A Life's Hatred.

Arninnd having complied with the request , Mr . Mordaunt , who was fully dressed , opened his room door and listened for some momsnts . " J suppose , " said hc , in a whisper , " that there is no chance of our being disturbed Y " " The last of the servants , sir , " replied the valet , " went to bed an hour ap-o . "

" J hat is well , said his master . Give mc the lantern , aud do not speak until we are in the basement . " They then quietl y male their way down stairs , hut with all their caution , thc old stairs gave an occasional creak . Mr . Mordaunt and his companion ' paused more than once fo listen if their movements had been heard , but all was silent as thc grave . Upon arriving at the garden door , Annand , by the direction of his master , went forth , and brought in thc pickaxe and spade .

"Follow mc , quietly , " said thc latter , " wc arc about io visit the vault beneath tho store room , and I shall soon know whether my suspicions are well grounded or not . "

CHAPTER V . The vault they were in , under the most favourable circumstances , would have excited a shudder , but imperfectly li ghted as it was by the feeble rays of the lantern , and in the dead of the night its aspect was truly forbidding .

" Annand , said Mr . Mordaunt , " I will now tell you my object in bringing yon here . Some time ago , I mentioned to you a curious circumstance cither waking or dreaming that befell mc one nig ht . " " You allude , I presume , sir , to the footsteps which you imagined you . heard descending thc stairs . " . " Yes , " assented the other .

" For two consecutive nig hts I have dreamt- the same thing . So vivid have the visions been , and from facts which I have recently gleaned , I have come to the conclusion that a tragedy was enacted in the room immediately over mine , and that the remains of the victim will bo found beneath these stones . "

Thc valet shivered , changed colour , and exhibited other signs of horror at this startling communication . "In company with Mrs . Ambrose this morning I visited the store room above this vault , and strange to say it was the counterpart of the one I saw in my dream . Without confiding to her my suspicions I examined this pavement , and I found that the cement had been

A Life's Hatred.

removed from several of thc flan-stones . This circumstance does not necessarily prove anything , as the stones may have been removed for the purpose of inspecting tho drain or water pipes . If my surmises prove to be unfounded , I shall have had thc satisfaction of setting them at rest without exposing myself to the ridicule of thc domestics . Do yon comprehend mc Y " " I do , sir , " assented Pierre , as hc proceeded to remove liis coat .

" You will commence your work , " said Mr . Mordaunt , " by prising with your pick yonder stone . " Thus directed the valet inserted the point of the implement between tho interstices of the pavement . After a little time hc succeeded in raising thc stone , and with the assistance of his master placed it on one side . The adjoining piece was easil y removed . "Which stone , sir , shall I take up now ? " asked he .

"I think there will be no necessity for you to remove another , " was the rep ] } -. " Tlie opening I have made is far too small to have admitted cither tho body of a man or woman , " remarked Pierre . "Of course it is , " rejoined Mr . Mordaunt , "but more than sufficient to have concealed the remains of a child . "

Annand made no further remark , but commenced to loosen tlie rubble . This was a labour of some difficulty . However , the valet worked with a will , and at last reached the earth . Having removed a few shovel-fulls he uttered a startled cry which brought his master

to tho brink of the opening . Holding the light low down with one hand , Armand pointed with thc other towards the hole . Mr . Mordaunt peeved downwards , and his terror stricken eyes beheld the almost perfect skeleton of a child w ^ ifch had been partially destroyed hy the action of lime .

" Poor thing , poor thing , " apostrophized the gentleman . "What a dreadful fate was thine ! Cruelly cut off in the spring of life , when all things must have appeared to thy innocent mind , so bright , so joyous . What motive could have actuated thy murderer to have destroyed thee so foully . If I cannot avenge thy cruel death I will at hast convey thy remains from this horrible vault . "

" Will you not communicate the discovery to the authorities , sir , " iskcd thc valet .

" For what purpose Y " questioned his master . " Investigation might lead to the murderer being brought to justice , " remarked Pierre . ( To be continued in " The Freemason" of December ISth . )

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