Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1905-03-18 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ENNENNINNENIIIIIIIIIII.I  4  to the hall, and presently returned with a startled face. "Oh, Dick," she said to me, "Mrs Bentley's servant has called to say that her mistress ;s in Featdistrels. Beatrice has been seizedvrith a viotent illness, and Mrs Bentley has asked for you or me to go over to the cottage at once. I do not wish to be unkind, but, oh, Dick, I really cannot mo there!" "I had better go, I suppose," I said, reluctwkly. The request cannot well be refused." I delayed some time—half an hour or so. Then, saying I would be back as soon as possible, I put on my hat and went out. I wended my way to the cottage with very unwilling steps, and when I had arrived at the gat,, paused a minute before I could summon up resolution to pass in. A carriage was waiting at the hall door. The door was opened just as I touched tbe knocker, and the ma;d, with a scared white face,• confronted me. As I was about to ask a question a shriek rang out through the little house. "What is the matter?" I asked, very startled, as I stepped into the hall. "It is Miss Sandford, sir; she was taken had last night, and now she's very violent."  "Where is Mrs Bentley?" was my next question, as the servant stood still, evidently stupefied with fright. As I spoke the draw;ng-room door opcm=d, (Ina Mrs Bentley came towards me. "Oh! I am very glad you have come," she said. "I am in great, great trouble! I called this morning and Nellie was out. I wanted Nellie or you—really—you—some time ago; but the nurses came just as the servant wont out, ao I need not have troubled you. Oh! Dick, Dick, she is very bad, the poor child! The attack came on suddenly last night, but I should have suspected some danger, and the doctor says —oh, God! he gives me no hope, but I cannot, cannot believe that."  She spoke spasmodically, with short gasps and dry sobs, and I saw that her face was convulsed with violent anguish. "What is it, Mrs Bentley?" I asked quickly. °‘ What ails Beatrice?"  "Come—come. in here, to the drawing-room," she returned. "Come, before they take her from me. 0, God! they say they must take her."  She clutched me by the arm, and led me in. Just as we entered the room, another wild shriek, followed by an unnatural laugh, rang out. It pierced my brain, and made my nerves quiver. I stopped short in sheer fright.  Mrs Bentley let go her hold of my arm, and, rushina forward, threw herself on her knees be. side the sofa., on which, with a nurse on each side of her, was seated Beatrice. By the sofa, and with his back to me, stood a tall man, who was speaking in a harried, low voice, with the manner of giving directions. I looked at Beatrice, and stood rooted to the floor with dismay as I looked. She sat there, a wild, weird figure. Her beautiful hair hung all round her in a dishevelled mass, as if it had been tossed about; her eyes, that had been so bright and flashing, stared vacantly at me; her proud, disdainful features were distorted with an animal-like leer. She jabbered meaningless words, and ex ery now and then broke into a low moan that was half a howl. The woman I had ::ved and deified!.—and the murderess!  "Dearie, dearie, speak to me! speak to me, child!" sobbed Mrs Bentley, on her knees, fondling a hand that twitched in trembling convulsions. "Don't you know me, Bee? Can't you hear me? Oh, dearie, don't do that!" The doctor bent forward, and, with a strong arm, pushed Mrs Bentley back just as the demented girl, with a blood-curling shriek that ended in a savage unnatural laugh, made a clutch at her throat.  "She is very dangerous now—very dangerous. I have warned you not to go near her. It is quite useless speaking to her. We must take her at once—there has already been too much delay." Poor Mrs Bentley fell back with a heart-rending sob, and I ran and caught her, half-fainting, in my arms, as the nurses, preceded by the doctor, led the jabbering girl from the room, and closed the door behind then.  •