The Washington times., 1901-12-08

straIgled Sne waA taken 10 the nome OF
Polly Gregory to await the event which
was soon to be: and the old housekeeper.
who had reappeared Just after the
tragedy. was engaged by honest Tom
Gregory 10 see that the house was put
straight. A week later she locked the
great front door behind her. and moved
slowly down the road with a ssrdonic
smile Illuminating her wrinkled face.
Nobody went near wharne Castle for
long time after that. Belated boys. hurry
ing past 1t from fishing expeditions. de-
elared that they had heard screams there.
but no investigation was made. Nobody
wanted to find out the truth about Gil
bert Homes death. surmises had leaked
out somehow, and the story was one OF
those which are told In chimney corners
at night. and make children huddle up
close to their elders knees. II was cer-
tain that his wife had not killed him, and
who or what did kill him was not
Christian subject OF enquiry.
Dorothy's child was born a month after
her husbands death. When 1t was shown
to her she tainted. 1t did not look like
Gilbert.
They had to keep the baby away from
her during the short time she lived after
that; and Polly Gregory, much as she
longed to love the little fellow, felt a
secret repulsion as she watched the sharp
unchildish features, the v-shaped eye
nose Tom, who had never seen the
strange master of warne Castle, was the
only one who paid much attention to
the child. and little Gilbert was eventu-
ally brought up by the Gregorys.
From the first the boy manifested Gu
riosity about the estate OF which he was
to be master He was shrewd beyond his
years and always got the better OF bar
gain. Nothing frightened him. He found
an old woman n the village who could
tell him much about his estate. and when
he was about twelve years old he evinced
consuming desire to go there. Finally
Gregory. having business in that part Of
the country, took the boy with him,
somewhat reluctantly He had tried to
sell the house. but nobody would buy.
He obtained the key and the strangely
assorted pair entered the echoing halls.
Gilbert peered into the big empty dining
room, soaring the rats in the pantry and
finally slipping away from his guardian.
who had stepped outside to light his pipe
there seemed to be all sorts Of unac-
countahle drafts In the old place-found
his way to the turret room. When Tom
missed him a few moments later and
traced him there he found no Gilbert. but
a hole in the wall.
The boy in his Investigations had found
some secret spring. which opened door
in the walnseoting. and from this a mar
row. dusty fight OF steps led down. Tom
descended them, and came to another door,
which opened into tiny room, furnished
only with a table. a narrow cot, and some
molderins books, and a great chair. In
The chair sat something that had been a
man; on the table was a manuscript book,
which the boy was reading intently. Tom
snatched up book and boy. and somehow
gained the upper air. Then, breathing
heavily, he stood of from the youngster,
lumbly gazing at him. Anger, rare emo
lion with Gilbert. blazed from his eyes
when the book was taken from his small
hands. and he mutlered few
neoherent words and threw himself, sob
,lng with rage, on the ground
The manuscript book contained the rec
,rd Of the mystery of Wharne Castle. and
he last year in the life of its owner. He
lad kept this diary for years. A part was
=. b,1t tho
IS plain as print. There was, as he had
" chance discovered. a secret stairway
n the house. leading to this room. and
constructed by the Wharne who had own
d the property In the time OF the Jacob
te uprising. This Wharne dying in Eng
and. the house had remained unoceupied
or time. and the secret of the staircase
ost to all except one woman. who Rad
,een maid in the house. Her daughter
his Godfrey Wharne had favored with
lis fancy. and the old woman had evident
V come to cherish the hope, that owing
o her knowledge Of the secret, and his
ccentric character. he might make Nancy
.eir to his property.
This plan he had thwarted by his mar
iage with Dorothy. When attacked BY
he paid ruffians Of Gilbert Home. he had
een severely wounded. but not killed;
nd the dead man taken for him was
mother. chosen for a close accidental
On his recovery he had
ouud himself a marked man, and been
bliged to secrete himself in his own
ouse. The diary from this point runs
artly as follows:
81 am shut up here in my own house,
sithout entertainment. without even the
OF making plans. My only
/ obtain from soaring those
oor silly fools in the rooms above. How
he gods must laugh. if there be gods.
o see the rascal's delight in his new pos
assion 50 clevsrly baked, Old Hannah
upplies ne with food, and has set the
eryants to whispering. They can keep
. man nor maids. 1t is rare sport.
'omen were ever faithless. be they
idies or country wenches. He
tormented more and mere. 1 must
ave cared for her more than | sup
osed, for some night feel that shall
IN him. Perhaps it will be to-
.ght. It was. / shall have the
"a place to myself once more. sharing
My with the bats and the owls. Nancy,
, word from her mother would pass
me; and hey for a rare lonely existence
III this rebel furry blows over and the
ing comes to his own again.
May l2. Fate has taken another turn.
nd beshrew me, an uniting one Old
annah locked the door on me las. night.
nd screeched through the keyh0ld like
lie hell-cst that she is. It was most dis