The Press., 1896-07-23

man with considerable reserve of strong passion, and he asked his in- formant what he meant by speaking thus.
 The man explained that shortly after the young woman's bereavement stranger had come to the port He had seen her moping on the quay, had been attracted by her youth and loneliness, and in an extraordinarily brief woolng had completely fascinated her-had oar ried her off, and as was reported had married her. Though he had come by water, he was supposed to live no very great distance off by land. They were last heard of at Oozewood. in Upper Wessex, at the house of one Wall, tim Der merchant, where, he believed, she still had lodging, though her husband, if he were lawfully that much. was but an occasional visitor to the place.
 "The stranger?" asked Roger. Did you see himP What manner of man was he?"
 II liked him not," said the other. "He seemed of that kind that hath something to conceal, and as he walked with her he ovor and anon turned his head and gazed behind him, as If he much feared all unwelcOme pursuer. But faith" continued ho, "it may have been tho mans anxiety only. Yet did l not like him.
 "Was ho older than my sister," Rog- or asked
 "Aye, much older, from dozen to a score of years older. A man of some po- sition, may bo, playing an amOrous gamo for the pleasure of tho hour. Who knoweth but that he have a wife all ready? Many have done the thing here abOuts of late '
 Having paid visit to the graves of his relatives, the sailor next day went along the straight road, which, then a lane, now a highway, conducted to the curious little inland town named by the Havenpool man. It is unnecessary to describe Oozewood in the South Avon. It has a railway at the present day, but 30 years of steam traffic past its pre- cincts have hardly modified its original features Surrounded by sort of fresh water lagoon, dividing it from meadows and coppice, it's ancient thatch and tim Der houses have barely made way even in the front street for the ubiquitous modern brick and slate. It neither in creases nor diminishes ill size. It is difficult to say what the inhabitants find to do, for, though trades in wOodware are still carried on, there cannot be enough of this class of work nowadays to maintain all the householders, the c&o 11 thinned and curtailed. At the time of this tradition the forests were dense, ar tificers in wood abOunded, and the tim her trade was brisk. Every house ill the town without exception was of oak framework, filled in with plaster and covered with thatch, the chimney being the only brick portion of the structure. Inquiry soon brought Roger the sailor to the door of Wall, the timber dealer he was able to gain admission to the lodging of his sister, the people having plainly received directions not to vel come strangers.
 She was sitting in an upper room, on ono of the lath backed, willow bottomed shepherds" chairs. made on the spot then as to this day and as they were probably made there in the days of the heptarchy. In her lap was an infant, which she had been sucking, though now it had fallen asleep. So had the young mother herself for few minutes under the drowsing effects of solitude. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she awoke, started up with 0 glad cry and ran to the door, opening which she met her brother on the threshold.
 "Oh, this is merryl didn't expect 'eel'' she said. "Ah. Roger-I thought it was John. Her tones fell to disap pointment.
 The sailor kissed her, looked at hel sternly for few moments. and pointing to the infant said, You moan the ia ther of this?'
 "Yes, my husband" said Edith.
 II hope so, " he answered.
 Why, Roger, I'11 married-of 6 truth am IT" she cried.
 "Shame upon 'eo if true If not true worseI Master Stockor was an hones man, and ye should have respected hit memory longer. Where is thy husband?
 "He comes often. thought it was ht now. Our marriage has to be kept SC cret for awhile It was done privily fo