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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Life's Hatred.
eyes fixed on the lad , but apparently satisfied that ho was asleep , she placed the lig ht on a small tabic , and on tiptoe crossed towards the door . Having quietly undone tho fastenings , she disappeared from view . Lee immediately arose , and with groat celerity put on his boots and outer garments . Escape at last was within his grasp . Ruth , for the first time since his incarceration , had left . the van
unlocked ; she doubtless had deemed it unnecessary at so late an hour to secure the door . The youth ' s mind was made up , he determined at all hazards to seek the house of Mr . Mordaunt . The high road was only a few yards off , and he knew by the miles they had travelled since his interview with Cooper , that the distance to Chertscy could not be far .
Notwithstanding his bold determination , it was with a palpitating heart that he cautiousl y opened the door and looked forth . It was the time of the full moon , but that chaste orb was veiled in cloud . He listened , but all was silent except the occasional soughing of the wind . His next proceeding was to look tho door and remove the key . He then descended tho steps of the van and ran quickl y
towards tho public road . The snow was falling , and there was ovory prospect of its continuing all night . This was a fortunate circumstance as the flakes would soon obliterate his footprints and thereb y baffle pursuit . He kept close to the hedge that lined the road , but had not proceeded far when he heard voices . He paused to listen and clearly distinguished the sharp tones of the stranger , the clear
accents of Ruth , and tho deep guttural voice of her brother , who were conversing on tho other side of tho hedgerow . Drawing a deep breath , the lad waited no longer , fear of discovery and recapture lent him wings , and he sped onwards as fast as the snow-clad hi ghway permitted . He struggled manfull y on for quite an hour until he reached a finger post that marked where four roads diverged . He
was fairly puzzled which road to take . However , there was no hel p for it , so he took that which looked the most important track of the four , and again plodded on . In this maimer , another hour must have passed when it Hashed upon the tired wayfarer that ho must have taken b y mistake a cross-road , as the track grew smaller and
smaller , and there were other evidences—which betrayed to his experienced eye—that he was not on the main turnpike . lie had , no doubt , wandered miles out of the way , and it was agonising to think that b y this mishap he would be unable to reach the Limes until the morning .
It would then , perhaps , be too late , as he divined that a plot against Mr . Mordaunt was imminent , and would be carried ont that night . The fact of the stranger and the gipsies being together under such circumstances was in itself suspicious and disquieting . With a sad feeling about his heart of impending evil , he renewed his journey until he saw a light shining like a star in tho far distance . Upon
approaching nearer he discovered that it proceeded from the window of a cottage by the roadside . Lie knocked timidl y at the door , and presently a gruff voice from within demanded , " Who are you ?" " I have lost my way in the snow , " said Lee . " Where are you bound for ? " continued the cottager . " Chuvtsey , " answered tJic Jad .
" Keep straight on , about a mile from here take the first lane on the ri ght , and it will bring you on the high-road . " Having thanked his unseen informant , Richard pursued his way with a lighter heart , and by eaiefully following the directions he had received , arrived indue time at his destination . He scaled the great iron entrance gate , and going to the back of the premises , he saw that
the mansion was in total darkness , with the exception of a dim light that was burning in a room on the second storey which lie well knew was the bedchamber of Mr . Mordaunt . Assisted b y the trellis work and ivy he clambered up to the window with the agility of a squirrel , and from his perilous perch succeeded at last in attracting attention as previously described .
Ihe lad ' s narrative impressed Mr . Mordaunt with mingled emotions of doubt and uneasiness . Who was the mysterious stranger ? What could be his object in plotting evil ? What connection was there between him and young Lee ? His train of mental questioning was suddenly interrupted in the most startling manner by the loud discharge of firearms which proceeded from the direction of the p leasure grounds .
His first act was to throw open the window , and then he and his affrighted companion heard voices speaking in angry tones , followed by the sounds of a dreadful struggle . This alarming incident destroyed the presence of mind of ( he
usually cool Mr . Mordaunt , and for the moment lie could not decide what , line of action to adopt . The lighting , however , was of short duration , for presently several loud groans resounded horribl y on the calm night air , and then all was still . The nature of these exciting events will be faithfully chronicled in ( he succeeding chapter .
CHAPTER V 1 JL Since the receipt of the anonymous note of warning , the faithful Armand had—unknown to Mr . Mordaunt—kept at night a most careful watch . The attachment of the West Indian was so devoted that he was prepared to sacrifice his life , if by so doing he could benefit his master . This fidelity was soon to be put to a severe and tiagic test .
Armand , having left Mr . Mordaunt as narrated in the last chapter , proceeded to carefully inspect the fastenings of the windows and doors . He then retired to his room , removed hisouter garments and then threw himself , thus partl y undressed , on his couch . His
A Life's Hatred.
door he left ajar , in order that he might hear tho least disturbance in the house should any arise . His sleep on this particular night was restless , and he occasional l y started as in his dreams he conjured up dangers to him he served . By one of those curious presentiments that occur frequently , and which cannot be fathomed nor satisfactorily explained , the valet's mind was filled with such fearful thoughts as rendered protracted sleep impossible . In this uneasy state he tossed from side to side , but vainly courted slumber .
Presently , in the deep stillness of the night he heard a rasping sound , as if some one was endeavouring to file through the fastenings of the shutters . He instantly leaped to his feet , and a deep flush overspread his swarthy cheek , his nostrils expanded and his glittering eyes shone with a fierce and determined light . He
went to a drawer and drew forth a bright two-edged dagger of foreign make , and complacently regarded its shining blade and tested its sharpness His next procedure was to bare his muscular arms and ti ghten his waist-belt . Holding his weapon firmly grasped in his ri g ht hand ho stole noiselessly into the corridor .
The sound of the filo was still heard , Armand placed himself in a recess near the window and shortly after the shutter of the casement was pushed back and a hand holding a lantern was presented to view .
A low voice from Without then said , The difficult part of our enterprise is now at an end . I trust you have not forgotten j-our instructions . Fortunately the snow has ceased to fall , and a sharp frost has set in . We shall finis be able to ride back faster than wc came . I will await your return near the entrance gates . "
Dui-ing this brief interval , Armand had made up his mind to one course of action , he determined to slay both marauders . If he raised an alarm they might escape , and their plot against his beloved master be only averted not crushed . To an ordinary intelligence this intention would have appeared alike bloodthirst y and unneecssay , but the savage instincts of the West Indian were aroused and all feelings of humanity were banished for the time .
The man with the lantern then entered the room , and tho valet from his place of concealment recognised the ill-looking features of the man he had seen lurking about the neighbourhood of the Limes . Hugh , for it was lie , removed his heavy boots and crept silentl y along the passage , and Armand , who followed in his steps , noticed that the ruffian carried a long stiletto-shaped knife . At an angle of
tho passage which led to tho tipper rooms the gipsy paused for a moment and looked back . It was his last look on earth , for , with a panther-like bound , Pierre was upon him , tho keen dagger flashed in the light of the lantern , and in an instant it was buried to the haft between the shoulder blades of the hapless wretch , who gave one low moan and fell a huddled , lifeless mass to the floor .
Cooll y wiping his weapon , the valet possessed himself of the coat and hat of the man he had slain . Before making his way into tho grounds—through the window that had been forced—Armand paused to hear if any of the household had been aroused by the noise of tho tragedy which had just been enacted . But all was quiet . He then cautiously crossed Hie lawn in tho direction of the entrance gates , in
the fierce hope that favoured b y the darkness and by his disguise , ho might get sufficiently close to the other man so as to deal him a severe , if not a fatal , wound . Unfortunatel y for Pierre , this was not to be . The stranger heard him approaching , and immediately flashed the rays of a dark lantern in his face . At once penetrating tho disguise the former , with an execration of rage and disappointment ,
drew a pistol and discharged it , point blank at the poor valet , who received the shot in the fleshy part of the left arm . Roused to fury by pain and revenge Armand rushed upon his assailant and a fearful struggle ensned . The stranger was taller and more powerful than Pierre , but the latter , nevertheless , was an adversary not to be despised . Locked in each other ' s arms they slipped more than once
on the frozou snow and rolled over and over on the ground . The unequal contest , however , did not last long ; Pierre , though agile and sinewy , was faint with the loss of blood , and the stranger getting uppermost drew a second pistol and fired it full at the chest of his prostrate foe . This shot did not terminate the fight in the favour of
the marauder for as he arose from the ground the dying and still conscious valet with one nervous hand clutched his opponent ' s leg and as the latter stumbled , he plunged his dagger into his breast . The stranger uttered an awful groan which , in the solemn stillness of tho night , sounded almost unearthly , and fell motionless .
The noise of ( lie firing hud in tho meantime aroused tho gardeno ] and his son , whose cottage stood in the grounds , and they came running to the spot , where they were soon afterwards joined by Mr . Mordaunt and Lee .
The female servants of the honsehold had also been alarmed b y the shots , but they remained in the security of their respective rooms . The moon had suddenl y emerged from the clouds and her calm rays shed a ghostly light upon the weird scene . The locale of the recent encounter was exceedingly p icturesque . The tall trees overspread with snow sparkled in the bright light of the moon like frosted silver . In ( lie background , the fine old house loomed grandily .
The branching alleys trained with yew , and the quaint arbours framed with their ever verdant shrubs being also covered with a mantle of snow formed fantastic shapes and spectral-like , gleamed in the moonlight . The form of Armand lay extended on the blood-besprinkled ground with his livid face and wildly staring eyes fully exposed to the gaze of the horror-stricken spectators , whilst the apparentl y lifeless body of the stranger was lying face downwards across the poor valet ' s breast . Mr . Mordaunt assisted tho gardener and his son
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Life's Hatred.
eyes fixed on the lad , but apparently satisfied that ho was asleep , she placed the lig ht on a small tabic , and on tiptoe crossed towards the door . Having quietly undone tho fastenings , she disappeared from view . Lee immediately arose , and with groat celerity put on his boots and outer garments . Escape at last was within his grasp . Ruth , for the first time since his incarceration , had left . the van
unlocked ; she doubtless had deemed it unnecessary at so late an hour to secure the door . The youth ' s mind was made up , he determined at all hazards to seek the house of Mr . Mordaunt . The high road was only a few yards off , and he knew by the miles they had travelled since his interview with Cooper , that the distance to Chertscy could not be far .
Notwithstanding his bold determination , it was with a palpitating heart that he cautiousl y opened the door and looked forth . It was the time of the full moon , but that chaste orb was veiled in cloud . He listened , but all was silent except the occasional soughing of the wind . His next proceeding was to look tho door and remove the key . He then descended tho steps of the van and ran quickl y
towards tho public road . The snow was falling , and there was ovory prospect of its continuing all night . This was a fortunate circumstance as the flakes would soon obliterate his footprints and thereb y baffle pursuit . He kept close to the hedge that lined the road , but had not proceeded far when he heard voices . He paused to listen and clearly distinguished the sharp tones of the stranger , the clear
accents of Ruth , and tho deep guttural voice of her brother , who were conversing on tho other side of tho hedgerow . Drawing a deep breath , the lad waited no longer , fear of discovery and recapture lent him wings , and he sped onwards as fast as the snow-clad hi ghway permitted . He struggled manfull y on for quite an hour until he reached a finger post that marked where four roads diverged . He
was fairly puzzled which road to take . However , there was no hel p for it , so he took that which looked the most important track of the four , and again plodded on . In this maimer , another hour must have passed when it Hashed upon the tired wayfarer that ho must have taken b y mistake a cross-road , as the track grew smaller and
smaller , and there were other evidences—which betrayed to his experienced eye—that he was not on the main turnpike . lie had , no doubt , wandered miles out of the way , and it was agonising to think that b y this mishap he would be unable to reach the Limes until the morning .
It would then , perhaps , be too late , as he divined that a plot against Mr . Mordaunt was imminent , and would be carried ont that night . The fact of the stranger and the gipsies being together under such circumstances was in itself suspicious and disquieting . With a sad feeling about his heart of impending evil , he renewed his journey until he saw a light shining like a star in tho far distance . Upon
approaching nearer he discovered that it proceeded from the window of a cottage by the roadside . Lie knocked timidl y at the door , and presently a gruff voice from within demanded , " Who are you ?" " I have lost my way in the snow , " said Lee . " Where are you bound for ? " continued the cottager . " Chuvtsey , " answered tJic Jad .
" Keep straight on , about a mile from here take the first lane on the ri ght , and it will bring you on the high-road . " Having thanked his unseen informant , Richard pursued his way with a lighter heart , and by eaiefully following the directions he had received , arrived indue time at his destination . He scaled the great iron entrance gate , and going to the back of the premises , he saw that
the mansion was in total darkness , with the exception of a dim light that was burning in a room on the second storey which lie well knew was the bedchamber of Mr . Mordaunt . Assisted b y the trellis work and ivy he clambered up to the window with the agility of a squirrel , and from his perilous perch succeeded at last in attracting attention as previously described .
Ihe lad ' s narrative impressed Mr . Mordaunt with mingled emotions of doubt and uneasiness . Who was the mysterious stranger ? What could be his object in plotting evil ? What connection was there between him and young Lee ? His train of mental questioning was suddenly interrupted in the most startling manner by the loud discharge of firearms which proceeded from the direction of the p leasure grounds .
His first act was to throw open the window , and then he and his affrighted companion heard voices speaking in angry tones , followed by the sounds of a dreadful struggle . This alarming incident destroyed the presence of mind of ( he
usually cool Mr . Mordaunt , and for the moment lie could not decide what , line of action to adopt . The lighting , however , was of short duration , for presently several loud groans resounded horribl y on the calm night air , and then all was still . The nature of these exciting events will be faithfully chronicled in ( he succeeding chapter .
CHAPTER V 1 JL Since the receipt of the anonymous note of warning , the faithful Armand had—unknown to Mr . Mordaunt—kept at night a most careful watch . The attachment of the West Indian was so devoted that he was prepared to sacrifice his life , if by so doing he could benefit his master . This fidelity was soon to be put to a severe and tiagic test .
Armand , having left Mr . Mordaunt as narrated in the last chapter , proceeded to carefully inspect the fastenings of the windows and doors . He then retired to his room , removed hisouter garments and then threw himself , thus partl y undressed , on his couch . His
A Life's Hatred.
door he left ajar , in order that he might hear tho least disturbance in the house should any arise . His sleep on this particular night was restless , and he occasional l y started as in his dreams he conjured up dangers to him he served . By one of those curious presentiments that occur frequently , and which cannot be fathomed nor satisfactorily explained , the valet's mind was filled with such fearful thoughts as rendered protracted sleep impossible . In this uneasy state he tossed from side to side , but vainly courted slumber .
Presently , in the deep stillness of the night he heard a rasping sound , as if some one was endeavouring to file through the fastenings of the shutters . He instantly leaped to his feet , and a deep flush overspread his swarthy cheek , his nostrils expanded and his glittering eyes shone with a fierce and determined light . He
went to a drawer and drew forth a bright two-edged dagger of foreign make , and complacently regarded its shining blade and tested its sharpness His next procedure was to bare his muscular arms and ti ghten his waist-belt . Holding his weapon firmly grasped in his ri g ht hand ho stole noiselessly into the corridor .
The sound of the filo was still heard , Armand placed himself in a recess near the window and shortly after the shutter of the casement was pushed back and a hand holding a lantern was presented to view .
A low voice from Without then said , The difficult part of our enterprise is now at an end . I trust you have not forgotten j-our instructions . Fortunately the snow has ceased to fall , and a sharp frost has set in . We shall finis be able to ride back faster than wc came . I will await your return near the entrance gates . "
Dui-ing this brief interval , Armand had made up his mind to one course of action , he determined to slay both marauders . If he raised an alarm they might escape , and their plot against his beloved master be only averted not crushed . To an ordinary intelligence this intention would have appeared alike bloodthirst y and unneecssay , but the savage instincts of the West Indian were aroused and all feelings of humanity were banished for the time .
The man with the lantern then entered the room , and tho valet from his place of concealment recognised the ill-looking features of the man he had seen lurking about the neighbourhood of the Limes . Hugh , for it was lie , removed his heavy boots and crept silentl y along the passage , and Armand , who followed in his steps , noticed that the ruffian carried a long stiletto-shaped knife . At an angle of
tho passage which led to tho tipper rooms the gipsy paused for a moment and looked back . It was his last look on earth , for , with a panther-like bound , Pierre was upon him , tho keen dagger flashed in the light of the lantern , and in an instant it was buried to the haft between the shoulder blades of the hapless wretch , who gave one low moan and fell a huddled , lifeless mass to the floor .
Cooll y wiping his weapon , the valet possessed himself of the coat and hat of the man he had slain . Before making his way into tho grounds—through the window that had been forced—Armand paused to hear if any of the household had been aroused by the noise of tho tragedy which had just been enacted . But all was quiet . He then cautiously crossed Hie lawn in tho direction of the entrance gates , in
the fierce hope that favoured b y the darkness and by his disguise , ho might get sufficiently close to the other man so as to deal him a severe , if not a fatal , wound . Unfortunatel y for Pierre , this was not to be . The stranger heard him approaching , and immediately flashed the rays of a dark lantern in his face . At once penetrating tho disguise the former , with an execration of rage and disappointment ,
drew a pistol and discharged it , point blank at the poor valet , who received the shot in the fleshy part of the left arm . Roused to fury by pain and revenge Armand rushed upon his assailant and a fearful struggle ensned . The stranger was taller and more powerful than Pierre , but the latter , nevertheless , was an adversary not to be despised . Locked in each other ' s arms they slipped more than once
on the frozou snow and rolled over and over on the ground . The unequal contest , however , did not last long ; Pierre , though agile and sinewy , was faint with the loss of blood , and the stranger getting uppermost drew a second pistol and fired it full at the chest of his prostrate foe . This shot did not terminate the fight in the favour of
the marauder for as he arose from the ground the dying and still conscious valet with one nervous hand clutched his opponent ' s leg and as the latter stumbled , he plunged his dagger into his breast . The stranger uttered an awful groan which , in the solemn stillness of tho night , sounded almost unearthly , and fell motionless .
The noise of ( lie firing hud in tho meantime aroused tho gardeno ] and his son , whose cottage stood in the grounds , and they came running to the spot , where they were soon afterwards joined by Mr . Mordaunt and Lee .
The female servants of the honsehold had also been alarmed b y the shots , but they remained in the security of their respective rooms . The moon had suddenl y emerged from the clouds and her calm rays shed a ghostly light upon the weird scene . The locale of the recent encounter was exceedingly p icturesque . The tall trees overspread with snow sparkled in the bright light of the moon like frosted silver . In ( lie background , the fine old house loomed grandily .
The branching alleys trained with yew , and the quaint arbours framed with their ever verdant shrubs being also covered with a mantle of snow formed fantastic shapes and spectral-like , gleamed in the moonlight . The form of Armand lay extended on the blood-besprinkled ground with his livid face and wildly staring eyes fully exposed to the gaze of the horror-stricken spectators , whilst the apparentl y lifeless body of the stranger was lying face downwards across the poor valet ' s breast . Mr . Mordaunt assisted tho gardener and his son