In the dales of northern England lies the village of Waterdale. Lily Murray was born of the peasant class, but her striking beauty draws "gentlemen" around her - including the young squire Roger Ridley and Sir Richard Featherstonehaugh, who is engaged to Roger's sister. As jealous tensions build between these two men, there is a further complication when a summer visitor with hidden ties to Lily is introduced into their circle. Before the story ends one man will commit murder, and another man will flee.
This story is a sort of backstory to Young Musgrave (1877) - see the Related Story Lines entry below (Fleeing from Murder).
British publishing information
Periodical: Good Cheer (Xmas ed. of Good Words) Dec 1877
First edition: William Blackwood and Sons (collected in A Widow's Tale) 1898
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