Year: 1872

nanQnercnleIS I'LL IHe vessel us
appeared from view; then they
separated. each going his appoint
ed way.


! Maurice watched the movements
of the pilot, and when his boat
came alongside to take him ashore,
he quietly stepped into it, as re-
turning friend Of one Of the pas
: sengers.


The wharf was deserted when
they reached it, but Maurice fold
ed a large cloak about him and
! drew his cap over his eyes lest he
should meet some acquaintance.
lie then made his way 10 a hote!
where he was unknown, and wait
ed there until night-fall under
cover Of which, he returned home,
letting himself in with q duplicate
key.


! All was cherries and deserted.
After seeing that everything had
been left secure, he retired to rest;
but in Williams room instead OF
his own.


g The next day he busted himself
collecting a number Of bricks to-
gcther, and mixlnga a certain guam
tity of mortar, which he carried
into room called the buttery.
This room had a brick flooring
with the exception Of square
place in the centre consisting Of
wooden planks, covering the open
ing to a long disused dry we'll
As these boards were a step lower
than the surrounding floor, Will
liams wife had often expressed a
desire to have it filled up even
with bricks. in order to make the
room more convenient for use
William had neglected doing this,
and now Maurice proceeded to
take mp the boards and examine
The well. He found it to be about
fifteen feet in depth with solid ma,
Sonry al! around.


He remembered his grandfather
saying it had been used for the
purpose Of ofprcservlng winterStores
Of perisbable articles. After eX-
amininy the well, to his satisfaction,
Instead OF proceeding with his
work. he left it as it vas, and
busted himself with other matters
till night again closed in, and with
it witches revel seemed TO be
lnauguraied; for the wind howled
round the house, and The rain beat
against the window shutters as if
it would burst them in.


Maurice now lighted q fire in
this very room in which we are
sitting; he had not done SO before,
lest the neighbors should observe
the the smoke rising from the
chimney. H let the heavy cur
tains fall before the windows, for
fear a ray Of light should be seen
from without. He then placed a
light on a stand which he drew
near the fire, and also rolled for
ward u lounge.


Then he went to the sideboard
and filling u decanter with wine,
brought it with glasses, and placed
them on the table. Just here he
seemed to be overcome for the
first time with some inward emo
ton. Leaning his arms on the
mantle with his head resting up
on them, he stood gazing Il long
time into the fire. At length he
reused himself with an impatient
exclamation, and filing glass
with wine drank it off at once.


Taking up the other glass he
poured into it a small portion of
colorless fluid from 4 vial which
he replaced in his pocket. Next
he lighted a cigar and with a book
in his hand threw himself on the
sofa with his face towards the
door. All was silence now save
the cracking Of The fire, and
steady pouring Of the rain.


Time seemed an eternity 10
that gloomy watcher, whose ev.
cry action up TO this time, had
been as cooiIy performed as if on
ly Of every day Importance. Now
however, when all was prepared
and he but awaited his victim
Nature would have hersway ; anc
the battle between right or wrong
going on within him, showed it
self in the clammy moisture Of hi:
brow, and alternately quiverlne
and compressed lips. You vii
soor see which spirit gained th'
victory.


Not long after ten o'clock, :
key turned in the lock of the ont
side door, footsteps moved aloD!
the ball, the door Of this room
opened. and William entered. IL
started as if he saw ghost be
fore him and well he might fol
did he not believe his cousin to be
tar away on the broad Atlantic
Maurice broke the silence.
> You are startled, no wonder
but you need not tremble any
longer for I am flesh and blood
You see our vessel sprung L leal
just as we got outside, and as tht
; carpenter could not fndi;;: we were
obliged to put back into port. A
no other snip was in readiness t<