A Life's Hatred.

. "Certainly , sir , " assented the housekeeper , " please follow me . She passed through the adjoining room whicli was used as a si ore closet , and candle in hand led the way down a- small staircase fo the vestibule . Taking a key from the bunch she carried , she unlocked a door leatlim- ' to ( he wine cellars , whicli were of largo extent and well

¦ stocked . Mr . Mordaunt narrowly inspected the vaults , but greatly to his companion ' s surprise took little heed of the choice vintages stored therein . Upon returning to the vestibule he pointed to a closed door . " Mrs . Ambrose , " said he , " where does that lead to ? "

" To a large room we use for storing odds and ends , sir , was the reply . "It is badly lighted , and somewhat damp . " " Let mc sec if , " said her master . The amazed housekeeper did not , answer , but at once complied with his request . She was sd'M more mystified liy hearing Mr . Mordaunt exclaim

"How strange ! The very place ! ' the apartment was scrupulously clean , and was lighted by a small sk y light . If was nearly filled with a heterogeneous mass of comparatively useless articles that accumulate in all large households , and which by a . strange iuconsistcntcy , instead of being disposed of arc allowed to encumber space . The only outlet was by a door at the exfieme end ; Mr . Mordaunt drew back thc bolts of the latter , and a dark opening was disclosed .

"You will lind nothing there , sir , " said the housekeeper . "It leads to an em ply vault . " ' "Without heeding this remark , the gentleman took thc light from her , and descended some half dozen stops . If wus a noisome place constructed of brick , and paved with rude stone flags . There was an evil odour about- it , which caused Mrs . Ambrose to shudder . The

next proceeding of her employer quite startled flic good woman , loi he went on his knees and examined fhe interstices of the ( lag stones , then he suddenly gave vent to an exclamation of surprise , and without uttering another word he led the way out-of tht : vault-. Before leaving her , however , he said , " Mes . . Ambrose , you need not mention thc fact of our visiting thc foul place wc have inst left . 1 have

certain reasons for wishing the circumstance to be kept secret . " Mr . Mordaunt then returned to his apartment , and shortly afler , it being a line day , he was tempted for the lirst time since his illness to lake a walk . On returning hc was overtaken by the host of the " iSwan , " who courteously saluted him , and was about , to pass on , when he was detained bv Mr . Mordaunt , who said , "Mi ' . Newbury ,

may I ask you to favour me with a few minutes' conversation ? " " With p leasure , sir , " was the reply . "Did Mr . Percival , who formerly resided in 1113- house , finall y leave it at night Y " "Yes . "

" Was he accompanied by his child ? " was the next query . " I believe so , sir . On tho evening he left , he hired a gig from a neighbouring inn . When the man arrived at the Limes with the vehicle , Mr . Percival told him that he should mil require his services as he intended to drive over to Guildford . himself . He also said that

A Life's Hatred.

ho purposed to sleep at that town , and next moi'iiiiijr should catch tho early Portsmouth stage . He promised to send the gig back by one of tho servants of thc "White Hart , " which inn was then kept by a . friend of mine . This proceeding occasioned no surprise as Mr . Percival was . al ways very singular in hi . s habits . Next morning thc

vehicle was returned , ami I accidentally heard from one of my ostlers , who had spoken with the driver , that Air . Percival had informed the landlord ol" the " White Hart" ( hat hc had taken a berth in the "Benbow , " which ship was to sail from Portsmouth on the ensuing day . If you remember , sir , I told you that that unfortunate vessel foundered shortly after sailing . "

" Thou you have no direct evidence that thc child was actually with Mr . Percival on the niu'ht he left the Limes ? "

" No , sir . But 1 assume that he was for this reason : Mr . Percival , two days before his departure , dismissed the last servant maid of his household , who subsequently took service with us , and the little fellow she stated was in the house at that time . " " Thank yon , Mr . Newbury , for your information . " The conversation then took a general turn .

Upon his arrival home , Mr . Mordaunt directed his valet to attend him in his study . " Annand , " said he , " I have a- little commission for you to execute , which is of a private nature . It is a matter , too , which must not bo spoken about without my direct permission . " The West Indian

bowed . " When the household to-night have all retired , I want yotl to conic to my bedroom , and to bring a lantern with you . You must also manage to secure a pickaxe and shovel from thc tool house , unknown fo the gardener . " '' Yes , sir , " assented Pierre .

" I believe it is your dut y to see that the house is properly fastened before retiring for the night Y " observed Mr . Mordaunt . The valet having replied in the alliriiiativc , his master continued . '' To-night leave the back door leading front the kitchen to the

garden 011 the latch . I may have occasion to go forth , and I do not wish to run the risk of disturbing the servants b y unbolting thc door . You had better also oil the fastenings . I dare sny , my instructions appear lo yon very mysterious , but hereafter my motives will be apparent . You may now go . I have nothing further to say . "

At eleven o clock that night , Mr . Mordaunt , who was reading in . his room , heard a low tap at the door . Pierre , for he it was , then stole gently in . " Well , Ariiiuud , have you carried out my instructions without attracting notice Y " asked Mr . Mordaunt . " J have , sir , " was tho reply . " I left the tools just outside tlio "

garden door , which is unfastened . ' " You will have to bring those implements within doors , " remarked his master . _ . The valet said nothing , but his dark eyes expressed considerable astonishment . " You must now remove your shoes , " continued the gcutleniailj '' and put on a pair of my list slippers . "

Ad04801

CLARK'SCIVILSERVICEANDCOMMERCIALCOLLEGE, 2 « SC 3 , CHANCERY L . AKTE ( limnetic * ut -101 , Il . iltuii'iiii Hiimt ; fill , St . Jtiloi ' s Hill , Claphum ; 7 , Fiturmj « . /» mv , W . ; mid Cud ) . Founder end Pciiiciiutl—lhu . ( II ' U . K . CLAliK , Late 11 . M . C . S ., Meinliei ' uf London Chamber uf Comiiiercu ; Chief uf Civil Service ami Commercial Section at Royal Masonic SCIHKII ( nr tiirls , llaltcrsca Jtiso . Tlio College offers special facilities in preparation ( nr Till" CIVIL Kl'JlVJt'l " , University . llatrieiilalion , Local Cullrgo uf J'j-oct'ptiuvj , Society of Arts , anil Professional Exams . Abb I'n . M . M I'lSCI Al . Al'l'OlN'I'MKNTS , rfcholarsliip I ' xams ., Ac , & e . Classes nml Private Lessons in All billionaire * , CuiTcspomlonco , lioolc-kcepiny , ijliurtliuiul , Typewriting , Are ., & c . Write j ' m particulars , nr iij'i'lil jici ; -uiiitllij mnj tiny bctti-ccn ' . ) 11 . nf . ' - ' J poii . Over liJOiJ iStuiluiiifj of Clark ' s College liave been . successful in Civil . Service Kxama . 2 & 3 , CHANCERY LANE , W . C .

Ad04802

MORTHLONDON HOSPITALFORCONSUMPTION AndDiseasesoftheChest. Mount Vernon , Hampstead , N . W ., and Fiizroy Square , W . UlCilSM'Cl—AJ . l'Ti'" ! ' HOAltE , KMI . ., L . C . C , X , l- 'lcet Stavl , I'M . ¦ IlM ' fmail-lll'XJAMIN A . LYON , I ' !*> i : pil (\ := CIWIl'lliail THE Ilium HON . TBI ; I . HltD 110 UAHTK 3 . " Tliis Insiiuilion may well lay claim to tin : title uf the must beautiful Hospital in London . " I'hiI , ii , Llti ' iijii * t . Thoro ia no disoaso so prevalent and fatal as Consumption , and thoro is no Institution possessing groater advantages for its treatment than tho North London Hospital for Consumption . THE CHARITY IS UNENDOWED AND ENTIRELY DEPENDENT UPON VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS . There is room in the llos | , ilal lor Ml I n-l ' al icnl s . lint the present income does mil admit of inure than liO . bods being thrown ojicn . NOMINATION TO BED DURING LIFETIME £ 315 . Animal iSnliscrihei-s of L : l - "Is . ami Donors of C : H 10 s . are Governors , with flic right lo reeominend One In-Patient and Four Oat-I ' utieuts every year . Contributions , ospceiiill y new Annual ci , \\> ci ipliuiis . arc earnestly solicited , and will hc gratefully received by OQicc—ll , Fny . uov Sni . vui :, \ V . IdONi ' L lr . 'HILh , Hon . Seereldnt