Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1904-03-12 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MARCH 12, 1901.  which sounded fax away, assisted by the echoes of the old building. "Help me! Save me! I an stoning!" she moaned, vanishing down the stairs • with a bitter wail, and bursting through the panel to find Mrs Croft's room still empty. She was followed by the sound of a piercing scream and a heavy fail, Grainger, in her terror, had evidently sunk to the ground, all power desert. ing her under the belief that the ghost of the dead girl had arisen in this ancient building to confront her murderess.  It was a moment of supreme triumph for Alice, who carefully closed the panel door, making her way unperceived to her own little room, where she owe assumed her disguise, transforming herself into Mary Dormer. She longed to go at once and tell the news of her discovery to Arthur and Mrs Cavendish, but at this late hour it was impossible; for the prewilt, at least, she must contain her soul in patience. Meanwhile Mrs Croft had done her best to make the first evening pleasant to Sir J. 04121. They had ventured into the garden for a few moments after the thunderstorm to breath.° the freshened air, though the quaint, shady alleys were sodden with the recent rain, and tear-drenched roses hung their heads, while the sweet scent of summer dampness appaaxed refreshing after the thundery atmosphere of the afternoon. Sir John loved old places with histories attached to them, and revelled at finding his feet upon soil where noble races, long since passed away, had lived, and moved, and had their being. His imagination could re-awake the ancient echoes of the place which in its day had seen plenty of stirring life and movement. Ile spoke to Mrs Croft of the old-world charm connected with the buildiru2;, its architectural in'.erest, and hsterieal incident, not perceiving that her thoughts were far away. She had graver matters to think of than the mystery and wonder of the p:i.st when such houses as these were first built, and sword and famine overran the land. She smiled at all he said, expressing- her sympathy, glad that the current of his thoughts should be turned for the moment from his daughter's low. - •  Later on, in a cosy corner in the hall, she read aloud one of his favourite books, her mind not following a single word, while her lipe framed the sentences mechanically. Had Sir John asked her to give an acootuat of what she had been rending, she could not have remembered one Line.  Mrs Croft was impatient to retire; the enormous ghostly-looking hall, filled with curiosities, gave her an uncomfortable feeling that evil influenees might be lurking behind the enormous tapestry screer_s, which appeared to be a special fancy of the owner's. "I think," said Sir John, "if I had stayed any longer in London I should have been utterly done for, with all this anxiety on my mind. It LS very strange, but I feel as though my daughter were near me to-night. Perhaps her dear spirit haunts this how° to bring me comfort. I have becn conscious of a strange influence which has brought me relief. The horrible restlessness which possgssed me in London has abated somewhat nnee I breathed the atmosphere of this old house. For the hist time since my less, I believe I shall sleep without dreaming of unutterable horrors." "Indeed, I trust you will," ansseld his sympathetic oompanion; "at le!ist you have the satisfaction a knowrg that you are in the healthiest spot.ui England. Let me advise you to retire early; sleep is the very thing Pu want."  (To be continued.)