Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1903-01-10 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. A ghastly murder has been perpetrated, and poor old Mrs Butt is discovered lying on the kitchen floor w'th her throat out, while ] the condition of the house goes to prove that the murderer was searching for something. The local police fail to obtain further evidence and they place the matter in the hands of evidence, Yard. DetectiveInspector Glassington undertakes the job, • after somewhat doEcate handling from his chief, and travels to Harlesden, where he interviews Mrs Ticley, with whom lie thoroughly ingratiates himself. Lady Mary Stratford and her daughter, Flora Beatrice, are at home that evening. Among the guests is a Mr Norman Vansittart, a man without means and social position, who is deeply in love with Flora Beatrice. This affection is returned, but Flora Beatrice has decided to marry Lord Heslington, the most eligible man in lt,ir circle—when she is asked. But this same lord is entanglng himself with Miss Mabel Eyre, Lady Stratford's pretty governess. Norman Vansittart returns home. Bowed down by his crushed hopes and shattered dreams, he longs to raise the veil of his own and his mother's past life. While he is alone he unlocks his mother's desk and proceeds to read a packet of old letters belonging to heir. Norman learns the true story of his birth. He is no longer a nameless outcast, but the legitimate son of the Earl of Fulford, while Lord Heslington, the favoured suitor of Flora Beatrice, is the son of Mrs Vanstart, the one who has kept Norman from rightful place all these years. In the early morning Mrs Vansittart finds that Norman has discovered her secret. Remorse and dread fill her cup of woe to the brim, and she fang down dead. Norman seeks an interview with his father, but failing to find him at home, is received by Lord Heslington. The latter repeat.. the story to the earl when he returns, but can get no satisfactory answer as to the truth of matters. When in this state of indecision he is thrown into the society of Mabel Eyre and enga.p.ics hin-self to her. Flora Beatrice and Vansittart meet in Kensington Garders, and Norman extracts from the proud beauty that had he been rich she *ouM have permitted his suit. Once again Lord Heslington tries to obtain the facts of the cace from the earl, but without success. He hears, however, from the servants that Lord Fulford had been out in the carriage till past midnight. Reading later the account of the murder of his old nurse, he cannot fail to connect the circumstances. While walking in Kensington Gardens he meets Flora Beatrice, who carries him off with her, and from whom he obtains a statement of her feelings towards him. Inspector Glassington calls on Lord Heslington with reference to the murder of Mrs Butt. He is met with the statement that the young nobleman did not visit his old nurse that evening, and is obliged to leave, having simply heard Lord Heelington's version of his movementi that night. After the interview Lord Healington goes to his father and recounts to him what has passed, again begging him to make atonement to Norman Vansittart. Tr) all entreaties, however, the Earl is deaf, and the discussion ends in a breach between father and son. Lord Heslington is called as a witness in the murder case, and that evening all society are talking of the new sensation. He has another interview with Mabel, and gives her to understand that in the event of a trial he will not defend himself. On the day of Lord Heslington's cross-examination Mabel .Eyre goes to see Lord Fulford to tell him that 11:s son was with her on the evenir.g of the murder.