Year: 1863

step, when we returned to the kitchen, was to


go up to old Pearce and apologize graveIy and


formally for the disturbance be had caused
His next was to turn to me, saying There


can be no further reason for my remaining
will wish you good morning, hoping that your


painful impression may wear off,"


His words came in strangely with the


thought in my mind Was it. after all, q
dream, delusion of my own, created by the


lads story and the desolate house Had


that midnight visit existed in my own fancy


alone Was Mr. Archer right, aud was
going mad ? With that horrible idea noW


first striking me, stood silent until Mr.. Ar.
cher sgain repeated his farewell Then I
reused myself. =" Good.by," | said "After
all, you may be right, and wrong. Ssop2"


And my voice in new tone echoed through


the room. | was standing by the window.
and close to my right hard was common
kitchen cupboard, and at that very instant
heard moan come from it, I never could
have heard it had not been so near | could
hardly hear it now but turned and laid
my hand upon the key, and as | did SO the
old man with an oath sprang up and rushed
upon ne. There was confused struggle,
loud outcry, and he was on the ground, and I
was wrenching open the door. 1t yielded to
my strength, aud there, on the floor of that
narrow closet, bound hand and foot, aud gag
ged, lay the poor woman for whom l had
been seeking, poweress TO move or cry out,
though with help so near, and only able, by
her desperate efforts, TO utter that Que faint
moan which had just reached my ears We
lifted her uD a@l inbound her, bat she spoke
no word, only her wild eyes roamed iHcessant.
ly about, and she elung to me with q grasp
that seemed as though it would never uuloose.
| and Mr.. Archer led her away, leaving the
two men bring old Pearce afterward, for be
made no resistance and only glared savagely
round upon US all.


1t was many hours before AIN Forrest could
speak of what happened TO her but that
afternoon, in Mr.. Archers study, her hand
still claSped 10 mine, she told her dreadful tale
bow in old times she had known the p, ,arces
WELL and once had even helped to nurse the
woman how they had asked he- carelessly
one day about b r masters money-box, and
she had Told them, not thinking any arm,
and had never dreamed of any until the cru
el deed was dOue. That evening she Lad
been busy in the house till after nghtfal and
then went down the garden to call her master
into supper but as she neared the spot where
be was won't 10 sit, she saw two figures bend
ing over something on the ground, and as she
stood to watch saw, too, that it was her mas
ter who lay there, and running forward with
a cry in sudden horror, had fallen the next
moment stunned by blow upon the head
She knew 70 more until she woke to find
herself in the lonely room at Brocklehurst,
and learned that they had brought her there
to ward suspicion from themselves that her
life had for the time been spared, because the
women, bearing grateful memory OF that kind
nursing, had vowed to tell all if they harmed
her, and might have kept her VOW and so
for oil these terrible months one weak woman
had alone stood between her and frightful
death.


Of The end OF that suspense, of the morning
when the old man, coming up alone, had found
the key, disDite the frantic effoft5 sue hGd
made, still in the lock- aud guessing he sa-
cret from that and from her terror, he bound
and bid her from her approaching deliverers,
aud arranging all things iii her prison, had
sent his wife and son away and staiu Aimseif
on guard-of all this she could not even now
speak without conyulsiye shudders and We did
not press her


My story is we'll nigh told. The father and
son suffered for their crimes, the woman was
mercifulIy dealt with. We did not take Brock.
lehurst Grange, for we could not bear that our
innocent children should live in scenes darkel-
ed by such deeds but we did 60 elsewhere.
Years afterwards there might be seen moving
about the house a pale, tall woman, dark!y
dresser, gentle in manner, aud very, very qui.
ct. To her my wife turned for sympathy in
every trouble 10 her arms the children loved
to lie when sick or sorrowful From her I
had the most faithful and devoted service -
and she died at last, holding my hand, aud
thanking me with her eyes, even when her
voice was silent forever Her name was Ann
Forrest.