The record-union., 1897-09-12


"She may save herself the trouble,
he muttered.
The woman seemed undecided, and
passed the shed several times. At
length she approached him. and said:
For the love of God, help poor
woman who is starving. 1 have not
tasted food this day, and I have not
a farthing IN the world"
What made the Squire start and seize
the poor forlorn creature by the should
er. as if he would crush her in his
grasp?
He recognized the voice of Alice Ray
ner, his wife's maid.
Alice was terrified when she C1iscov-
cred that Squire Guestwick was the
man from whom she had sought as
sistance. If he had not held her Sc
curely, she would have rushed away
and and flung herself into the sullen
waters which made the stage thrOb
with their unceasing movement
Where is your mistress?" the Squire
asked, rising to his feet.
Alice was spellbound, and could not
speak.
IF you do not tell me-" he Kissed, 81
Will throw you INTO the Sed.
My dear mistress" Alice sobbed,
when she had recovered her powers of
speech; why did L ever leave her?''
Where did you leave her?"'
''At the Hail." replied Alice. with
amazement. She began to suspect that
the Squire was mad.
The story she had to tell was long
and painful, and the Squire listened
like a man entranced. That every
word was true he never doubted for
moment, and though he heard and un-
derstood everything which Alice said,
yet his thoughts seemed to be rushing
to and fro, and he was all the time
confronting the dreadful suggestion
which her statement placed before him.
Jim Travis, Mr. Fossbrook's man, had
made love to her, and had persuaded
her to consent to a plan which promised
to furnish them with abundant means
for starting their married life together.
1--WE were to have everything ready,
said Alice, land while you were at
Eastford we were to watch for a time
when Mrs. Guestwick and Mr.. Foss-
brook were paying visit to the rec
tory, or to Newton Lodge, and then
Mr.. Fossbrook had started for Lon
don, and he was following him. Then
Jim would pack the gentleman's things
and start for Eastford in the dog cart.
was to get Mrs. Guestwick's jewels,
and the money in her safe, and make
an excuse that had a parcel to take
somewhere. Then Jim was to drive
US TO Doncaster, and we were to go
somewhere and get married. But it
was not until the day you were ex-
pected back from Eastford that we had
a chance. Mrs. Guestwick told me that
she and Mr.. Fossbrook intended to
walk across the marsh, as it was very
fine and there was no sign of mist L
knew very we'll that it would take them
longer than they thought, and l let Jim
know about it When they had been
gone a half hour Jim came with his
tale. We had some trouble to get off
together, but we managed it at last,
and Jim drove US to DoncaSter. From
there we took the train to Manchester,
where we stayed some time, under as
sumed names. Then we thought it
would be safe to cross the water and
go to America, so we came to Liverpool.
But Jim was in no hurry to go, but
kept saying it was not safe. He got in
with q bad lot here. One night he
must have drugged my drink, for I
slept very soundly, and when [ awoke
he was gone. He had taken everything
with him and left me without a. penny.
[ have not seen him since. If anybody
ever suffered for sin, l have suffered
since them
DO you know that they never came
back again?" the Squire asked, pale
and trembling. do you know that
your mistress and Mr. Fossbrook never
returned to the Hall?'
Don't say that, SIR Alice sobbed.
"Oh, don't say thati AS we-droye past
the seven poplars we could see them
by the deep cut, just past Stenby Cor
ner. Then, when we reached the Old
Close, L saw the mists beginning to
drift over from the river. [ told Jim.
and he said, All the better for u.s. But
l have seen the mist in my dreams
every night, and that is what made
me o'link. When 1 dream I hear
screams, and 1 know the voice. [ know
the voice"
Squire Guestwick asked a few oues-
tions about the exact place where
Alice had seen her mistress and Elton
F'ossbrook; then without another word
IHG hurried DSlCk the MOTEL
He could not reach Eastford that
night he discovered, and therefore he
started. though he knew we'll that If
was impossible to do anything until
tomorrow. AT 3 O'Clock in the morn
ing he awoke the few inmates of the
Hall, and his first demand was TO he
taken to little Rosy The child was
fast asleep, and he surprised the nurea
by kissing the infant until she awol1e
with a terrified scream; then he hugged
her, and used again the pet names
which he had lavished upon her before
the trouble came
1t was long and dangerous task
to examine the marsh near Stenhv
corner, but there We're many helpers.
ana on the third day two bodies were
discovered. In the clenched hand of
Mrs. Guestwick was an open locket
Whlch contained the portraits of her
husband and child. The wanderers had
evidently, strayed from the safe path
and had slowly sunk to their death.
the mist had prevented them being
seen, and nobody had heard their cries.
Nothing was ever heard of linn
Travis again, and only a paragranb
in the Liverpool papers. about an ~
quest en- a woman unknown. who was
found dead near the docks with 49,
name Alice Raynor on her tattarad
linen, gave any information about the
rate Oh one who had sacrificed honor
ana comfort at the suggestion of the
tempter
The Squire looked an old man. and
couId not endure to have Rosy out Of