A Life's Hatred.

tbe p itiful expression they wore before life hud left the little frail body , were weirdly startling in their apparent reality , and made Air . . Mordaunt feel very discomposed . Ho at once arose , and at breakfast asked Annand in an unconcerned manner whether hc had been disturbed at nil during the nig ht . "No , sir , "' answered fhe valet . ' Have yon Y "

"Yes , somewhat , " assented his master . " I did not retire so early ns usual , but , sat in the arm chair before the , lire . I must have fallen asleep though , for a considerable time , as when I awoke , thc candle was upon the point of expiring . I . then heard a person moving about overhead , and after an interval , footsteps came downstairs . 1 went to the door , but it was too dark to see who it was ( hat passed me . "

"No one sleeps above your bedchamber , sir , " remarked Annand . " The rooms of the servants are in the other wing of tho building . " "I know that , " said 3 ft " . Mord .-unit . "Will you cause careful enquiry to be made among them' ? If anyone had occasion to visit the

room above mine , it was certainly a very curious circumstance that he or she should do so in the small hours of the morning , and without a li ght . Should you discover who it was , let it be clearly understood that any repetition of the annoyance will hc followed by instant dismissal . "

The conversation then ended . Later in the day , Mr . Mordaunt was informed by Pierre that none of ( he household on tlio previous nig ht bad been stirring after 10 o ' clock . He had himself examined the unoccupied room , but nothing had been disturbed . In fact , the actual apartment from which the sounds proceeded was locked , and he had to get thc key from Mrs . Ambrose .

The owner of the Limes then began fo think that the whole thing must have been a dream . Tho departure ol young Lee to school , the gloomy thoughts that followed , and his subsequent conversation with Mrs . Ambrose had acted powerfully on his nerves , and his rest and brain had become disturbed in consequence . A few

uneventful weeks passed , broken only by the occasional arrival of letters from flic quondam gipsy . They were of the usual schoolboy typo , but filled throughout with a deep spirit of gratitude towards his benefactor , which ' caused Mr . Mordaunt , when ho read them to his housekeeper , to eongh , speak thickly , and betray other signs ot ill-suppressed emotion .

About a month after the boy ' s departure , a missive came from the principal of thc school conveying the startling information that Loc was missing . He had gone with his schoolfellows to some neighbonring fields to -play football , and on tho return journey , in flic dusk of a February evening , had disappeared . Every enquiry had been made , but without success . Upon receipt of this ill-news , Mr . Mordaunt at once hired a postchaise , and set out for thc school .

CHAPTER IV . In the clearing of a wood , near a cross road passing through a thinly populated and pleasant part of Berkshire , a few rude tents were pitched . It was a line autumnal evening , and the sky was resplendent with one of those vivid snnsels , but rarely seen in these

northern latitudes . J he frees ( hough still in leal had lost their vernal freshness , and now presented in their decline the warm , brilliant and varied tints of russet , yellow and red . There were live

caravans drawn up near the tents , and guarding the doors were several tierce looking mongrels . The horses were unharnessed , and , under the care of a few ragged urchins , were quietly grazing . In the centre of the encampment a huge iron pot , suspended by a stout tripod , was simmering over a large lire which burnt steadily as it was sheltered from tho wind by a canvas screen . Sitting in various attitudes outside the entrance of the tents were some half dozen

A Life's Hatred.

women whose olive complexions , dark eyes and hair wore relieved by becoming though gaudy kerchiefs of green , crimson and other bright colours . Here and there several men , rudely clad , were cutting wood and performing' various little domestic duties . From two of the tents came tbe sounds ol a -wild lullaby as tbe gipsy mothers within rocked their babes to rest . At a distance , notwithstanding tho tents and vans were old and patched , and the attire of the men , women

and children tattered and squalid , the encampment of the nomads presented a , very picturesque , appearance . This effect was doubtless to a great extent duo fo the charming sylvan . surroundings of the spot , and the calmness of the lovely evening . The privacy of these rude children of nature was suddenly disturbed by the aforesaid dogs rising from the ground , barking furiously and darting off towards the road which could just be seen some few hundred yards away .

" I suppose it is a prying keeper from the big house yonder , who has come to pay us a visit , " growled one of the woodcutters , desisting from his employment . " Madge , " ho continued addressing his companion , "hide thc brace of birds I snai'ed last night . It is unlucky they were not already plucked and in the pot . " The young woman thus addressed took two plump looking partridges which

were lying on the ground beside her , and withdi'ew into a tent . The 3 elp ing of the dogs still continued , although no intruder was yet in si g ht The man who had spoken sauntered to the place , and bestowed sundry kicks and curses on the noisy curs . He then shaded his eyes from the rays of the sun , and beheld a horseman slowly approaching the wood from the west whom he did not iccognise .

This circumstance relieved the mind of tbe poacher as he was afraid at first that his nocturnal proceedings had been suspected , and that the keepers were coming to search the tents . As the equestrian quickly drew near , the gipsy had an opportunity of studying his appearance . He was apparently about fifty years of age , and his face which was clean shaven , was swarthy . He possessed a

commanding and robust form , and sat his horse with graceful ease . He wove a tig ht fitting riding surtout and small cape of dark green cloth , whicli showed his fine figure to advantage . His nether garments were of buckskin , and his legs were encased in well fitting hunting boots of polished leather . His iron grey hair was crowned with a low conical beaver bat « la mode , ornamented with a broad band of silk clasped by a steel buckle .

" Can you direct me , my man , " said the cavalier , " to the gipsy camps' I heard in the village that it was hereabout . " " It is yonder , " replied the other in rude tones and pointing rearwards . " Will you show mo the way , fellow , or am I to find the path myself ? " said the horseman haughtily .

Tho only answer to this was a growl , and the man turned on his heel and retraced his steps to tho camp . Thc stranger dismounted , and taking the bridle in his hand he led his steed through the greenwood in the wake of the gipsy . His advent created a considerable

stir in the encampment . The women gathered in groups , ar . d began to whisper to each other , thc men scowled at him , and the children gazed at him curiously . In no way daunted by this behaviour , the newcomer beckoned one of the latter to him , and putting a sixpence in the urchin ' s hand , said , " Is Ruth Lee here ? "

The boy nodded , and pointed to one of fhe tents . Securing his horse to the bough of a tree the gentleman strode to the [ dace indicated . Upon arriving at the entrance of the lent hc called out the name of the woman . In a few moments the canvas was drawn aside , and a female form emerged into the open . She was of middle

age , and her features still bore traces o £ remarkable beauty . As her g littering eyes fell 011 the face of the intruder , she started violently , and uttered an exclamation of surprise . The other held up his linger in a warning manner , and , in low tones , said ,. " Ruth , 1 wish to speak to yon privately Y "

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CHRISTIANCOMMUNITY. INSTITUTED THE HUGUENOTS , 1685 . "Pl'C-iJCIlt-SII * GROnOK WILLIAMS . | Vi « = J > VM '!> en " --TiJK KARL Ol * AUKRUBBN , K . « . 1 UvMSUVtV-l * . A . Bl'VAN , KSQ . jcanHci's-Mi'ssiis . ISAHCLAY , & co ., . it , i . oxm . vnn STKKET , K . C ., AND I , PALL MALL EAST , S . . For Visiting and Preaching the Gospel in Workhouses and other Places . Also for regular relief of the poorest classes mot within , the localities whera the Mission Halls are situated . The following returns will show this kind of work for the past year . WHE -province of this Society is to preach the Gospel , and in other ways relieve two classes ; those who cannot , and those who will not , attend the ordinary places of worship . The work of preaching and visitation is carried on b y over 4 . 50 Voluntary Workers of both sexes , who give their time gratis . | 540 Sent for a week . 15 , 000 Workhouse Inmates were visited every week in 10 , 000 Workhouse Inmates entertained at Christmas with concert ; 23 Workhouses , Infirmaries , and Casual Wards . Buns and Oranges being also distributed . 2 , 000 Lodging-house Inmates visited every week in Spitalfields , 1 Home for Working Girls , in which Stoke Newington , Poplar , Borough , and Hastings . 41 Girls were lodged , trained , and many others supplied with 8 Mission Halls entirely supported in which situations . 2 , 231 Homeless Men were received into the All-Night Shelter . l , 5 <> o Benefited by Sewing , Cooking and other Useful Classes . 23 , 000 Breakfasts , Teas , Cocoa Suppers , Ac ., given . 21 Open-Air Stations sustained . 1 , 298 Bread , Lodging and other Relief Tickets distributed . 191 , 296 Tracts , Booklets , and Periodicals distributed . 26 , 100 Children ' s Dinners and Breakfasts Provided . 2 , 325 Attendances were made by poor Widows , employed in 2 , 328 Children and Adults taken into the Country for a Day . making Clothing . 800 Garments were made and sold last year . Contribufions or Donations ( N . B . Periodicals and Tracts are most useful , and may be sent to the Secretary ) can be paid into the Bank , to the Treasurer , or will be very gratefull y received by the Secretary , Mr . JAMBS ATKINSON , 2 . ) , Bri g hton Road , Stoke Newington , N .