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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 221, 23 May 1877, Page 4

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

[By Alas* llauiui'.t Lkwis.] CHAPTER VXII. TUHAOUKny. Glcnham Lodge, situated about five miles distant from Castle Cliff, is a picturesque stone bouse of considerable dimensions, with peaked roofs and clustering chimneys, throned upon a mountain-top, looking perched in midair, and commanding a magnificent stretch of scenery, mountains, valleys, and distant sea, in one wide stretch of vision.

It is a veritable eagle’s eyrie, an actual “castle in the air,” rudely caressed by the fierce Highland winds, sweeping in from the sea, and is more often known as Bree/.y Lodge than by the name of its owner. Upon the morning on which the old Marquis of St. Leonards set out to ride to Breezy Lodge, but at a far earlier hour, the young Earl of Glcnham sat at the breakfast-table with his guests. The entire party were in shooting costume witli the exception of AXahlred Grafton. They were all in good spirits, the weather being fine, and anticipated a fine day’s sport. The Highland gillies, or servants, with dogs and gnus were outside, in readiness for a start. The young gentlemen hurried through their breakfast and disappeared from the room. The carl, their host, was about to follow them when AXahlred Grafton detained him. “ Give me a few minutes, Glcnham,” lie said, his swarthy face wearing a slightly embarrassed expression. “ X have something particular to say to you.” “ Well, what is it ?” asked the carl, pleasantly, “ You are not in shooting dress ? Are you not going out ?” “ 1 think not. The fact is, Glcnham, my letter this morning contains news that necessitates my return to London. 1 shall be obliged to run up to town again for a few days.” The young lord settled back in his chair, not concealing his surprise. In the week that had passed since his departure from Zorlit/. he had grown graver, and there was a care-worn expression at times in his eyes that indicated a heart not quite at rest.

He loved Cecil Rosse with all the ardour of a passionate soul. He had never loved before, and to this love was given all the reserved strength of his great and powerful nature. He had hastened back to England and sought an interview with his mother ; but she had heard his story with alarm, had reasoned and expostulated with him, and, iu her pride and affection for her son, had denounced Cecil as an adventuress. The two who had been all in all to each other theretofore had parted in coldness, the earl declaring that nothing could shake his resolution to marry Miss Rosse, provided Aliss Rosse would accept him. The sou had then set out in a leisurely manner for the (Scottish Highlands, and the countess had written iu haste to Lord St. Leonards at Vichy, begging him to use Ids influence with her son to prevent his intended disastrous alliance.

Lord Glcnham’s grand, blonde beauty contrasted singularly with the sinister countenance of Ins chosen friend. His keen blue eyes searched the swarthy features of Grafton, who moved uneasily, conscious of acting a part upon this occasion, and guiltily apprehensive of

discovery. “ 1 am sorry to hear that yon mast go back when yon have just arrived, old fellow,” said the young lord. “ Why don’t you write, telegraph, or send a messenger, anything rather than go. The shooting will be fine, and to tell you the truth, Grafton, I am not in a jovial mood, and depend on you to help me entertain my guests.” “ Do not urge me. My business concerns my country-place,” lied Grafton. “ It’s a business matter, you see, Glcuham. I won’t bore you with it; but the fact is, my return to town will make a difference of a hundred pounds a year to me. You are rich, and that sum is not worthy your consideration, but it is cprite a matter of moment to me who have only six hundred a year ! ” The earl’s reply was prevented by the entrance of a servant with a telegram. “ From my mother,” said the younglord, perusing it when they -were once more alone. “ It has been forwarded by mounted messenger from Inverness, .She is coming here with a couple of friends and will arrive to-night! ” “ She repents her opposition to your wishes, Glenham,” said Grafton, unable to conceal bis bitterness, “and is coming to announce her readiness to set out for Germany post-haste, “ You don’t know my mother,” declared the earl, witli a sigh. “ She is coming to renew her arguments against my desired marriage with Miss Rosso. 1 cannot convince her that Cecil is not an adventuress, and she will not consent to go and see her. I am more sorry than before that you must go away just at this time, Grafton. You could help convince my mother of her mistake. She considers mo blinded by passion. Now if you, who cannot be suspected of being Miss Rosso’s lover, were to assure my mother that Cecil is a lady, pure and lovely, and

worthy my mother’s love ami respect, she might be induced to visit Germany to see her.”

Grafton turned his .head aside and made a grimace. Ho, who was also a lover of Cecil Rosso, found Lord Glenham’s words particularly distasteful. £ - I. cannot hope to influence Lady Glenham’s decision,” ho said. ‘ W hat she will not do for the son whom she adores, she uou’t do for a man she dislikes. Don’t protest, Glcnham. You know that the countess is not fond of me, and she is not likely to consider my opinion of any groat value. Hut to return to Miss Rosse, Will your lady mother’s opposition change your plans in regard to her ? .Shall you marry Miss Rosse if Lady Glcnham continues her opposition ? ” “ I have not given un hope of obtaining my mother’s consent, if Miss Rosse will honor mo by becoming my wife 1 should wish that my mother should become her mother also, and give her the love she so richly merits,” declared the young lord, gravely. “ i reverence my dear mother, and would not willingly offend her. But X cannot forget that Lain eight-ami-twenty, old enough to choose for myself, ami that my happiness for life is involved. X cannot consent to be guided in a matter ol the most vital importance to me by a mere whim—a whim the more unreasonable because my mother does not wish to be convinced of her injustice.'’ Xf you feel like that, why don't you rush back to Germany and marry the girl off-hand ? ” “ Because I gave to her guardian my word of honor that X would not seek to marry Aliss Rosse under a year. And because, also, X do not like to quarrel with my mother. By waiting patiently a little X may be able to win my mother to consent to sec Aliss Rosse, and if she once sees her she will love her. Cecil is very young, Grafton, yet I am almost sure that she loves me. The year will soon pass, and X shall hasten to her and ask her to become my wife,” and the earl’s fair and splendid face was all alight. “ I have given my word, and X must keep it, yet 1 intend to write to Herr Brocken and ask permission to come to Zorlit/. at Christmas, lie cannot refuse me.”

Grafton’s face darkened, and ho moved his chair impatiently. “ Well,” lie said, trying to speak carelessly, “in the course of a year you’ll be able to bring irmly Glenluun around to your opinion, fiho will give in within six months, mark my words, ohe loves yon too much to hold out against you.” “ You don’ t know her pride,” again affirmed the young lord. “ Site has made great plans for my future, and desires for rue a brilliant marriage, in the worldly sense of the word. Xf she would only consent to see Cecil, 1 would have no fears, but she will not see her. So, you abandon me when I need you most, Grafton ? When will you return ?” “ Next week. X have ordered a horse from your stables to take me on my journey towards civilization. He’ll bo sent back front some point upon my route to-morrow. Don’t lot mo detain you longer, Glcnham. The fellows arc growing impatient !” They exchanged a few further words, shook hands, and parted, Grafton leisurely making his way to his own room in high good humour, and the earl, after giving orders to have certain rooms warmed and aired and put in readiness for the expected ladies, joining Ins guests and departed upon his day’s expedition. Grafton gazed out after them with exulting eyes.

“ Glcnham’s an unsuspicious follow,,’ he muttered. “ I wonder what he’d say if he knew all the truth—that I am also Aliss Rossc’s lover, and that I have sworn that she shall be mine? I wonder what he’d say if he knew that this ‘business ’ upon which I’m going is not what X protended, that I sha’nt stop at London, but that X will go on to Zorlitz, and to the bewitching beauty of the Black Forest ? 1 came up here with him to make sure that he was safely disposed of for the mouth. Now I shall hasten to Germany, secure in his absence, and it will be strange if the lover who is present cannot cut out the absent one ! A few pretty gifts, some pretty flatteries, and 1 shall win the inize!” Ho packed up a hand-bag rapidly with as few necessities as possible, and returned to the dining-room, whore he waited until his ho'-se was brought around.

Then ho mounted and set out upon his journey through the wild and rugged Highland scenery. A little after mid-day he Halted at a solitary farm house, procured a dinner and exchanged his horse, making arrangements for its return, as also for the return of the one he had brought from Breezy Lodge. About the middle of the afternoon, he passed a heavy travelling carriage drawn by four horses, There were three ladies within, reclining wearily amongst the cushions, and as he dashed past he caught a glimpse of a noble face framed in by gray hair, wliich face he recognized as that of the Countess of Glcnharn. The ladies looked out of the coach window, aroused by the unusual event of meeting a horseman, and Crafton was tempted to turn back and address them. “ 1 might find opportunity to say a word or two to Lady Glciiham to strengthen her dislike of Miss IJossc,” he thought. “ but I can wait, It will

be better to do that when there are no listeners; I wonder if she knew me ? ” He dashed over a level stretch of road of brief extent, new schemes of treachery filling his mind. That night he slept at a little hamlet. By the next moon he arrived at Inverness. He took the first mail-train to the southward. On arriving in Xmiidoa the next day ho made no stay, but pushed on for the Continent. “ Now for Zorlitz ! ” he said to himself, with sinister delight, “ and for Aliss Rosse ! While Lord Glenluun keeps his promise to the old pastor and tries to reconcile his lady-mother to his expected marriage, I will step in and win the game ! ” pro 15 r covnxuKix]