The Press., 1896-07-23

his horse with his own hands in the shed there
 Roger retired to the neighbor1ng inn called the Black Lamb, and meditated. This mysterious method of approach de- tormined him, after all, not to leave the place till he had ascerta1ned more definite facts of his sisters position whether she were the deluded victim of the stranger or the wife she obviously believed herself to be Having eaten some supper, he left the inn, it being now about II o'clock. He first looked into the shed. and finding the horse still standing there waited irresolutely near the door of his sisters lodging. Half an hour elapsed, and while think ing he would climb into loft hard by for a nights rest there seemed to be Q movement within the shutters of the sitting room that his sister occupied. Roger hid himself behind fagot stack near the back door, rightly divining that his sisters visitor would emerge by the way he had entered. The door opened, and the candle she held in her hand lighted for moment the stran- ger s form, showing it to be that of a tall and handsome parsonage, about 40 years of ago, and apparently of su- periOr position ill life. Edith was assist ing him to cloak himself, which being done he took leave of her with a kiss and left the-house. From the door she watched him bridle and saddle his horse, and having mounted and waved an adieu to her as she stood, candle in hand, he turned out of the yard and rode away.
 The horse which bore him was, or seemed to be. little lame, and Roger fancied from this the riders journey was not likely to be long one. Being light of foot he followed apace, having no great difficulty on such a still night in keeping within earshot some few miles, the horseman pausing more than once. In this pursuit Roger discovered the rider to choose bridle tracks and open commons in preference to any high road. The distance soon began to prove more trying one than he had bar gained for, and when out of breath ano in some despair of being able to ascer- tain the mans identity, he perceived an ass standing in the starlight under a hayriok, from which the animal was helping itself tC periodic mouthfuls.
 The story goes that Roger caught the ass, mounted and again resumed the trail of the unconscious horseman, which feat may have been possible to nau tical young fellow, though one can hardly understand how a sailor would ride such an animal without bridle or saddle and strange to his hands unless ! ri1 0Oi1 h This question, however, is immaterial. Suffice it to say that at dawn the fol lowing morning RoCcr behold his sis ter's lover or husband entering the gates of large and well timbered park on the southwestern vorgo of the White Hart Forest Gas it was then called), now known to everybody as tho Vale of BlackmOor. ThereupOn the sailor dis carded his stoed, and finding for him self an Obscurer entrance to the same park little farther on he crossed the grass to reconnoiter.
 He presently perceived amid the trees before him Q mansion which, new to himself, was one of tho best known in the country at that time. Of this fine manorial residence hardly 0 trace now remains, but a manuscript, dated some years later than the events we are re- garding, describes it in terms from which the imagination may construct a singularly clear and vivid picture. This record presents it as consisting of "a faire yellow freestone building, partly two and partly three storeys; faire halle and barbour, both waynscotted q faire dyninge roOme, and withdrawing roome, and many good lodgings; a kitchen adjoyning backwarde to one end of the dwelling house, with faire passage from it into the halle, parlour and dyninge roOme, and sellars adjoyn- inge.
 ''In the front of the house 0 square greene court, and a curious gatehouse with lodgings in 1t, standing with the front of the house to the south. In a large outer court three stables, a coach house, large barne and a stable for oxen and kyne, and all houses necessary.
 "Without the gatehouse, paled in, a large square greene, in which standeth faire chappell; of the southeast side a large garden.
 ''Of the southwest side of the greene court is large bowling greene. with flower mounted walks about 1t, all walled about with battled wall, and sett with all sorts of fruit, and out of it into the feildes there are large walks under many tall elmes orderly plant ed"
 Then follows a description of the orchards and gardens; the servants of fees, brewhOuse, bakehouse, dairy, pi- geOn houses and corDmill; the river and its abundance of fish; the warren, the coppices, the walks Ending thus:
 "And all the country north of the house, open champain. sandy feildes, very dry and pleasant for all kindes of recreation, huntinge and hawkinge, and profitable for tillage. \ The house hath a large prospect east, south and west, over a very large and pleasant vale, Is seated from the good market towns of Sherton Abbas three miles and Ivel mile, that plentifully yield all manner of provision, and with ill 12 miles of the south sea-.
 It was on the grass before this seduc tive and picturesque structure that the sailor stood at gaze under the elms fl the dim dawn of Sunday morning anG saw to his surprise his sisters lover anc horse vanish within the court of the building.
 Perplexed and weary, Roger slowly retreated, more than ever convinced thai something was wrong in his sisters DO sition. He crossed the bowling green tc the avenue of elms, and bent on further research was about to climb into one ot these, when, looking below, he saw { hole large enough to allow man tt creep to the hollow interior. Here Roger ensconced himself. and having eaten ( crust of bread which he had hastily thrust into his pocket at the inn he fel asleep upon the stratum of broker touchwood that formed the floor of tho hollow.