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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 228, 16 June 1877, Page 4

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

O [By Mus. Harriet Lewis.] CHAPTER XIII. MYSTERY, By the time Lady Trevor and Lord St. Leonards entered the drawing-room, Lady Glenham and the earl had recovered their composure. There is nothing a well-bred Englishman values more highly than the power of selfcontrol. And so, when Lady Trevor advanced into the room, preceding the marquis by a few paces, the countess arose to receive her, paler than usual, it is true, and looking a little worn and weary, but calm and smiling, showing hut a single emotion, that of pleased yrclcome. Lord Glenham found it more difficult

<to recover himself. He had been stirred to the deepest depths of Lis nature. His mother’s words, threatening him with her curse if he should persist in his purpose of marrying Cecil Eosse, still rang in his ears. There was a little trace of agitation in Lis manner, in spite of his stern effort at self-repression, as he, too, advanced and greeted his visitors.

“ This is an unexpected pleasure, Edith,” said the countess, embracing Lady Trevor. “ Gordon w; s intending to ride over to Castle Cliff this morning to return Lord SSt. Leonards’ visit. I am glad to see you, my dear old friend,” and she held out her hand to the marquis. “It does me good to sec you two together!” Lord St. Leonards bowed Lio grand and haughty head, but his countenance did not express any corresponding pleasure. Ho was endeavouring to reconcile himself to his granddaughter, but the deep displeasure of years was not to be lightly set aside. He saw all her faults. There was no tender glamour of affection to soften them in bis sight Ho could not forget that she had married against his will and that of her father a man whom he had despised. He could not forget his lingering s sp'cions of foul play on her part towards her little orphaned step-sister fourteen years before. He doubted her in spite of his effort to believe in her. When ho most tried to like her, then the demon of suspicion whispered to him the most terrible accusations against her. He was unrestful and dissatisfied, yet lie seriously blamed himself, and was determined to conquer his distrust.

“ If she is the child of that adventuress, she is also the child of my own son,” lie said to himself more than once. “ She cannot be so bad as I have thought. She seems no worse than other women of the world. She loves Lord Glenham, and will make him a good wife, no doubt. If all I sometimes think of her be true, then she would be an unfit mate for him ; but it can hardly be true —I must have wronged her—and I will do well, for his sake as well as hers, to endeavour to bring about the marriage.” It was with thoughts like these he had come to Breezy Lodge upon this morning.

He watched the meeting between the earl and Lady Trevor with keen interest.

The baronet’s widow had attired herself with more than usual care. She wore a carriage dress of dark blue velvet and blue silk. Her hat of dark blue velvet also was lavishly adorned with canary-coloured ostrich plumes, and her long gloves were of canary colour. She appeared at her best; her brunette complexion was gently flushed with carmine; her black eyes, usually bard and glittering, were soft and bright; and her smiles were certainly bewitching

.—as they ought to have been ; she had practised them a whole hour that morning before her mirror. She blushed vividly as she shook hands with Lord Glenham, and drooped her eyelids, and exhibited a consciousness and timidity that betrayed her secret to the eyes of the countess. . But the earl showed only the quiet pleasure of a friend. He had known her many years. Tae two families were distantly related, and Lord Glenham was next in the line of succession tj the marquis, so the pair had been brought together in a sort of brotherly and sisterly intimacy. He liked Lady Trevor; he had endeavoured to reconcile the marquis to her, but he had never dreamed of making her his wife. The younger couple sat down near together. The elder pair drew near the hearth and conversed in low tones, unheard by the others. “ You came when we were in the

midst of a scene, Marquis,” said Lady Glenham, wearily. “ I only arrived last night, and I deemed it best to speak to my son this morning. His infatuation is complete.” “ I am distressed to hear it.” “ I have always known that, with his ardent and passionate nature, love would be with him the one great event of his life,” sighed Lady Glenham. “He had never any boyish fancies. And now, as I had foreseen, he loves with all his sonl.

; He fairly worships that girl, Marquis; \ he will never love another woman as he ' loves her. Yet I could bear to disap-

point these dearest wishes of his, since the disappointment would be for his good,”

“ My son’s life was wretched for many years because he married an adventuress with whom he was infatuated. He found her worthless and was tired of her in a months’ time, yet he had to bear the burden of Ins fault until death relieved him of her claims. If Glonham were to marry this foreign woman he would repent it in bitterness of anguish. Bo firm, Countess, in your opposition to the match.”

“ I cannot be otherwise than firm. Could I receive that adventuress as my daughter ? Shall she rule in my stead ? Shall she bear the name I have honored?” asked the countess, her proud and haughty face, hardening in every feature. “ No, no. A thousand times no ! ”

“ There is no doubt that the woman is an adventuress, I suppose ? ”

“ None whatever. She is a low-born creature, and was intended by her guardian to he a servant. She lias a pretty face, that is all. It’s the old story of Lord Harry Ravendale’s infatuation over again. And Gordon says that if he docs not marry her, he will never marry at all.”

“That is the utterance of passion. It is something if he intimates a doubt of bis marrying her.” “ 1 threatened to curse him if he made her his wife. It’s a frightful thing for a mother to say, is it mot ? But I have been so proud of him . I have made him my idol, and now if ho disappoint mo in my hopes and wishes, I will never look upon his face again. They are a fine pair, M-.rquis,” she added, glancing at the young couple. Lady Trevor’s brunette beauty contrasted admirably with the blonde face of the earl. Her raven locks appeared blacker by contrast with his close-curling rings ot fair hair. Ho looked noble, grand, and distinguished; she handsome, coquettish, and bewitching. Even the marquis smiled approvingly upon them.

“ If only they would like each other,” said the countess. “ I have talked to Gordon, now I pray you to counsel him also. Tell him of your son. Tell him of my sorrow and my gray hairs. Plead for mo as I cannot plead for myself. Ho may heed you, since he knows you can have no prejudice in the matter, and as be is the heir to your title you have the right to advise and warn him.” The marquis bowed a grave assent, and at the first pause of consequexice in the conversation of the younger couple, exclaimed:

“ I here heard that you have built new kennels for your dogs, Glenham, upon some vastly improved model. As I think of improving the kennels at St. Leonards 1 would like to see yours, if you will show me them.” “ With pleasure,” responded Lord Glenham, arising with a sensation of relief, and longing for the out-door air after his long suppressed excitement, “ I designed the kennels myself, and shall like to have ycrar opinion upon them.”

The gentlemen took up their hats and withdrew.

Lady Glenham was seated in a low chair before the fire. * Before she could change her position Lady Trevor came forward with a rustling, swinging motion and took a chair beside her.

“ Shall we talk secrets, Countess ? ” asked the widow, playfully. “ Grandpapa has told of your great trouble,” and now her tone was serious. “I am so sorry—more sorry than I can express,” and she drew a long sigh. “ You refer to Gordon’s infatuation,” responded the haughty old countess, warming to her visitor. “ I cannot bear it, my dear. He must hear to reason. He cannot, he must not marry that adventuress. I would rather die than see him the husband of that creature.”

Lady Trevor did not answer, but betrayed an agitation she tried in vain to conceal.

“ I Lave recently formed new plans, new hopes fev him,” continued the countess. “Of course, a mother cannot choose a wife for her son, yet if he would be guided by me he would bring me a daughter-in-law I could respect and like,” she could not say love ; “ and not one unworthy the name he would give her.” Lady Trevor bowed, not seeming to take the allusion as personal. “My dear,” said Lady Glenham, turning to her abruptly, “help me to save my son from this wretched folly he contemplates. Invite his confidence. Advise him. You must have influence with him. Lord St. Leonards will urge him to abandon his infatuation, and you, if you will, can show him what his Iriends think of it. Will you aid me ?”

“ I will. Whatever I can do or say to prevent his marriage with this foreign woman I will do.”

“ He has been begging me to go to Germany with him to see the girl. If I were to do so I might be able to expose her real character to him, but I cannot bear even to look on her false, deceitful face.”

“You are sure that she is bad, Countess—that she is unworthy of your son ? ”

“ Certainly. If you knew her history I know that your opinion would coincide with mine. I know that I should fathom her real character and be able to unmask her scheming if I could only persuade myself to go to Zorlitz—” Lady Trevor recoiled as if galvanized: her eyes starting, her face white, horrified, incredulous. The countess regarded her in amaze, “ Yon are ill, Edith—” fro BE CONTINUED.]