had como out of the room and was standing half-hidden by this screen, when I saw something that paralyzed me with fear"
 She rises to her feet and grows dead ly pale as she says this, as though the sensation of fear she has been describ- ing has come to her again.
 You saw" prompts Dora, rising too, and trembling violently, as though in expectation of some fatal tidings.
 T saw the door of the room that leads to the haunted chamber slowly move. It opened; the door that has been locked for nearly fifty years, and that has filled the breasts of all the ser wants here with terror and diSmay, was cautiously thrown openl A scream rose to my lips but was either too ter ritied to give utterance to it, or else some strong determination too know what would follow restrained me, and l stood silent, like one turned into stone. had instinctively moved back step or two, and was now completely hidden from sight, though I could see all that was passing in the corridor through hole i'll the framework of the screen. At last figure came with hesltating footsteps from behind the door into the full glare of the flicker ing lamp. 1 could see him distinctly. It was"
 Arthur Dynecourt.' cries the widow, covering her ghastly face with her hands.
 Florence regards her with surprise.
 It was" she says at last. But how did you guess it?"
 q knew it." cries Dora frantically. "He has murdered him, he has hidden his body away in that forgotten cham Der. He was gloating over his victim, no doubt, just before you saw him, steallng down from secret visit to the scene of his crime"
 "Dora,' exclaims Florence, grasping her arm, Eff he should not have murder him after all, if he should only have secured him there, holding him prison CT until he should see his way more clearly to getting rid of him! If this idea be the correct one, we may yet be in time to save, to rescue him"
 The agitation of the past hours prov ing now too much for her, Florence bursts into tears and sobs wildly.
 Alas, dare not believe i'll any such hopel" says Dora. Il know that man too well to think him capable of show ing any mercy"
 And yet that man. as you call him, you would once have earnestly recom- mended to me as a husband" returns Florence, sternly.
 Do not reproach me now" eXclaims Dora; later on you shall say to me all you wish, but now moments are pre- cious."
 You are right. Something must be done. Shall I-shall I speak to Mir Villiers?"
 Il hardly know what to advise"-dis- tractedly. If we give our suspicion publicity, Arthur Dynecourt may even yet find time and opportunity to baffle and disappoint us. Besides which, we may be wrong. He may have had noth- ing to do with it, and"
 At that rate, if secrecy is to be our Y tl IA i