Year: 1877

Of tbt 4alalfal, saaal,
J., THURSDAY,
can keep his winnings, if he gets any, to him.
self: Much good they are likely to do him"


"Crasy Clement" was not at his accustomed
haunt that night. An erratic impulse-one
which had moved him more than once be-
fore-had driven himtto spot which had a
horrible fascination for him, and from the
neighborhood of which he had, for years,
been unable to tear himself away. Pierced
by remorse whose deadly fangs had eaten
into his very soul pursued, relentlessly, by
an avenging spirit that permitted him no rest,
he fingered, bound by spell from which be
could not escape, within reach, almost within
sight, of the scene of the darkest deed Of
which be had ever been guilty thus continu-
ally strengthening its memory within him,
and sharpening the edge Of his torment sfresh.


Stealing from his bed and wrapping about
him white cove<let, the nearest article upon
which he could lay his hands, be left his hi.
ding-plsce with cautious steps, and trsversing,
unseen, the outskirts of the quiet village,
reached the open fields. that lay between it
and the Cottage lands. Crossing these, he
speedily found himself within the limits Of
Lord Desborough's property. Well he knew
his way, by the most unfrequented paths, to
the old orchard where his dismal secret lay
concealed. It was no ghost which Geraldine
saw from her window in the moonlight, bend.
ing above the haunted we'll, but conscience
stricken mortal, the prey to despair which
at times completely overthrow his reason, and
drove him whittier it would. One of these
frenzied fits was upon him now, and under its
influence he shrank from no rash deed, but
cast all thought of caution to the winds, save
the caution of cunning which had led him to
leave his abode by stealth, lest he should be
hindered in accomplishing his object. All
through the night he wandered restlessly to
and fro amid the trees, ever and anon return
ing to the spot where Geraldine had seen him,
to mutter some frantic CALCULATIONS or give
vent to food of selfreproach, then hurry
off again to resume his aimless walk. At last
fatigue overpowered him, and wrapping bis
light covering more closely about bis shiver.
ing limbs-for the air was keen and frosty as
daylight came on-he stretched himself on
the ground in corner of the fence, and fell
asleep. His head was very heavy, and hot
with the delirium that possessed him; and
his sleep, ere long, became sort Of stupor,
broken by 6tful meanings and restless toss
ings on his hard couch, while cold tremors
crept through his exhausted frame, alterna-
ted by aushes of fever heat.


Peterson did not End him in his room when
he went there to seek him; but be had no
time to hunt him up now, and muttering a
curse or two on the "crazy idiot" for being
out of the way just when he wanted to see
him, he dismissed all thought of him from
his mind, and bent his steps, without farther
delay, to the railway station, where, at the
appointed hour, be took the train and set
off without let or hindrance for the city, no
one suspecting his design or being at hand to
put any impediment in the way of its accom-
plishment.


Lord Desborough's excited feelings did not
permit him to sleep late that morning. He
had, indeed, sought his bed somewhere be-
tween two and three o'clock, but obtained on
ly snatches of repose, and was awake with the
earliest streak of dawn. He arose and dress
ed himself at once, and summoned Judson, in
whom he placed the most entire confidence, to
accompany him on his expedition to the or
chard and assist him in discovering the &C.
cret, if secret there was, which lay enshrined
at the bottom of the ruined we'll. Taking
With them some necessary apparatus for the
removal of the stone, they repaired at once to
the place, and set about their undertaking,
which they soon found to be a more difficult
one than the Earl had anticipated. The large
stone had not only been rolled over the mouth
of the we'll so as completely to cover it, but
had also been fastened in its position by means
of cement, hermeticaHy sealing it, and requir-
ing no small skill and force for its removal.


"You and together can't do that, my lord"
said Judson, after careful examination had
been made. "I'll have to get some help off
the farm. A couple of hands will come over
if I 60 for them"


"That is just what particularly desire to
avoid" said his master. "A parcel Of fgaping,
curious louts, to speculate upon my motives,
and spread idle tales about the village! No,
we must manage it alone. 1t will be no easy
task, know, but think, with little effort,
we can accomplish it," 49,.


every we'll, my lord" )" said Judson, submis-
sively. He still adhered to his first opinion,
but was quite willing to lend his aid, to the
best of his ability, to crafty his masters de-
sire. They worked with will, and by-and'
by the hard crust of cement began to break
and give way beneath their efforts, until, grad.
ally, it was loosened all around.


"There, told you so, " said the Earl, as be
paused to rest and to wipe the moisture from
his flushed brow. "Witha crowbar the stone
can be moved now, easily enough"


More easily said than donel Many and
vain were the efforts made by the co-workers-
the man being almost as unaccustomed as
the master to labor of such a violent sort
ere they were rewarded by the slightest prom
ise of success. More experienced workmen,