Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1889-06-29 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

PLOT.  " Why, John, are you ill ?" cried the old .ady in great concern. "As regards the body—no," said John solemnly ; "but, my dear aunt, you know the body is unimportant compared with—with— you see—" and feeling he was beginning to flounder, John wi.ely stopped. The kind-hearted old lady looked at her nephew's face for a moment, and quickly decided that what he wanted first was food and warmth and cheerful conversation, with all of which she proceeded to supply him. John, intensely relieved to find that he WWI not expected to dlscu3s his spiritual oondition at present, ate his chimer with a heartine.e wonderful in a man who had just expressed the above sentiments with regard to the triviality of any regard for the welfare of the body. Shortly after dinner followed tea, during which cheerful meal Miss Simpson did all she could to prevent her nephew from indulging in morbid thoughts about himself. She talked about many things, and eventually about the Port Glasgow murder, in which sub;ect John was not at first much interested. He pricked up his ears, however, as the good lady went on.  "Then, you see, everybody thought that this man Shepherd committed the murder, for when he ran away it must have been true, mustn't it? And then he had a, sweethett t, a young person called Gray, Margaret Gray, who wag employed in the Misses GONall4. shop, and when Miss Gowans heard that Margaret was engaged to be married to Shepherd she told the young person either to give hp her sweetheart or her situation. It was very hard hearted of Miss Gowarle, wasn't it ?"  "Who is Ales Margaret Gray?" asked John, es earelessly seise could, though all the while be was asking himself how be could tarn the circumstances which had just come to his knowledge to the beat account. "She lives with one David Gray and his wife, but I believe she is not their daughter. Poor Dr. Watson knew all about her, end gave her to Gray to bring up." Ah, yes. You don't know who her father was ?"  •' Ile was mid to be an American cotton planter, but---" . . .  I understand," said Scott, gravely shai--ing his head. "But, my dear aunt, is it rot v,iir duty to do something for the poor g.rl .} She has been very badly used." "She has indeed," responded Miss Simpson IA artuly, for she detested the Miss Gowans trot the bottom of her kindly heart. Had oho known the part that Mr M'Steepen had playoi in the dismissal of Maggie she would not I:ati spoken or felt so strongly. " What 17ouid Idc to help her ?" she said. Vv hy, you could give her sewing or something of that kind to do. You must have a lot, nf such work in eonneetion with your ,orcaa Societies," answered the wily nephew. I will call upon her to-morrow,' said Miss Simpon, with decision. It might be se well to bring here to 11rJr 4..' went on the schemer ; " it would show the world that you were more charitable in your ideas—"  " 'apital, John I" burst in the good lady, *lapping her bands. "Mime Gowans will be as made as anything,. Ifl do it. PU bring her Isere." And Miss Simplon was IA good am her 1. She called at David Gray's oottsge, am! her somewhat severe tract•distributhla ruanner loon gave way whoa she saw how pretty, and modest, and gentle Maggie really "se. She insisted upou the girl ooming to we bet that aftarnoon. and as she walked away.** kind hearted old lady muttered to go and box that -1 could."  ibera;lii we stale oh, / • c:owiuss'  *paid