Year: 1879

curious look on the floor by the hearth, as if he expected to see something on the faded carpet, and then, advancing towards the fireplace, held the candle up to the picture of the wo- man above it, before which he stood gazing the expression on his face strange mixture of terror and ferocity.

 As he did so, the light fell also on the DOT trait of the man. saw then who my visitor was. Altered though the features were-brute though he looked now, unkempt and sodden and disfgured by drink-it was still the same face; and he had been a fine looking man once.

 few moments he stood thus, his hand trembling as he held up the candle. Then he turned the light on his own picture, and look ing back on me with a scowl mixed with a drunken 1eer, said, Damn it, drink and bad nights change a fellow, don't they? But I

 Just what I was thinking.

 ''Yet; and Judith was fine woman, too and no mistake. We were handsome couple as you would wish to see. And 1 never, nev- CT care for any&veman as cared f IT her. She could be pleasant enough, too, when she liked o Judith, Judith, my girl!" he continued turning again to the picture, ''why couldn't you keep that damned temper of yours under a bit? You might have been here now, and me, too, quiet and happy, instead of wander ing about the world, afaaid to show my face anywhere, regularly gone to the dogs" And he stood looking at the woman's face remorse- fully

 Look here" he said, turning round fiercely ty me, although speaking under his breath, 'I didn't pretend to be better than other fellows. The women used to run after me, and how could help being a bit gay? She knew that when she took me. But would have treated her we'll all the same, if she would have taken me asl was. What right had sheto open my let ters, l should like to know? A man who has lived gay can't get square and right all of a sudden

 ''Ihat's how it happened" he continued after pause, as if he were trying to restrain an nsuperable impulse to speak out "a nice thing for man, isn't it, when he comes home after days worry, and wants to have quiet time of it, to find his wife behaving like per feet devil? That's how it happened, "he went on, in hoarse whisper while the foam stood on his dry, parched lips. ''That's where she ed out the letter-my letter from the other woman, and marked private-and shrieked at me till they might have heard her up at the village; called me perjured villain, and said she wouldn't let me touch her again. let her go on for bit," continued he, with a cunning leer; 'I knew it was no good stopping her In her tantruns; and it was bit hard on her to find she was not the only woman who thought me fine man. Then she went away up stairs, and thought it was all over. Oh! why did nt she stay there? 1 thought she would go to bed and sulk bit, and that we should make it up in the morning. But no; down she came again, and walked up just here," dragging me back and pointing to the hearth, "anu began oraip i1cf ho1 noo1oraA oh yuOnlH go off at daybreak, and that other fellow was ready to receive her, and that she had always cared for him more than me. 1 wasn't going to stand that, you know. What fellow would that had any respect for himself? I told her to hold her tongue or I'd make her. told her she was telling damned lie,' and she knew it. Oh :! why would she go on? Look here ; on my oath, 1 didn't mean to hurt her-I only meant to frighten her bit. I thought if she found out my rough side she would learn to hold her tongue. Look here," he went on in hoarse whisper, pulling me further back, and holding out the candle with his other hand ; that's where she stood, looking very devil in her rage and beauty, just by the picture |; where she fell I didn't mean it, say; swear didn't mean it. Her head struck the fender. She never moved again. And I've been punished for it, and she knows it. She will never give me any rest as long as she lies where she does. Look here," he went on agaln; ''how could help doing what did af forwards? How was to go and tell? How could prove it was an accident ? I didn't mean to hurt her. Come away from this, he continued, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, and moved back into the other room, whither followed him.

 The brandy-bottle was still on the table. He poured out another large glass, and drank it off. Far from making him more drunk, it whole of it, he said, as he put down the glass. Come along with me. You're not afraid, are you?" he said, with a sneering smile, as he noticed my sudden drawing back! ''1 wouldn't hurt fly tonight. Come along, 1 must make clean breast of it, or shall go mad. Come along," and so saying, he stepped out into the veranda, pulling my the arm.

 But made nc difficulty about following him, and he let go my sleeve 1 knew whith- es he was leading. He said truly that had been frightened at first, but was so no lon ger.

 He led the way across the lawn to the grove. Dark though the night was, he made as if by instinct for the path that led through it. The wet leaves showered their drops on us as we brushed through the narrow passage.

 

 way. knew what he was look for. ''Here it is, ," he whispered, and turned up the narrow pathway to the glade which had visited the previous afternoon.

 We reached the glade, knowing that we were there more by the freedom from the pres of shrubs and branches than from the sght, although the clouds had now passed away, and It was a starlight night.

 ''Here is the place" said the man, grasping my arm, and speaking in a whisper close to my ear, No; don't step on it; keep back perhaps she hears us; there, down there, just in front, is where it is. 1 carried her there myself, that very night. All night long I dug. It was just such night as this, as hot as hell. And all the time was digging she lay there and never moved and covered in the grave, and she never moved and then 1 ran off, and wrote to say we had both gone away suddenly together She never moved then, all the time was at work, but she never leaves me alone now. used to think it was all fancy, and the brandy; but it is just as bad when 1 am sober. Hush ! perhaps she is listening to us now; but she never comes except when 1 am alone.

 ''Now you know why I wanted you. The thing that lies under here must not he allowed to stay there. shall know no peace till it is moved away, and put into the churchyard; :; then, perhaps she will leave me. alone You must promise me that. You'll do it for your own sake, 1 know. l shall be far away again. lut shall hear about it. shall know if it is done; and if it isn't, shall come hack and trouble you again. Come away we have been here long enough" And so saying, the man turned and led the way back to the main path, That reached, he made IS if about to start of, but stopping again, seized me by the hand, and went on.

 Il haven't told you all yet. There was one man nearly found me out. was coming out of this internal place, just at daybreak, when I met man,-it was the miller. My plan for concealment was discovered He would know that 1 was alone,-tha she was not with me. No! didn't kill him, though I was minded to; I got him to leave his mill, and come right away to America then and there. He didn't know what 1 was after in this wood and 1 never let him come here to find out. I never lost sight of him till I got him out of the place; but he suspects. and have nearly ruined myself trying to keep him quiet But he may blab now if he likes, and he won't get any more out of me. am not going back there again to lead that cursed life"

 Then he added, "Now you had better go back to the house 1 ain't afraid of you follow