Year: 1879

others. But tonight, at any rate, the state of impotence which now usually beset me when l tried to write was quite absent. The sensa- ton of holding pen no longer set up that ner- vous irrltability, that vain desire to seize upon ideas always eluding me, combined with a loathing for my task, which had of late been always present with such distressingforce. now felt calm and even pleased with my en- ployment and could think out my ideas with distinct sense of mental power 1 felt once again something like my old self. Assuredly the cure had begun to take effect already. If l could only maintain this frame of mind should be able to enjoy my holiday, and yet make good progress with my task. And it was with a sense of infinite relief that I once more resumed favourite position, which of late had been obliged to abandon, exchang- ing the upright chair for an easy one, and put ting the candles behind me, so that the light fell on the paper which held upon portfo- lio. In this way could write fast enough and comfortably, and then letting the book lie on my lap, could stop at times to rest and think Yes. it was the charm of the quiet and the country air which had wrought this restoration already. Why limit my stay here to few weeks It will be easy. no doubt, to get an extension of the lease, and perhaps the agent would put the house and the neglected garden into little better order. A brighter wall-pa- per alone would make the cottage quite cheer full.

 Sitting thus writing in an easy-chair, the head may rest while one stops to think and as l lay back thus now and again, sometimes in happy contemplation of my own improved l condition, at others rehecting on the order of my argument, closing my eyes the while, I must have fallen asleep for when opened l them did not at first recollect where was i; i then became aware that had been awaken ed by noise. Somebody was moving in the' drawing-room of the other side of the little passage, Wyatt, no doubt What had he come downstairs for? But no, it is not Wy att It is the rustling of a woman's dress. Mrs. Bond perhaps, locking up for the night. Then, as glanced at the candles nearly burnt out, knew that it must be long past mid nlght l jumped up, curious to know who it could be moving about so late, although the idea of robbers never occurred to me, or if it did was at once dismissed; for who would think of breaking into house with one of its occupants sitting up with candles before an uncurtained window. As 1 rose to my feet again heard the person moving and stopped to listen. The woman, whoever it is, has come out from the drawing groom. and is passing along the little passage with light swift step. Now she is going up the stairs. It must be Bond or her niece. What can she want at this hour and taking up candle opened the deer and looked out. The staircase, as have mentioned, was in the recess at the back of the drawing room oppositethe back barbour; at the top was landng-place. with a door communicating with the servants rooms over the offices Bond or her niece, whichever it was, must have passed through this door to her room. She has been quick about it, for was close behind But no for as was about to follow noticedth the door is both locked and bolted from this side. She must be still somewhere close. But yet there is no hiding place. The passage, which corresponded with the one below, was bare of furniture: Oppo- site the head of the staircase was the lumber room, over the back parleur. This was un- locked, and not without certain thrill of ex- citement opened the door. and looked in. It contained an old chair or two, and some boxes, but was otherwise empty.

 There remained only the two bedrooms. listened at the door of Wyatt's, which was over the drawing room, and then opened it quietly. He was sleeping the sound sleep of a healthy man in good training. My own room was empty.

 As thus what seemed at first SO simple failed of explanation, my heart began to beat loudly as found myself in presence of the supernat- ural. The power of motion left me as stood with the candle in hand, while suddenly, as connected with what had just happened, there flashed across my mind the recollection of the mysterious figure seen in the afternoon. My knees trembled, and confess that it was more the feeling ofprotection from Wyatt's presence on the other side of the door than my own res olution that enabled me to recover tine power of my limbs. Yet withal felt thoroughly ashamed of my poltroonery, although finding a salve to my conscience in being able to as cribe it to the state of my nerves. Yes, it must be that! had become excited again over my work, and waking up suddenly had allowed this foolish hallucination to possess me for the moment, for hallucination it must be. What more absurd that to connect this prosaic house, tenanted by couple of young men, with q supernatural presence Yet it was not without an effort and until after some delay that went down stairs again. And how to account for the drawing room door being open l am cer tain I heard Mrs. Bond close It before she went to bed. looked in. We had made no use of it as yet, and it bore the same untenanted look it had always worn. Shutting the door, l returned to the dining room, which was just as had left it. Blowing out the candle had left lighted there, and stealthily putting my papers away in the drawer, as if afraid of the sound of my own movements, 1 went upstairs again, schooling myself to go slowly, yet feel Ing every moment more assured as each step brought me nearer to the sound of Wyatt peacefully snoring, and then seeking my own room, turned the key. It was now between one and two o'clock Had not the cottage been so overc st by the shade of trees, have no doubt faint glimmering of dawn would have beer, perceptible in the east. Getting in- to bed and extlngnlsnlng Une light, waited in rapt attenten for further sound, but nothing could be heard save the dull murmur of the water passing over the weir higher up the riv- CT The distant villare clock Str,clx two and then three, and it was not until the morning light made the paper on the wall distinct, and resolved all the forms in the room into their proper shape, that fell asleep. :.

 CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.