Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1902-03-15 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

NORTHERN WEEKLY GAZETTE.  as before, "that we've not heard all the truth yet, but--that we shall probably be able to get at it by-and-by." There was an u.neasy feeling growing in the group, that resolved itself into an instinctive withdrawal of the better sort among them towards the door. Something in the faces and in the manner of the two men who were meeting each other so fiercely eye to eye, seemed to imply that there was more than a mere discussion of an exciting affair between them, but there was something intimate, something personal in the matter, that called upon casual spectators to be modest. Before, however, this feeling had resolved itself into definite action on the part of the bystanders, Astley, without another word to the boy, turned his back on the doctor, and advancing to the corner where Norma was standing, shrinking, nervous, trembling, he took her hand iu his-arm and saying gently: "Come, dear," led her out of the cottage, with a courteous acknowledgment as he went, of the salutations of his tenants and humble neighbours.  of the one lamp, and they saw the same fear in each other's eyes. It was Norma who spoke first. "Let's go out into the fields," she said, "where we can be quite sure no one can hear us. Just for a minute. I want to say something to you." So they _went back, and re-crossed the lane, and went over the stile into the open ground, where Norma felt safe from being overheard. "I want to tell you," she mid, "before we say good-night--" "Good-night!" cried he, in consternation. "Aren't you going back with me then ?"  "Not on any account. And j,ou are not to HA where I live, or to come and see me."  "But why shouldn't you stay at the Haigh? People will chatter, and ask all sorts of questions if you don't come back, and if they know you're living here!"  Norma made an impatient movement with her hand, in her impulsive, half foreign fashion. "What does that matter? Let them talk till they're tired of talking. I  MARCH 15, 19,  "But why—" "Do as I tell you. And remember again and again, you are not to be alarmed whatever they say, whatever they think."  "I wish you'd explain," said Astley uneasily. But she would not. She called attention, at that moment, to a commG_ tion in the lane behind them, and returning thither, they found that the police had come from Blackdale, and with them a fresh crowd of sensationmongers.  The people streamed into the road, into the plantation. The police went first, with Dr. Wharles, who had been summoned from Raggett's cottage to explain what indeed there was little need to explain. Norma and Asiiey, drawing together under the shelter of the hedge that bordered the lane, boside the stile, heard the doctor's ringing tones as he talked. The people who had been in the cottage, and who had seen the body, did not, for the most part, join in this second expedition into the wood; they formed group* in the lane, discussing the mysterious affair. The words of some of these gossips reached the ears of Astley and his companion, as, anxious that the people should disperse before they themselves went back into the lane, they waited a few minutes in Silence near the stile.  "It's a rum thing this, and a bad he ginning for t' new master oop at t' Haigh," said one man to another, in a low voice.  "Ay," said his mate, "let:s hope as ow t' truth'll coom out and clear him."  Astley started. Norma held his arm n her hand like a vice.  The first speaker went on: "I'll not believe it easy of t' new master. He's a nice chap, for all he's a bit violent, as t' doctor says." "T' doctor had proofs of it t' other lay!" said the second man. "But ho says hissen as how he doan't, think wo ought to talk as if we felt suspicious, without more proof than we gotten." Norma was trying to draw Astley away: but he.seemed to be rooted to the spot. "They suspect me of the murder!" he cried hoarsely. (To be continued.)