Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1902-12-27 (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 sumothing. The local police fail to obtain further evidenoe, and they place the matter in the hands of Scotland Yard. DetectiveInspector Glassington undertakes the job, after somewhat &Feats handling from his chief, and travels to liarlesden, where he interviews Mrs Tidey, with whom he 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 her circle—when she is asked. But this same lord is entangllng himself with Miss Mabel Eyre, Lady Stratford's pretty governess. Norman Vaneatart returns home. Bowed down by his crushed hopes arrd 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 her. 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 Lceal Heslington, the favoured suitor of Flora Beatrice, is the son of Mrs Vansittart, the one who has kept Norman from rightful plat* 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 falls down dead. Norman seeks an interview with his father, but failing to find him at home, is received by Lord Heslington. The latter repeats the story to the earl when he returns, but can get no satisfaotory answer as to the truth of matters. When in this state of indecision he is thrown into the society of Mabel Eyre and engages himself to her. Flora Beatrice and Vansittart meet in Kensington Garclene, and Norman extracts from the proud beauty that had he been rich she would have permitted his suit. Once again Lord Heslington tries to obtain the facts of the case 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 te oonnect 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 lune Inspector Glassington calls on Lord Heslington with reference to the murder of Mrs Batt. 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 Ileelington's version of his movements that night. After the interview Lord Heslington goes to his father and recounts to him what has passed, again begging him to Yeake atonement to Norman Vansittart. 1`) all entreaties, however, the Earl is deaf, and the discuseion ends in a breach between father and son.