g away these, I had discovered a secret spring,
which covered a place of concealment in which some hoarder of by-gone
days had treasured a few guineas of the reign of the third George. These
I had appropriated to my own use, and had considered them a godsend at
the time. Into this drawer I now thrust the bloodstained pocket-book and
the useless wealth it contained. Never since that hour have I drawn it
from its hiding-place. My earnest wish is, that when I am gone to my
last account, this money may be restored to the family to whom it
rightfully belongs.

When I settled upon the farm, it afforded me a good pretext to give up
my situation as gamekeeper. Mr. Walter, now Sir Walter Carlos, had just
come to reside at the Hall, and, being a great sportsman, he was very
unwilling to dispense with my services.

"Wait at least, Noah," he said, "until after the shooting-season is
over. I expect my sister Ella and her husband and a large party down
next week. No one can point out the best haunts of the game like you.
This will give me time to procure some one in your place."

I named George Norton as a fitting person to fill the vacant situation.
He promised to appoint him in my place, but insisted on my staying with
him until the end of October.

Reluctantly I complied. The words he had carelessly spoken respecting
his sister, had sent a fresh arrow through my heart. She, for whose sake
I had committed that fearful deed, in the hope of acquiring wealth, was
now the bride of another. How had I dared to form a hope that one so far
removed from me by birth and education would ever condescend to cast one
thought on me? Blind fool that I had been! I was conscious of my madness
now, when I had forfeited my own soul to obtain the smiles of one who
could never be mine.

The gay party arrived in due time at the Hall, and Sir Walter forgot its
old possessor, the friend of his boyhood, the gay, roystering, reckless
man who slept so quietly in the old churchyard, while pursuing his
favourite sport.

Captain Manners, the husband of my beautiful Ella, was a fine,
dashing-looking officer, and I felt bitterly jealous of him whenever I
saw him and his young bride together. In spite of her sables, she was
all smiles and sunshine--the life and soul of the party at the Hall.

One fine afternoon--I shall never forget it!--I was following the
gentlemen with the dogs, when we came to the fatal spot where Mr. Carlos
had been murdered.

I had