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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 218, 12 May 1877, Page 4

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

[By Mrs. llaiuukt Lewis.] CHAPTER VI. ADR ITT, When Cecil Rosie onto.cl the pastor’s stui.ly upon the morning after his revelation to her of her history, she was startle 1 at seeing him still in his armchair, ins head thrown back upon the cushions in an attitude of weariness. A stray sunbeam came through the window, resting lovingly upon his gray head. That peaceful smile was still on his thin and gentle face, but the kindly eyes that had ever beamed upon her in tend west love were Jddden by the drooping lids. Hhe thought him sleeping. “Uncle!” she said, softly, wondering if be bad sat up all night, or had risen early and been overcome with drowsi-

ness. The sweet voice mot no response. “Uncle, dear!” said Cecil, coming nearer to him, “It is time for prayers ! Why, how still he seems ! How strange he looks, as if he had seen an angel before lie slept ! Uncle, darling—” She. touched In’s cold and lifeless hand, and the chill contact sent a startled thrill, a curdling horror, through alt her veins. In the next moment her ~ wild cry went piercing through the house, bringing old Gretchcn in haste from her domain. The villagers were called in and throTigod the house. One grave, graybearded peasant, who served as the village leech, examined the pulse and tested the rigidity of the dead pastor’s limbs, and announced that ho had been dead several hours. The smile on the face and the peaceful expression of all the features attested that his death had been painless, a transition from sleep and pleasant dreams on earth to a glorious awakening in heaven. The next throe clays wore very dreary to young Cecil Rosso, The villagers came and went softly, careful not to disturb her. Old Gretcbeu was very kind to tier. new pastor* a young - man, appeared in the village, and came once or twice to offer the ministrations of r digiou and to counsel her to resignation. JJat Cecil was not unresigned. After the first natural outburst of her grief, she rejoiced, rather than sorrowed, that her benefactor bad rejoined bis good wife, and that his death had been so nearly a translation. She would have regarded a morbid and passionate indulgence in grief as selfishness, and schooled herself to bear her sorrow bravely and mnnurmuiiugly. Upon the third day, at the hour of sunset, Herr Brocken was buried in the little churchyard beside bis wife. The funeral over, Cecil walked homeward beside old Gretchcn, both clad in sable garments. The old serving-woman, whoso eves were red and swollen with

tears, regarded her young mistress with frequent sighs. The lovely face of Cecil was very grave ami sorrowful; the sweet, sad eyes had in them a look of intense weariness ; hut, more than all, there •was an expression of utter hopelessness about the tender, drooping mouth—a strange despair—that singularly contrasted with her 3 oath. They entered the empty house. Some one laid opened the doors and Windows to the evening’ breeze and brought ilowers to brighten and relieve the gloom. Cecil sat down In the little sitting-room, and old Gretclum removed her young mistress’s hut. “ Yon must not give way like this, Miss’ Cecil,” said the old servant, tenderly. “ The Herr Pastor would not like it. Ho is happy —think of that, my lamb.” “ I know it, Gretchon,” responded the girl, drearily. “ I would not have him back, but somehow my life seems to have come to an end with his. I cannot look forward to any future. And he love 1 me, Gretchon. I was as dear to him as if I had boon the noblest-born lady in the land. ISTo pride could ever have come between him and me.” Old Gretchon looked bewildered. “ Yon will make yourself sick if yon go on like this, Miss Cecil,” she said. u Here comes the new pastor and the chief villagers to console you in your sorrow.” Cecil moved nearer the window. The sunset lights fell upon her hair, transforming it into a glory. Her rod-brown eyes, with the golden glint in them, were turned towards the door. Her proud, sweet month quivered with an ineffable sadness. Her superb young beauty and patrician air struck the visitors, who halted at the door for an instant, and removed their hats, entering her presence with low salutations. Old Gretchon placed chairs for them, and remained standing. ££ We came,” said one of the men, the leader of the party, a skillful woodcarver and the principal layman in the church, ££ to talk of business matters with you, Miss Eosse. It is impossible for you and Gretchon to remain in this lonely parsonage longer. The silence and gloom would be too oppressive to yon,” - Cecil bowed her head in assent. Herr Wilstciu breathed a sigh of relief. ££ The now pastor has already been appointed to this church,” he continued, wifh a glance at the minister, who, embarrassed, and full of pity for Cecil,

awaited the conclusion of the visit with uneasiness. “Ho has a large family and has been without a charge. For the sake of this flock bereaved of their shepherd, he is willing to come to Zorlitz at once !” “ We can leave the house to-morrow,” said Gretchcn, briefly. “ The new pastor is willing to buy your household goods at a lair valuation, pursued Jlcrr Wilstein. “As your friend, Fraulion, and the friend of our dear dead pastor, I will arrange your business affairs for you, with your permission.” 1 I shall be grateful to you for your kindness,” answered Cecil. “ I leave the business affairs in your hands.” “ The new pastor will arrive with his family this week and take possession of the parsonage,” said Herr Wilstein. “ I desire to offer to you and Gretchcn the shelter of my roof, so long as you may choose to honor us with your presence.” “ And I,” said the new' pastor, a vouncl-fiiecd, nervous little man, with spectacles, “ shall be glad to have you remain at tine parsonage so long as may be agreeable to yon, Miss Rosso. I speak for my wife as well as for myself.” “ You are both very kind,” said Cecil ; “ I thank you both, but I have barely considered my future. This change has been so sudden that I am quite bewildered, fcjtill, 1 think that 1 shall leave Zorlitz.” “Leave Zorlitz?” echoed Herr Wilstein.

“ I have no relatives here,” said Cecil. “ 1 cannot earn my support hero. My dear uncle educated mo that I might be fitted to cope with the world. Perhaps bo foresaw for me this hour. I cannot live without employment,' ami that employment I shall best find in some great city.” Herr Wilstein shook his head disapprovingly. “ It will be like sending a lamb into a den of wolves ! ” be exclaimed, using the. comparison that had been on the lips of the dying pastor. “ Y'ou might stay hero and learn to carve wood and teach song-birds, as our maidens do. You might—” 'The new pastor shook his head gravely. He saw more plainly than the other the difference between Cecil liOSSC and the peasant maidens of Zorlitz. “ You can no more keep her here, my friend,” he said, “ than you can keep an eagle in a wren’s nest. Hhe must decide for herself, and may God direct her choice ! ”

“ But the world is great and sinlul. The maiden would be safe hero from all harm. Herr Brocken’s niece should not go forth alone, unguarded—” “ ,she won’t go alone!” interrupted Gretchcn, stoutly, her rugged old face lighted by a glow of love. “ I nursed her in her childhood ; she has been the darling of my life; she is friend and child to me ; add where she goes, I will S° ! ’ Cecil flashc.l an afloctiounto look into Givtchen’s kindly face, and the matter was settled between them that whatever changes life hold for Cecil, they were not to he sepaiatod. The visitors at length departed, but others came. Oilers of a home for Cecil and her old servant were plentiful, but the girl gently and gratefully declined them all. The simple peasants beard with regret her determination to leave Zorlitz. They would .miss surely the bright presence that had gladdened their homes, the gentle nurse who had ministered to them in sickness, and the friend who had rejoiced in their joys. “ But I shall come hack next year,” said Cecil, remembering Lord Glenham’s promise of return in a year. “ You will see me next summer'”

When the visitors had all departed, and the shadows of the evening deepened, and doorr and windows wore shut, and a single candle lighted, old Gretchcn re-entered the presence of her young mistress. “ This is to be our last night in the dear old house,” said the old woman, sighing. “It is hard to go.” “ The home is broken up ; the house is but the empty nest, Gretchcn,” said Cecil. “ Where shall you go, my precious ? To Vienna ? To Munich ? 'Perhaps to Berlin ?” “ Gretchcn, my dear uncle told me my history the night before his death. lam English born. If lam to earn my living, if I am to leave this dear home, where should I go but to my own people ?” “To England?” cried Gretchcn, amazed at the audficity of the idea. “ To England, Gretchcn !” “ But you know no one there except the two English gentlemen, Lord Glenham and Mr. Grafton. You arc not going to seek them ? ” The girl’s iaec was dyed with blushes. “Canyon ask me that, Gretchcn?” she demanded. “ Lord Gleuham is ray lover. He will come for mo to Zorlitz, next summer, and I shall be here then. Until then I shall not see him. lam going to England to work and to wait. I have seven hundred pounds which was sent to uncle for my support by the man who brought me here. That is mine, and I shall not scruple to use it.” “ There will be the money from the sale of the furniture,”

“ That must belong to yon. There are fifteen hundred thalers in the bank also for yon. Undo told me that he had intended that sum as provision for your old age.” “ It should be yours, Miss Cecil.” “ Ko ; unde left it to you as a token

of regard for all yonr years of faithful service. Say no more, Gretchcn, on that point. I cannot plan my future. I do not know what I shall do in England, but our plans will develop after we arrive there.” She arose and kissed the old woman,' who embraced her fervently, and then she went up slowly to her own room. The next day the transfer of the household goods was made, and the money in payment therefor, through the kindness of thrifty Herr Wilstein, was paid into Grefchcii’s hand. The day was spent by mistress and maid in a complete round of visits through the village, and that night they slept at the house of Herr Wilstein Upon the next morning they made their last adieux and departed from Zorlitz. ‘‘l hope,” undtered old Gretchcn, looking back at the forest village through her tears, “that we ain’t rushing straight into trouble. And yet a creeping feeling comes over mo that there are dark days ahead ! I Wish I could read the future.” fXO UK OOXTINUKD.]