CHRISTMAS EVE AT LONETHORPE MANOR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 3380, 25 December 1871, Page 2

CHRISTMAS EVE AT LONETHORPE MANOR.

. That old undo of mine, Peter Greysfcore, with liia quaint antiquarian tastes and numerous bobbins, possessed a musoum whioh would have done honor to any provincial town, containing, amidst many other curiosities, a vastnumber of coins of great worth ; but its chief feature in point of value was a really magnificent collection ot uncut diamonds, rubies, omcrulds, und all sorts of precious stones. Amongst various eccentric propensities, he had one for living in an old fashioned country house ; and, when an unexpected accession of fortune placed such a residonoe within his ronch, lio purchased ivhat I have no doubt ho onlled " A glorious old place, sir !" with ivied towers, oriel windows, huge fireplaces, and winding mysterious passages, cutting off corners from many a snuggery ; whilst its dark pussages, winding stairs, leading to unexpected rooms, nnd, by circuitous routes, bringing you buck to the gallery from whence you started, made ifc supremely difficult to find your way about (he interior, even after a considerable acquaintance with it. Lonct.horpe Manor, as the placa was called, was situated in one of the most out of fcho wuy parts of the county of Marlingshire, and possessed, with other attractions in my uncle's eyes, the reputation of being haunted, and thither, some years before I was born, he removed from London with his family and all his belongings, of course including the farfamed museum. The house had, for a considerable poriod, been uninhabited, and hnd gradually fallen into a state of dilapidation, owing partly to its evil reputation and the impecuniosity of its former owner. To restore it in truly medieval fashion was one of fcho delights my usele promised himself. But, as all its appointments wore to be thoroughly appro priate, and in accordam-e with the various periods at which it had been built and added to, this waa naturally a work of some time, and I believe for many years after he wont to livo there portions of it remained in tho most unfinished and uninhabitable condition. I never knew tho place until after his death, which happened juafc before I came of age, and when I found myself not only the inheritor of house and land but also of all the worthy old gentleman's possessions. Ho htfd outlived his wife and. children, and, never having made a will, I, th-jn an orphan, was declared hie next of kin. Having no fancy myself for living in Duch an abode, so completely out of the world, I mado arrangemonts to dispose of it with its contents immediately I attained my majority. On that memorable birthday, amongst the many tokens of good will and kind wishes which reached me from my friends,, was a certain mysterious bos of no groat size, but of considerable weight, locked, clasped, and sealed so eflvctuully as to render inspection of its contents impossible, except by tho exercise of force. It was addressed to me, and accompanied by a short note, in au unsteady hand to this offect : — London, March 6, 1839. Dear S r, — You have probably never heard of my name, but in former years I was the bosom friend of your au:it and uncle Grey." tore. The contents of tho box, which I send with this letter, belong to you as inheritor of Lone thorpe Manor, but I conjure you, by the respect in whioh you hold your uncle's memory, on no account to open it till lam no more. I am a very old woman now, and you will not have long to wait ; and, were it not that I wished to show my respect for you as Peter Greystoro's heir on this day of all others, I should have withhold the box until my death. As it is, I intrust it to you, feeling suro that I can rely implicitly on the honor of anyone bearing the revered name of Greystore, and that my wishes, however weak and foolish, will bo complied with. How it came into my possession you will learn when you examine its contents ; but, as you have pity in your heart and love for the departed, I once more adjure you to grant the last request I shall ever make of anyone in this world, and beg to : . subscribe myself " Your obedient servant, " Isabel Fabgr." I certainly never had heard of Mrs Faber but, of course, I promised to comply faithfully -with her injunctions, though by no means insensible to the feeling of curiosity and wonder at tho mysterious character of this incident. Several years elapsed, however, before the old lady died, and tlion Lonothorpe Manor was no longer mine. On breaking opon the little chest, the first thing which met my eyes was the large roll of manuscript, which ran as follows and cave tbo key to tho whole enigma : — I was about forty- five years of age when my dear friends Mr and Mrs Greys tore wrote to entreat that I would try and rouse myself from the melancholy state into which I had fallen by reason of the great misery tbafc had overshadowed my life for the last two years, that misery to which I shall have to recur in due time. Christmas was fast approaching, and they proposed that I should spend it with thorn at a country seat they had recently purchased, whioh entirely fulfilled, they said, their own notions of a rural residence. I was entreated to go down and make one of the small party expected to assemble at Christinas for a house-warming, when I might judge for myself whether tho place was not most romantically gloomy aud yet most comfortably habitable. After pome prolonged correspondence, it was agreed I should leave London tho day before Chiatmas Day with my maid, an old retainer, who, though loving and faithful, tyrannised over me, by right of long service nnd a close intimacy with my family troubles. So under tho orders of old Ellis, at six o'clock on a chill, foggy morning, we drovo in one of tho rattling hackney- coaches which, with sedan shairs, in those days were our only metropolitan publieconveyanceg, totho "Peacock" at Islington, whence we took the stage-coach j bound for the county town or Marlingford, The bustlo of the start over, I was at first interested in watching tho incoming night mails, as, meetiug us on tho great north road, they dashed by with flickering lamps and steaming horsos to the cheery musio of their guards' horn ; but by the time we had passpd Highgnto I had relapsed into the melancholy mood that had of late oppressed me, and to dissipate which in some degree my frionds had urged that I should visit them even at this inclement season of tho year. My mind was full of the ono great sorrow which had maslo me, tho lonely woman I was, and I hud throughout doubted whether the society of my lively little friend, Mrs Greystore, nnd the Christmas festivities of her house would not rather jar than otherwise upon my feelings. Thejonvnoy, too, was dreary enough, but about three o'clock in the afternoon I was glad to see that wo were approaching a larger town than any we had yet passed through, the guard wound his horn merrily, the coachman mended his pace as wo rattled over the stones of tho suburbs, and pulled up smartly in front of an old-faßhioncd inn. This was Marlingford, whence we were to go on to Lonethorpe in a postchniso. After wo had alighted, and tho London coach was again on its way, I ordered my conveyance, and walked up and down tho courtyard of tho inn, glad to stretch my crumped limbs. Whilst doing so I overheard tho old ostler remurk to the weather-beaten postilion, as they were putting my horses to, that ho would have " but a bad ride of it. For hie part he didn't see why gentry couldn't be contented to live in good towns, instead of out-of-the-way places, whero there warn't a docent road within miles. A fashious job for the cattle was a journey to Lonethorpe, oven inßummer; but, now that tho frost had just broke up, it was wild work, and not partie'lar sufo either, ho thought. Ho had heard as one or two travellers had been stopped lately about that pluco. However, that was the gentry's own look-out! Postboys never come to no harm so long as they are qaiet." Really, there was much truth in the man's remarks ; a moro dreary evoning to travel on could not well be imagined ; and his reference to the possibility of robbery was by no means reassuring, Yet I was but little influenced by the

idea of such perils ; and, as Ellis had jnot overheurci this colloquy, I determined to keep it to myself. Looking up the High street, bright fires shone through many a window, but by the time we drove away blinds and curtains were being drawn down, to shut oufc the desolate prospect, and I pictured to myself many a cosy family group gathering round the cheerful blaze, glad to be safely housed era the short twilight of this Christmas Ere deepened into night. The streets were soon left behind, and the high road was gained; a "few farm teams returning from what labors in the fields the season permitted, passed us ; then cameji the only oheering sound we were to hear for some time, the tinkling bells of the slow-going long stage waggon, with swinging lamp already liglitod. Our postilion nodded to the driver, who called out that it was a rough eight, and with him and his lumbering vehicle passed away tho last signs of life. The road lay up a long hill over which we slowly crawler!, exposed to the full fury of th» wind that howled and moaned'piteously. Tho gaunt, naked branches of the few trees we Baw were twisted and bent, and swaying hither and thither with a strangely spectral motion. Ragged clouds drifted over the wild, lowering sky, a thin, drizzliug rain fell as the wintry day drew to its close, and no living thing was to be seen, except a tew rooks, whose crocking voices blended well with themornful soughing of the wind as they wended their solemn Bight to their homes. About four miles from the town we came to some cross roads where stood a gibbet and chains, in which hung the bleaching bones of some wretched criminal, a eight by no means uncommon in the days of which I speak when capital punishment was awarded to many a crime besides that of murder. A little further on we turned off the highway into a narrow lane, singularly uncared for and dreary, which was, of course, in a worse condition than the road we had quitted. So strangely unused and neglected did it appear that I could not resist letting down the glass and asking tho man if ho knew his way. "Oh! yes; never fear ; but to be sure, it is the worst bito' road in all the county." Such a piercing blasfc whhlted through the open window that I was glad to draw in my head, and wrap my fur cloak round me. Soon after this it grew quite dark, and poor Ellis broke out into the most dismal forebodings ; and just in the midat of one of her querulous lamentations, I was startled by hearing horses' hoofs behind ug. I had hardly time to realise this unexpected sound, when two riders galloped past, and in another instant the carriage was brought to a standstill. There was an altercation in threat* ening tones wit.h the postboy, when the foremost horseman, returning to the coach-door, seized one of our lamps, wrenohing it from its sockot. As he did so the light fell full upon him, and I saw that he was masked. Then he thrust a pistol in ah the window, which I had ju3t lowered, saving, in a hoarse, guttural sort of whisper, " Now then, your . watch and purse ; whatever you have about you give it up quickly and no" He did not finish the sentence ; for at that moment the light his hand sho^e straight into my eyes, and ho drew back as if appalled. "Uttering aa oath, he wheeled his horse round to whero his companion was holding the postboy in cheek, and, exclaiming, " Ride on Tom ; ride on ! this won't do," the two dashed away into the darkness. The presence of mind whioh enabled me to observe and fix in my memory these details was now entiroly gone. I have but the mosb confused recollection of everything that happened afterwards, until I found myself, an hour later in the midst of ray friends at Lone- . thorpe. Their warm welcome, hospitable solicitude, and anxiety for my welfare, however, only partially restored me to myself. The account whioh I gave of the attack by the highwayman and the sudden and mysterious manner in which he abandoned his purpose of robbery wus listened to with profound interest. Eyoryono was nmaized at his forbearance, and utterly puzzled how to account for it. Yefc, oddly enough, so was not I. Somehow, I felfc no surprise on this point. That ho should, under such favorable ciromstances, have failed to carry out his intentions was undoubtedly very remarkable. What influenced him, or what so suddenly arrested his purpose, it was impossible to say ; but I can only repeat I was not astonished at ifc. All, me; had I then known what I afterwards knew there would have been no difficulty in explaining the contradictory feeling which had taken possession of me — the strange sensation of no surprise at a most surprising event. When the excitement of ray arrival had subsided, the etaid but hearty greeting o{ Mr Greystore and the ardently-affectionate embraces of his wife soothed and comforted me. The aspect of the oak-pannelled dining-room, with its blazing fire of huge logs shiniug brightly and cheerily on tho polished walls and floors also tended to counteract the diaagreeable influence of the day's journey. We were not a large pa»tv, and I need not stop to describe thosa dear friends of my earlier days ; they have long since passed away ; and although you were not born then, you are the sole remaining link that binds me to that time. There were to bo some juvenile festivities in honor of Christmas Eve; but, in consideration of tho fatigue and terror I had undergone, I was to be excused from joining in them. I was therefore shown early to my room a good night's rest being prescribed as the surest restorative. So, my hostess leading the way acro3B tho hall, wo ascended a staircase with a br^ad, low oak balustrade, terminating in a landing from which opened many rooms. Passing straight along this to the end we turner up another short flight of stairs, then descended two or thr aq steps whioh brought us to an ante-room, with a curious groined roof, and walls of such thickness it would have been impossible to stretch hand and arm out of the windows sunk in its depths. We were now, I was told, in the tower at the east end of tho house — the oldest part of the mansion. Beyond this lay, at right angles with the frontage, a wing containing some rooms of tho same date as the tower, long disused, but of such ample proportion and commanding such fine views of the park, that Mr Graystoro had resolved to restore and furnish them in a thoroughly antique fashion and make of them the guest ohambers. Only one was at present completed ; and " You, Isabel," said my friend, " are to bo the first occupant of our stato apartment." Nervous as I then wa9, I niust confess I would rather have declined the honor and taken a room nearer to the nurseries ; and I have sometimes wondered at the thoughtlessness of my hostess in seleoting such a remote chamber for me, under the circumstances. The room into whioh I was ushered was of oblong form and hung with tapestry ; another bright fire of great logs burned briskly upon the hearth; o indies were lighted in oldfashioned sconces ; and Ellis, neat and trim, stood beside open boxes, all ready to attend upon ma. Hardly had the door closed upon Mrs Greystore's affectionate "Good-night!" to mo and her caution to Ellis not to loso her way, before that A.bigail exclaimed, " Not lose my way, indeed ! Who could help it, I should like to know ? J nerer saw such a rambling place — not 1 1 Just look, ma'am, at all these windows and doors ! Flow is one to keep out draughts P And the flamo of the candles, too ! Didn't I say't would be j so ?" As this was an evil that might possibly * be remedied, I looked round to see from whioh. window (there were three) the draught that made the light so unsteady oatno. Two were of ordinary size and seemed shut closely ; but the third was a Frenoh casement, opening down to tho floor, and, like the other, had looped-up curtains. As I put my hand up to try the fastening, the sash fell back, admitting -with a whirl and dash, suoh a blast that the embers from tho fire were scattered on the floor, and the lights all but extinguished. Starting baok scared, but instantly rpcovering myself, I pushed it hastily to, quits ready to; ; !^ echo Ellis's compliints on the carelejsneßil,o|;pl servants, who, on such anight, left wiridowa S* insecurely fastened. . .vv^;^!;^'

Looking out, I dimly discerned that a long flight of stone steps, apparently disused atd broken, led from a little terrace, or balcony, in front of the window down to the park. We commented on so unusual and unpleasant un argument as such means of access from without to a bed-chamber, and I felt truly glad that we found heavy shutters, which wo immediately closed. It wa3, of course, too dark to see in fifty yards ; but I was euro wo were Burrounded by trees from tho sharp, crackling rapß with which the bare branches ■were now and again dashed against tho gla93 Annoyed by the cureless ucglect of tho window fastening, I made a very special survey of the JiH^om and furniture. Just facing the foot of the huge four-post bed, with its masses of heavy, dark curtains, under which Ellis timidly peered, was an onk-panelled door, partially revealed by imperfect joining of the tapestry that elsewhere went all round tho room. This we opened, and, peering in, merely discovered a very deep recess sunk in. the thickness of tho walls. It appeared to be a sort of lumbercloset, and contained nothing that we could see but a few boxes and some odd pieces of furniture pushed to tho far end. The door had once fitted neatly into the rough panelling of tho wall, so as to bo imperceptible ; but now, warped upon its hinges by ago, i-i would not shut quite close. We next proceeded to reconnoitre the heavy wardrobe and straight backed massive chairs, that Jookad j more fit for show than comfort. I had hoped to hear that Eilia's room lay near mine ; but on asking the question, she grimly shook her head, and said, "Near, no; not nearer than haif a mile. To be suro, here's a bell; but who knows where it rings to ? and you might call for an hour before anyone would hear you from such nn out of the way corner !" Well ! it was now too late, or, rather, my pride would not allow me to object to the loneliness of my chamber, so, turning (o the old fashioned draped mirror above tho quaint looking toilet table, I prepared to undress, hoping that my unusual timidity would vauish when I had by habit reconciled myself to my grand solitude. Ellis'a want of tact, however, in continuing to impress upon me the distance by which I was separated from the rest of the household, and tho difficulty of communicating with her, counteracted my good resolutions, and by the time I was ready to get into bed I thought the place looked more dreary than ever. The firo being replenished, and I safely ensconed in a bed whose tester rose us high as : the ceiling, there was no longer any excuse for my retaining Ellis, much as I dreaded being lefc alone, so she bade me " Good-night" in a boding tone, and, stalking sullenly to the door, eaid, "I shall lock this on the outside, und take tho key away ; I must keep you as safe as locks can make you ; and I don't mean to call you till late, for I am sure you want a good night's rest." Finding remonstrance ureless, I at last consented to let her have her way, but as she turned the key on the outside I felt a horrible dread of being locked up in co lonely a situation. How lonely it was I had not realised until the good woman's receding footsteps fell on my ear; then camo deep eilenee for a lnomeut or two, during which I could hear nothing but the beating of my heart. A sudden whirl of branches ngainst the windows, and a long, furious howl of wind down the chimney, seemed a relief from the appalling quiet ; but as the gale died away the sound waß so unearthly in its wailing sobs, I felt my flesh creep, as I listened to catch its last echoes. I tried to reason with myself on my folly, but no strength to reason vas left ; the sleep that would have been so welcome, and that was my due, would not come to my pillow, court it as I would. I felt, compelled to concentrate all my powers in an effort lo combat a foreboding that something horrible was to happen, that something awful would break the stillness that succeeded the wintry gust. On the left of tho bed were the two ordinary windows and the entrunce door j on the right the fireplace, and, parallel with my bed, still on the right, the large casement which had been blown open. Immediately facing me was the door of tlie cupboard, plainly visible, as the curtains, although closely drawn on both sides of my couch, were partially open at tho foot. The firo was burning low ; the soft, flaky sound of the ashes as they fell upon the hearth began at last to sooth and lull me. I lay, idly watching the grotesque shadows cast by the perforated rushlight shade as they danced an & flickered upon the panel opposite. A drowsiness was stealing over mo which would have ripened into deep, but that, suddenly, a return of my old anxiety was induced by the idea, which brought a gasp into my throat, that I heard voices whispering not far off. Ifl a moment I was wide awake and sitting upright in bed ; but a wild gust of wind just then frustrated all my efforts to listen, and for come time I was kept in horrible suspense. As the blast died away I strained my ears to cracking, and surely I did hear voices from the direction of the cupboard ; but before I could verify my dread the wind again drowned every sound, and, though sinking back upon my pillow half dead with terror, I still kept my eyes fixed upon the door. It moved ! Yes ; of a certainty it moved ! Hardly knowing what I did, or with what intention, I sprang out of bed and wrapped myself round in one of tho ample curlains at its foot, clinginpr the while with a convulsive grasp to tho bedpost, but never for so much as a second losing eight of the door. It again slowly moved, and this time a hand crept round its edge. Once more the whispering, and now quite audible to my preternaturally sharpened faculties. "'Sdeath, you fool!" said a husky voice, "there is no one in the room. People don't come to bed at nine o'clock on Christmas Eve. Everybody is down below enjoying themselves with the youngsters. You'll be able to pass out as you paseed in." "But, suppose," interrupted a second speaker, ''they've fastened the window, while we've been on the job ? You should have made Tom stop and watch." " A likely game," chitr.ed in a third, " if I had watched and had found, I must have made short work of it ; and our captain hero swore there must be no blood, or he'd have it again from whoever drew it." " Stow this gabble," again interrupted the first voice. " Tom, go first, make suro there's no one in the bed, and then fasten the door, open the window, and we'll follow with the swag." My heart stood still. Cold perspiration poured from my forehead. I was turned to stone., as, watching from my hiding place, I saw a man slowly emerge from the recess. He wore a common riding dress, and his tread was muffled by short hose pulled over his high boots. He stood within a foot of me as he cast a hurried glance into the bed. Seemingly convinced that there was no one there, he moved with lesß caution, and all but pushed against me as he walked round to the door. " Ha, ha !" he muttered ; " locked outside, eh ! they've been up here and made all safe, as they think ; fastened up the window, too, no doubt. Never mind. Come out, boys, we'll Boon bo clear of it now." And in anot her second he was unbarring tho shutter of the long casement. The door of tho recess now stood wide open. One of the two men within was lifting on to his shoulders a small but heavy valise, strapped to a leathern bag. His companion, who had his back toward* me, was helping him. The burden adjusted, he who carried it stole across, •& also with muffled feet, to the now open window where the thief who had first appeared relieved him of part of the load, and the two passed out on to the li'etle terrace. The rush of wind admitted by tho casement caused the fire to blaze brightly up, and its embers whirled about the hearth. While I had been breathlessly watching these proceedings, the one man now left in the room had gone over to the toilet table, whore he was rapidly despoiling my dressing case, and putting various ornaments and jewels hastily info his pockets; but his back was still towards me, and ho stooped over tho table, too low for the mirrow to reflect his faco. Suddenly he starfcod, as if in terrified amazement, and,

standing upright, turned round to examine by the firelight something he held in his hand.

0 God ! shall I ever forget my feelings as his features were thus revealed to me ? Can yon who rend my story gucs? why, in that dread moment, I experienced the greatest revulsion of feeling that can possibly bo conceived ? Can you guess why my terror was instantly transformed into (he utmost fearlessness and cournge ? Why. with evoiy possible sensation of horror and misery still upon mo, I felt a. kind of overwhelming j.»y ? And can you anticipate why, 113 he wus about to quit tho room, and thus relievo mo, as it would have seemed, of all furl her apprehension, I, with a wild, moaning sob, rushed from my hiding place and threw myself at his feet? Because, in one word, ho was my son ! # * * # « Yes ; my self-willed, wayward, unhappy son ; of whose fate for the past two years I had been in such miserable ignorance, and whom, under such circumstances as these, I had at last, found ! The associate and apparent leader of a gang of thieves and burglars, committing a fearful crime, Cop which were he discovered, his life would pay tho forfeit! Committing a crime redoubled in its atrocity, since ho wus robbing tho very man by whom as r. lad he hail been treated with an almost parental love and affection ! Taking advantage doubtless, of his intimate acquaintance with the peculiar and vuluablo property of Mr Greystore lo possess himself of it. like an ungrateful and thankless thief that he was ! 1 thought that to know of his wild and reckless courses since his father's death, whilst still under my roof, had been misery sufficient ; I thought that when, in a burst of unusually ungovernable and furious temper, he had left lots homo and had gone no one knew whither, baflling all pursuit and eluding every attempt made to discover him, my cup of bitterness ! was full ! I thought that, as the days passed by and month succeeded month and still no traces of him appeared, and thut a belief in his death was all that was left to me I say that all this terrible suspense and grief was as nothing compared to the agony of heart which I endured at tho moment when 1 saw him standing erect in the firelight of my lonely room. I wonder how I am able even to recount the misery of thut hour as struggling with him in his efforts to disengage himself from my grasp, I eventuully succeeded in somewhat calming him and inducing him to ' listen to me. i I have but the most confused remembrance of how, when I first sprang towards him, ho started as though he had seen a ghost, drew buck, threw up his arms, and exclaimed, " Again, a second time to-night ! What devilish fate is pursuing me ? Why have you thus crossed my pnth twice within a few hours? How came you here ? Or arc you but some infernal presentment of my mother sent to daunt mo when I should be firmest, ? But do not think to stay me ; ceaso your ghostly pranks, and let me pass !" I know not in w/iafc words I besought and adjured him to keep quiet ; how in every way I I strove lo pacify him and assure him of my i identity ; to point out to him that, if ever the hand of Providence had interposed to save him from utter destruction, T was its instrument ; and that now, if he did not listen to my prayer, he would be lost (ov everj how I si rove to keep him quiet and mnke him, in his perplexed excitement, subduo his voice lest even at that distunce from the rest of the household he might bo overheard ; how he wavered, now seeming to listen, softened by my words and embraces; now forcing me from him fora while, and struggling to escape by tho window ; and how by degrees, taking advantage of his gentler moods, I at last induced him to reclose the shutters, and eventually to sifc down, whilst 1 kneeling at his feet, hid my face on his bosom and wept as if my heart were breaking. I only remembered that there, in the dead of night, we two sat communing— mother and son. Not only literally but morally alike cut off from the rest of the world — I by my agony and lie by his crime ! I will not dwell more than is necessary upon this extraordinary and j terrible scene, unparalleled in its pain and wretchedneßß. Little by little I induced him to tell mo somo of tho details of his recent mode of life. Awful as they were for a mother to hear, I felt that by confession somo ground at least might be gained. I need not repeat his history. Step by step, from bad to warse, of course, down he went, until by accident ho found himself in tho neighborhood of Lonethorpe, then unoccupied and deserted. Ho and his companions in crime for a whilo had secretly made it their bead-quarters,and byitsaid often eluded tho ends of justice, making use of certain ingenious contrivances to keep alive the belief already rife in the neighborhood that tho pluce was haunted. They had well ex- , plored all its mysterious labyrinth of passages and maze of underground chambers and re- | treats. Hero indeed, thoy all but lived, carousing over the result of their depredations upon the highway. When tho house was purchased by Mr Greystore, and signs were made of un intention to occupy it, my unhappy son and his band (for he, in virtue of his superior education, hud been constituted its leader) were obliged to beat a retreat. No sooner, however, he told mo, did ho learn that Mr Greystore was coming to resido at Lonethorpe thnn the idea of plundering his kind friend of his largo collection uf valuable uncut jewels and stOLes occured to him. I gathered from his broken and excited words as I forced them almost one by one from him that, by cunningly-conducted inquiries tuadc of the servants, frequenting an alehouse in Marlingford, ho ascertained the general habits of the family, and which room had been converted into tho museum. His intimate acquaintance with the house enabled him at once to understand how a disused and probably unknown secret passage and stairs led from tho back of the closet in my room down to a sliding panel in the very apartment used by Mr Greystoro as a repository for his antiquities and valuables. The largest and oldest of tho basement rooms, it lay at the back of the building, strongly barred and secured. These facts were but just gleaned, and it wus thought that tho Christmas festivities would secure the robbers from all interruption. My occupation of the hitherto disussed room threw an unexpected difficulty in the way ; but, hold and determined as were the burglars, they defied it, and finding no one in the chamber, as they inspected it by the firelight, through the incautiously unshuttered and iooso'y fastened window, they slipped in, and reached the cupboard probably only a few minutes before Ellis went to unpack my boxes. Once in undisturbed possession of the museum (for it was rightly calculated that the children's party occupied the wholo attention of tho household), my miserable; wicked boy was able deliberately to pillage the place of its most valuable contents, with "which he was well acquainted. All that followed I myself had seen ; but, ttß ho finished tho confession of his Ruilt, ho appeared more overcome than he had hitherto been. He looked at me, with tears in his eyes, and his still handsome features, marred and altered though they wore by exposure and dissipation, wero lighted up with something of the old expression that had been my joy and happiness to watch, when ho prattled at my knee. " Mother," ho said, in a voice changed utterly from what it ueod to bo, but which struck familiarly on my ear, " I have little more to tell ; you know nearly tho worst now. Yet, not quite j for though theso bands have hithorto been guiltless of blood, I might tonight, but for tho merest chance, have shed yours. Yes, mother ; for I at least threatened it ; and had your carriago lamp been less bright, or had your faco been muffled, who knows what my recklessness would have brought about !" "Ah! Wilfred, Wilfred!" I cried, "tho masked highwayman ! I understand it all ! Oh ! my poor boy ; how can I ever pray for you enough ?" "As I saw," ho continued, " whom fate or the fiend had thrown in my way I could not believo my oyesj you,, of all poople, were far-

thost from my thoughts, and, as I rode off, I fancied I had seen a gho*t, and cursed myself for a blockhead at being bo unnerved ; but tonight — just now, when at that table — I chanced upon this picture of my -dead fabhor, which I have so often seen hanging around your nec'i", I was appalled, and again conceived that it was some supernatural influence, directed by you, to muko mo falter in my puvpose, nor, at first, even when you threw your self at my feet, could I believe in your identity ! However, let mo keep tin?," he added, Biuldenl}', placing tho miniature in the breas!. poekefc of his weather stained riding co:it. Then rising, and somewhat resuming his haidened tone, "if this bo the lust time we over meet, remember these words of mine.. I ennnot promise much ; but I have, been pulled vp — I have hud a lesson ;it may do me somo good, and it may not. Who knows ? I must be far away from hero before daybreak. I shall find those scoundrels at our rendezvous ; and such of the plunder as their cursed fingers leave for my share I swear to you I will restore. Take its restoration as the only proof I can give you of my repentance. 1 shall probnbly leave the country, and if in after years I ever retrievo my good name you shall see me ; if not, mother, farewell! farewell for ever!" And, pressing his lips upon my forehead, as I fat helpless and stunned, in another moment he was out upon the balcony, and whilst the light from the window yet glimmered on his figure descending the steps, I lost all consciousness and fell in a swoon upon the floor. Dawn was breaking, as the chill air from the open casement began to revive me After the suffering I had endured, I marvel to think how my presence of mind returned sufficiently to enable me to hide every truce of the scene which had been enacted. I did this, however, effectually, but not till it had cost me all my remaining strength ; and when Ellis came into the room some two hours later, she found me in bed delirious, with a raging fever. * * * * * Days passed with only a few intervals of consciousness, so short in tlieir duration that an indistinct terror of betraying myself in some way is all that I remember of that time. At last, when the tender care bestowed upon mo had restored me in a degroe, and a full recollection of everything that had passed returned, I was thankful to Cud that my fears j were groundless. I had been perfectly eilent, and, as soon us the doctor permitted mo to indulge in conversation, I ■was able to glean that my illness was attributed entirely to overfatigue and the shock I had sustained on my journey. More than n week elapsed after Christmas Day before the robbery was dis covered. My illness and the check which it put upon the Christmas merriment had so occupied MY Greystoro thut he had not once entered his museum. His consternation, and thut, indeed of the whole household, was of course very great when he found his treasure gone; and the utter inability to gather the least clue to the way in which he had been despoiled added considerably to the excitement. Xhere was no evidence of a violent entry into the room having boon made ; its contents were comparatively undisturbed ; little had been touched except such articles ns were of more than mere archaeological worth, but the cases and drawers containing the vast number of gold and tilver coins, and, above all, the priceless collection of uncut precious stones, were completely emptied, showing as Mr G-rej store said, an intimai.e knowledge on on the part of the thieves of every nook and J corner in which treasure would be found. Notwithstanding the minutest search, not a trace was left of how admission 1o the museum had been gained. Wo scratch or crack upon its panelled walls helped in thoir search the somewhat dull-eyed officers of justice (for those were not the days of detectives), who had been sent for especially from London. The cjuntry-side rang with accounts of the mysterious affair, which was by Iho majority of people attributed to the spiritual influences said to beat wotk in the lonely old house. However, nothing led to the apprehension of anyone, even on suspicion, though the neighborhood was known to abound with many bad characters ; and, after a long; whilo, my friend was fain to put up with his loss with the best philosophy ho could mutter. I need not. I think, attempt, to describe, even if it were possible, my conflicting feelings as I listened, distractedly, day by day, to the recital of these things. What could I do, knowing what I know and feeling what I felt ? Nothing but to assume, in the presence of my friends, an air of extreme wonderment, anxiety, and interest, and to weep my heart out in prayer when alone. I prayed that time might restore my good friend's much-valued propo.ty and thus bring to mo the fulfilment of the promise that my guilty son had made. His last words rang in my ear : — " Take its restoration a3 the only proof I can give you of my repentance.' I have little more to toll. Many months passed, and I was back again in my own homo a broken-hearted, miserable woman, looking ten years older than when I left it on that awful Christmas Eve. My hair had turned as white as snow, and I wonder I did not die. Anxiously, oh ! how anxiously I cannot ox* press, did I look for tidings of tho lost property. If it ever was restored, I might at least take some little comfort to my heart in tho belief that Wilfred had been as good as his word j and that, failing any proof to fciio contrary, I might accept it a-* an earnest of his changed life. This consolation at least was not denied me ; but it came in such a way as stiJl to prevent a restitution of tho treasure to its owner. At intervals packages were lefc at my house, by a messenger whom I failed to trace, containing parts of it ; and in the course of a year or more I believed it had been nearly all returned to me— to mo, instead of to Mr Grey store. How could I forward it to my friend? how could I account for it passing through mi/ hands ? I hesitated how to net ; I hoped that chance might aid mo in somo way. At any rate — may G-od forgive mo if I did wrong! I felt that my friend had better put up with his loss than that any act of mine should, however indirectly, lead to tho discovery of my son's iniquity. Thus, oil I did was to obtain, by dint of casual inquiry, a catalogue of the articles stolon, and, by comparing it with tho jewels and coins received by mo, ascertain if ! anything, and what, was still missing. So I learned that, with tho excoption of four gold pieces of the reign of Queen Elizabeth and a little packet of uncut rubies, tho restitution was complete ; but these latter I never received I — no, nor any further tidings of my son for nearly ten years. Hopo was deferred until it paled and paled, and settled heart-sickness knew no abatement until the news was brought to me of Wilfred's death. He had formed one of the party of emigrants from Holland, bound for Van Dienien's Land, then just being established as a colony, and. when nearing port, he foil overboard and was drowned. Having sailed in his own name, his few effects were sent to me, by reason that, amongst them, a miniature, with my name and address at the back, gavo at once the only and the safest clue to his con - nections. I never knew any partic ulars of his reformntion, even if it ever took place ; but my faith trachea me that God, in his mercy, had sown the seeds of repentance, and yearnings after good in his heart and, when they began to bear fruit, took him to his rest, far away from further temptation. The news of Wilfred's death again set me vacillating as to what course I might now pursue with regard to Mr Greystoro's treasure, of which I had all this while been in unlawful possession, when his sudden decease relieved mo of my perplexity. I say relieved me ; for you, then becoming his solo heir, might at least, I thought, wait till I too had passed away. Thus 1 determined to write this history of my sorrowful secret, praying that its nature together with tho restitution of your property, though tardy, will enable you to look with forgiveness upon the part which the weakness of my moral courage and strength of my natural affections compelled mo to play. ,

Here, indeed, was something like ft birthday present, for it must not be forgotten that tho poor old lady had sent it mo on my cdming of age. It turned out indeed to be a second little fortune, which I had inherited : yet whilst I sub examining the contents of this casket of jewels their value seemed to palo and rtio away us I thought over the sad and painful narrative I had just read. Then a vague recollection crept over me of . having as a child, heavd something of ft mysterious rohbery that was attributed to ghosts. And had this secret passage, this clue to tho whole extraordinary disappearance of the treasure, never been discovered ? never opened perhaps since that terrible night thus described to me by tho suffering, miserable mother ? Probably not. To ascertain this, I took the earliest opportunity of going down into Marlingehire, and explaining to tho present owner of Loncthorpo the object of my visit. Sure enough tho old room presented no sign of sliding panel or secret entrance, tap or examine tho wall as wo might. The elosot in Mrs Fuber's bedroom likewise gave no sign at first of any means of egress ; but a little examination disclosed, in one corner of the floor, a small trap door, which, when wo had opened, with great difficulty, gave upon a flight of steep wooden stairs. Clearly, many year 9 had passed since it had been disturbed ; and I had to exercise mucli caution in my movements, so decayed and shaky were the steps. Tho lantern which I carried — for the place was pitch dark — showed a winding and descending passage, built cunningly in tho thickness of the wall. At the end of this mole-like burrow, and fitted into some wookwork, was a huge metal knob, or handle, which, after wrenching, and twisting, and pushing, and screwing in various directions, at last hcgnti slowly to act as a lever upon the heavy panelling, which we were thus enabled to slide into a cavity, and lo ! wo found ourselves passing into the museum by v narrow doorway. Then only could wo understand this most ingonious contrivance. On retracing our Bte;js I saw something spnrklo on tho floor ; stooping down I picked up a coin — yes, and oventually three more, as well aa the packet of uncut rubies, which of course the thieves had dropped on their return with the plunder. Thus the restitution was complete, and my valuabloand now doubly curious collection unimpaired. — " Illustrated News."