The Red Window

s a quaint, old-world village, gathered round an ancient Saxon Cross, which occupies the centre of the village green. The church-eleventh century-is dedicated to St. Pete

is much frequented by Londoners during the holiday season. Hur

t so shallow. Her mansion-so she called it-stood at the end of the village, a little way back from the long, straight road which ran towards the coast and the marshes. But the term mansion was rather a misnomer. The place had originally been a small farmhouse, and Miss Berengaria-as she was usually called-had added to it considerably, so that it formed an irregular pile of buildings, all angles and gables, sloping roofs and stacks of twisted chimneys. Some of it was thatched, a portion was covered with mellow red tiles, and a ki

ttage flowers, for Miss Berengaria, being old-fashioned herself, would have no new-fangled importations. The flowers she loved were snapdragon, sweet-william, heart's-ease, and all those homely blossoms such as John Bunyan loved. The house was covered with Virginia creeper, wistaria and i

do keep fowls and ducks and though she do sell her fruit. She looks like a gipsy by way of dress in

ce, and wearing jewels of great value. She had a weakness for jewels, and had many, which she wore every evening. People hinted that she would be robbed, as the cottage

weathers attending to her feathered pets. A particularly ugly bull-dog, called Sloppy Jane, accompanied her. Miss Berengaria did not approve of the name, but the dog would answer to no other, so it had to be adopted. Sloppy Jane was devoted to her mistress and to Alice. While Miss Berengaria was feeding the fowls and wondering when the gong would sound for breakfast, Alice came out with a paper in her hand. She was a tall, slim girl with a fair face and brown eyes and hair. Not particularly pretty, perhaps, but with such a sweet expression and such a charming disposition that young men fell in love with her on the spot. Nor after a closer acquaintance did any

s Berengaria always liked to hear the na

age-and uttered an exclamation on seeing the white face of the girl. Alice was deathly pale and, clinging wi

d Alice. "Oh, Be

te expression. "Something is wrong with that silly boy. What's he

it," said Alice, tremb

id, with an effort at self-command. "I'm not fit for such things. I don't suppose

rde

uddy cheeks grew white, and she stretched out her

r. She seemed almost incapable

s dead!" s

Great H

's all in the pape

the front of the house, following in the wake of the weeping girl. She saw Alice disappear into the porch and enter the breakfast-room, where the meal was already waiting. There, on the hearth-rug, Alice fell prone. Miss Berengaria knelt down and took her hand.

d and sat down. "The best thing for you, my dear," she said i

at her friend spoke for the best, but she gave no sign as, lying prone on the rug, she concealed her agonized face, while Miss Berengaria adjusting her spectacles, glanced through the paper. Already

and Suicide. A nice heading, upon my wor

moaned the gir

hat I don't believe a word of it. Bernard, though a silly boy, would not kil

know, he quarrelled w

as she half crouched, half sat on the rug, wit

Simon has to do with

is d

ia shivered. "You don

nst him-everything. Oh, how can

paper means to say that Bernard murdered Sir Simon, I tell you again that I do

he evi

ence has hanged an innocent man before n

He is

"we'll tell lies about him like the majority of tombstones do of those who lie below, but I te

e paper

haracter than any paper. That poor boy was vilely treated by that-there! there! I won't say a word against

so," cried Alice,

ine way. "All I know is that Sloppy Jane adored him, and

n and his grandson, Bernard, were enemies, that the young man, having been hanging round the house for a fortnight courting the housemaid, had secured an interview with the elder when Miss Randolph was at the theatre. He had evidently quarrelled with Sir Simon, and, having chloroformed him, had quietly strangled him with his own handkerchief, after which he left the house. Then followed an account of the pursuit and failure to capture Gore. "He escaped the officers by plunging into the river," said the journal.

for,

I believe that Beryl creature is

p the paper, "he was at the thea

g Bernard, Julius com

ted Bernard because he would not give me up? I implored Bernard, for his own sake, to break our engagement

en shirk the consequences? Not at all. I'm ashamed of you. I once loved," said the old lady, rising and marching energetically about the room, "and my lover was a fool and a v

he is

ort of man has as many lives as a cat. He's alive, to vindicate

" asked Alice, comfor

a, taking a seat at the table. "Com

ble and took up the silver pot.

e going to. No nonsense with me, miss.

is t

on. "Well, I am astonished," she said, glaring. "In my young days a girl in love would have b

him to life?" sai

necessary; but it isn'

ou be

hake you and send you to bed on bread and water. You don't deserve to be lov

temper, and h

that warmed my heart towards him. Had I married the villain I didn't marry, and he hadn't been such a villain as he was, I wo

and. The old lady was one of those strong people always to be relied upon in time of calamity. The worse the trouble the quicker Miss Berengaria rose to the occasion. She prided herself on facing facts, alleging that only in this w

going up to town to see about the matter. When I have heard

sked Alice, brighteni

Miss Berengaria, rolling up her napki

theory

his memory. But when I have formed my theory I'll see a detective and place the matter in his

e arrested

good servants," said the old dame, emphatically, "denounces him I'll eat my hat, and that's a vulgar expression," added she, as she placed the napkin on the

lso," said Alice,

hand laid on her shoulder, and turning back from the do

ght to help my

h satisfaction. "It does my heart good to

d Alice, e

he a

engaria's eyes were on her, and

because he is. I have no reason to give, so don't ask me for one. He is alive, and all you have to do

ger," said A

ng hunted down, I daresay. But he knows where to come to, bless him! Watch, my dear child. It is probable he w

ith a telegram for Alice. With shaking fingers, the girl opened it. "From Mr. Dur

gram from her. "I'll go myself. You stay he