A Life's Hatred.

the West end of London . For some years all went well , many a rich prize fell into my net , but wishing to increase my fortune I , in an evil hour , dabbled on the Stock Exchange , and got irreparably involved . I managed somehow to keep my head above water until the death of my wife when the crisis came , and I eventually became a beggar . Having no means to provide for the child , I placed him , for the time

being , with Ruth Lee , whose acquaintance I had made some years before in a manner that shall be nameless . After experiencing many stirring , adventures in the Southern States , I found myself a few months ago , at San Francisco . I there met , strangely enough , a wealthy old merchant , Jonathan Daley . Struck by the familiar name , I made enquiries , and found out that he was my late wife ' s uncle .

For a few days I waited before making myself known to him , but the delay was fatal , as the yellow fever which was raging at the time , carried him off with many others . After his death , I gleaned that he had left his money to his brother ' s family . I saw his representatives , stated my relationship to the dead man ' s niece , and further explained that my son , who was in England , was the heir-at-law . I

sailed by the first vessel leaving for the old country , with the intention of reclaiming the boy from the custody of the Lee ' s . To my chagrin , I learned that in consequence of their ill-usage he had left them . The rest of . my story you know , except that , when luck was against me , I haunted the North Road and bade the rich to ' stand and deliver . '"

Before Reginald had time to put any further questions to his brother , a loud knocking was heard at the hall door . Stephen , notwithstanding his weak state , started up to a sitting position , while his white lips stammered out , " Have you sent for the officers ? " "I did , little thinking at the time that it would be my own brother they would have to arrest on the charge of murder . "

" They have come too late , ' muttered the other . " I will spare them and the hangman trouble . Richard , my son , farewell ! To thee , Reginald , I bequeath a curse . May perdition await thee ! " Ere he could be prevented , he had drawn a small vial from his pocket and placing it to his mouth he swallowed its contents . A

strong odour for a few minutes filled the room . The miserable man lay writhing convulsively for a short time , a dreadful pallor stole gradually like a livid mask over his face , which bore a mocking expression—as if even in death the suicide felt'that he had triumphed —and , with a deep sigh , the soul of Stephen Alordaunt fled .

It was a great blow to Air . Alordaunt , this sudden and awful termination to a misspent life ; but , nevertheless , it was a release , as it spared him the dreadful trial of seeing his brother in the felon ' s dock . The motives which influenced Stephen to incite Hugh , the gipsy , to break into the house wore still inexplicable , and would be buried with him . It was horrible to think that after so many years

A Life's Hatred.

the wretched man had continued to bear an enmity , so intense , as to lead him to meditate fratricide . Mr . Alaitland , the justice , accompanied by a surgeon and two constables , were then ushered in by one of the servants , but there was nothing for them to do except to take down the respective

evidence of Air . Alordaunt , his nephew Richard , and Stock the gardener . The usual coroner ' s enquiry was subsequently held ; but nothing further in connection with the outrage was elucidated . Air . Alordaunt sold the house , and with his newly-found relative , left the Limes shortly after never to return .

After the fearful events that had taken place within its portals , this result was to be expected . Tho claims of young Richard Alordaunt to the property of the defunct Jonathan Daley were eventually admitted . The stately and picturesque house remained

empty . Local gossip and tradition , threw such a gloom over the place , that neither a tenant nor a purchaser could bo found for it . About 40 years ago tho property was so dilapidated that . the then owner , in despair , pulled the residence down' arid sold the land for building purposes .

Thus disappeared from view , the quaint mansion of the old Cit y Alderman Nicholas Wotton , that had , doubtless ' , in the seventeenth and eighteenth ceuturies witnessed many romantic events , but nothing to equal in tragic intensity the episodes which , at a period when the present century was young , had furnished the closing scenes of " A Life ' s Hatred . " [ THE END ] .

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