Lady Trebor's Secret, OR THE MYSTERY OF CECIL ROSSE.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 215, 2 May 1877, Page 4

Lady Trebor's Secret, OR THE MYSTERY OF CECIL ROSSE.

o [lsv Mas. 11 Aim irr Luwis.] CLI AFT Fit IV.— C Unit! nni‘<l, >IK. i'UI.I'OIIO. .Yet he was a thorough gentleman in scorning, and was the trusted friend and adviser of Lady Trevor. He had been the business agent of her profligate and ruined husband, bis favorite companion and friend, and was now the businessagent of her ladyship, her secretary, and major-domo, the one person above all others whom she trusted—the only being whom she feared. “ Come in, Fulford,” said her ladyship, graciously, as lie paused near the door. “ Have the gentlemen returned from their shooting /” “ Yes, my lady,” answered Fulford, respectfully. “ They came in au hour ago, wet to the skin.” Lady Trevor turned her face away from the keen gaze of her secretary, and said carelessly : “ Ah, by the way, Fulford, Is Uieuham Lodge yet occupied !" Pulford’s face Hushed, as he replied : £i it is, my lady. One of the gillies was at the lodge this morning, and he says that Lord (llenham and Mr Crafton, with a dozen other gentlemen, anived this morning.’' “ The distance is hut live miles,” said the widow, ns if to herself. i: I should almost have expected Lord Ulenham to call upon me—” “ In this rain, madam ?” asked the secretary, with a slight curl of the lip. ‘ c His lordship may not he aware of your decided preference for him. ff he is aware of it, it is evident that he docs not return it.” I iady Trevor turned upon her secretary a face white with anger. flow dare you speak in that manner to me, sir f” she demanded, haughtily. “ You forget yourself, Mr Fulford. llepeat this insolence, and I Avill have you thrust from my house—l will dismiss you from my service.” Mr Fulford smiled easily, not at all disturbed by this threat. “it is you wlio forget youmelf, madam,” he remarked, coolly. ‘-.lnst reflect one moment. MTiat would happen if yon should * dismiss’ me from your service ?” Thu lady’s eyes quailed before his sneering look. Her anger gave place

to fear. “Uf course I did not menu that, Pulford,” she said, in a constrained voice. “ You are too valuable to me to be dismissed, but you must never speak to me iu that miniuer again.” Perhaps it would be well for us to come to some sort of an understanding, madam,” remarked Mr Pulfurd. 1 .served your husband faithfully for many years. ,1. was his confidant, his bosom friend, his other self. When ho died, •nearly two j'cars ago, 1 continued in my former business duties;, attended to your estates, became your secretary, and was as meek and respectful to you as airy servant. Is not this so ?” “ Why should it not be so ?” demanded Lady Trevor, imperiously. " Are you not paid a salary that many a nobleman would envy you ? Are you not treated as my equal, admitted to my house and table at all times ? Are you not hero among my guests, equally honored with them ?” True, and so far good, madam. But I have a right to all this, ami more than this. lam a gentleman by birth, and therefore you dare not offend mo. Ho you remember a conversation between you and mo ten months since iu Lord St Leonards’ country-house ?” The lady’s eyes emitted a sudden tlash of renewed auger. £i Yon do well to remind me of your insolence on that occasion, 2lv Pulford,” she exclaimed. “■ My insolence consisted in asking you to be my wife,” said Mr Pulford, quietly. “ You wore angry, I remember, but finally refused me on the ground that the banmet bad been dead but a year, and that you dared not risk offending Lord St. Leonards, your grandfather, by a second marriage so soon. I respected your objections, and M resolved to wait. I have waited. During y the past ton months 1 have not breathed to you one word of love. But the time is now come when I must speak. Your growing preference for Lord Glonham demands my interference. It will be ns well that our relations to each other should be settled definitely before Lord Glcnharn appears at Castle Cliff. And so I now renew my proposal of marriage,” “ Yon forgot yourself,” cried her ladyship, haughtily. “ How dare you address mo in words like these ? 1 your wife ? Why, you must be mad !” “ Not so, madam,” said Mr Pulford, smiling’. “ When Sir Albert Trevor died, worn out with dissipations, I resolved to step into his shoos, and I shall not bo likely to relinquish the purpose I have sworn to accomplish. lam your paid servant, but also I am your master !” and bis cold eyes glittered like drawn sw'ords. “ I await your answer to my proposal.” “It is impossible—utterly impossible !” cried Lady Trevor, excitedly. 11 I married Sir Albert Trevor against the wishes cf my grandfather, who has never forgiven me, and has never since looked upon my face. The marquis is proud as Lucifer. He has never forgiven me for linking his noble, unstained

name with that of the roue and gambler, Sir Albert Truvor. He lias permitted mo to visit his estates —in his absence—but in spite of all my letters, in spite of my widowhood, he still refuses to see me or forgive me. He always abhorred me from my birtiq and now be regards me with a bitterness of anger that all my efforts have been unable to lessen. How, then, would he, this haughty old marquis, look upon my marriage with yon, whom he regards, if he has ever heard of yon, as my paid servant . M

“ Ho would look upon it with horror, of course,” said Mr Fulford easily, " hut we could keep our marriage secret for the present. He is seventy-live, and cannot live many years at the best. J. should not wish to risk his further displeasure with you, for he is likely, after all, to make you his heiress. Yon are his only descendant and the natural inheritor of all his magniJieent freehold property, hank-accounts, stocks, and that sort of thing. His wealth, added to the hnmun.se fortune you inherited from your step-mother, would make yon the richest woman in the world. Yon have schemed to win his favor, and you have hitherto lailed, yet 1 cannot think that he will bequeath his unentailed property away from ids rightful heiress.” " He must leave it to me,” said Fady Trevor, with a greedy gleam in her thick eyes. " 1 wrote to him ashing the loan of Castle CHIT for the month of September. And I told him in niy letter that .Lin’d (Jlenham would be at his Highland box during the same month, and consequently my near neighbor. Lord Hlenbam was my graiulfai'ner’s ward, the son of Ills distant kinsman and dearest friend, and the heir to Lord St. Leonards’ title and entailed estates. Xow if 1 were to marry Lord Clenliam—”

" The marquis would take you to bis heart. JUit this cannot be. ! demand your hand in marriage, Fady Trevor. You must be mine. 1 hive yon, in spite of your pride, your domineering ways. 1 should be proud of you, with your handsome face and stately figure. And, more than all. 1 am determined to shave your wealth. You dare not again refuse me—” ;; ItemeiMher that i hold von as in the hollow of my baud and can crush yott as easily as i could cru-di an eggshell,” said Mr Fe.hbnl, in a terrible voice and with a terrible look in his eyes. Ho you dare nm to do my worst ’ Lady Trevor shivered as with an Xo, oh, no;” she wliispeied. u But listen to reason. 1 cannot marry yon, Fulford. 1 should as soon think of marrying my footman. ! will double yoe.r salary—l will help you to marry some lady of title, so (hat even your ambition will be satisfied— ’’ i. will marry you. Fdkh Trevor, ami none other!” interrupted -Mr Fulford, with au oath. “ You are in my power ! 1 know your secret- the hideous secret—a revelation of which would doom you to prison, high-born iady as you arc 1 Ho you dare defy me ? Ida you again refuse to marry me '! llefu.se, and i’ll expose your crime ; Hi betray yon to the police ; I’ll send you to the felon’s dock !” He hissed the words in her ears and stood gloating in anticipated triumph. Lady Trevor cowered before Idm, and covered her white face with her hands.

A moment of tragic suspcii.-® followed. It was broken by a knock at tlio door. Pul ford started away and walked to a farther window. The baronet’s widow raised her face, now white and haggard, us the door opened and a servant entered. “ The Marquis of St. Leonards lias arrived, my lady,” announced the lackey, ‘•'and desires to see your ladyship !” t; The marqni.p? My grandfather ? Here ?” cried Lady Trevor, in an irrepressible agitation. “ Show him up at once !” The servant withdrew. Pul ford approached the lady, with flushing face and glittering eyes. 11 What could have brought Lord St. Leonards here to sec you after having refused to look upon your face since your marriage fifteen years ago ?” he demanded. ££ Something’s in the wind. Perhaps he feels his age, and desires to make peace with his only living descendant before ho dies. Play your game well, Edith,” lie added, familiarly, ££ and all his wealth shall he yours.” “ Go—leave me !” “ I will, but to-morrow I shall come to tliis room for your answer to my proposal of marriage. Dare to refuse me, and I doom you to the felon’s dock, the prison cell ! To-morrow at this hour, and here !” With an evil smile on Ids face, Mr Pulford quitted the room by one door as Lord St. Leonards was ushered in at the other. CHAPTER V. C O M V L 1 C A T I O X S. As the Marquis of St.. Leonards was ushered into the private sitting-room of Lady Trevor, her ladyship arose, still white and haggard from the excitement of her interview with Mr Pulford, and moved forward a few paces, endeavouring to summon a smile of welcome to her quivering features. She had not seen her grandfather in fifteen years—not since her marriage with the profligate Sir Albert Trevor. As his lordship was now seventy-five

years of age, she expected to behold in him some of the infirmities of age, but none were visible. Hu was tall, straight, and vigorous as a man of half his years. He was large of frame, of imposing aspect, and commanding carriage, with the appearance of a French military oJlicur. His hair was snow-white, Ins heavy mustache was snow-white also, but bis eyes were keen and piercing, his grand and haughty features were indicative ol a passionate soul and a powerful will iinweakened by time, and bis abundant vitality promised him a score of additional years. Lady Trevor could not conceal her surprise even under her mask of joy. "Hear grandfather!” she faltered, holding out her hand. :: This is an unexpected pleasure. lam delighted—more than delighted—to see you.” " Humph I” said the old marquis, not taking her preferred member. " ttosume your seat, Lady Trevor.” pTU UK CoNTINt'KO.]