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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 242, 4 August 1877, Page 4

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

o flly Mas. 11mukt Lmvis.] CHAPTER XX,!.— covfi.L n a n k no. u It’s a pity we had not known earlier of Miss Posse’s change of mind,” said Mr Pulford, consulting ins watch, and speaking - in a manner that was apparently sincere. “ The night-train for Yorkshire is gone. If you decide not to go in the yacht, Miss Posse, yon Avi 1L bo obliged to wait until morning ” “ Thu yacht is most comfortable,” remarked Lady Trevor. “ Every arrangement has been made for the comfort of ladies, i have, recently made a voyage in it myself. i»y the. way, Hie yarns and wools, canvas and needles, have Ik-oii sent on hoard, have they not, Mr Pulford ?” Her ladyship’s confederate assented. “As you have decided not to go in the yacht, Miss Posse,” said the widow pleasantly, with no outward sign of the discomliuire she secretly fell, ‘‘ Mr Puli',wd may as well telegraph to the sailingmaster not to wait longer. ’ 1 beg your pardon, madam,” said Cecil, “ if I have seemed hesitating and undecided. .1 am not used to the water, but no doubt 1 shall like sailing. 1 do not wish to return to my lodgings lor the night, as I have given llicm up, and 1 will therefore accept with pleasure your kind oiler of conveyance on your yacht.” “ There is the cab I ordered at the door,” exclaimed Mr i’ull'ord. “ Then .1 will mit detain you longer, Miss Posse,” said Lady Trevor, graciously. “ I am delighted m having secured the services of such and artist as you arc in the restoration of my valuable tapestry, '.take your time to the work. 1 shall not visit my country-house this winter. And when your task is done, if you will write, to Mr PuUbrd, my agent, he will send you the amount agreed upon, one hundred pounds. 1 wish you a pleasant voyage and a happy stay at my dear old Yorkshire home i” Cecil acknowledged the expression of apparent kindness, and alter a few final questions, took her leave. Mr Pulford accompanied her to the cab door. Tim luggage was already placed upon it. lie helped her into the cab, handed in Cretchen, and gave his order to the driver in a, low voice. The cab rolled away and he re-entered the house.

The footman was looking out after the vehicle. Mr i’ull'ord pans*d a moment to speak to him. “ You picked up a chance cab, I suppose, James ?” he asked. “ Yes, sir, one tiiat had just set down a faro.”

“ The young lady lias entered her ladyship’s service,” remarked Mr Pullord. 11 She is to catch the limited mail for Yorkshire, and if the horse is not blown lliey’H make the train in time. The young holy and her old foreign servant are as ignorant as a pair of geese of English ways. I hope they won’t come to grief on the way to Yorkshire—to her ladyshis's country seat.”

Ho passed on into tlio morning-room. Lady Trevor had been watching from tlie ■window. She came forward now to meet him. All right so far, Edith,” said Mr Pul lord, airily. “ The plot works to perfection.” “Yon arc sure it will continue to do so “ Perfectly sure. I must catch a stray hansom and whirl down to Gravesend after them to see them aboard and safely embarked. And then to catch the train lor my journey. ' Have no more fears, Edith. Trust mo and all will come out rigid;. Our tracks are covered. 1 defy any one to uncover them.” He seized his hat and hurried from the house. Turning the nearest corner, lie came upon an empty hansom cab. He hailed and engaged it, and went swiftly on his way to Gravesend. Arrived at his destination, he had nodifficulty in discovering the yacht he had chartered as it lay in the stream. He hired a row-boat and went out to it. .It proved to be a small, well-built vessel, sung and neat and trim, a gentleman's pleasure craft. The deck was scoured to whiteness. There was a small saloon prettily fitted up, with carpet, table, and divan, and off the soloonwere four state-rooms, small, but bright, clean, and pleasant. “ These quarters will strike Miss Jlosso as sumptuous,” thought Mr PuUbrd. “ .I had to pay a good price for it, but then i did my business under an assumed name with the sailingmaster, and it’s all safe—safe as the dead.” One of the state-rooms had been newly cleansed and prepared for the occupancy of Cecil and her servant. After examining this with considerable interest, Mr Pul ford re-entered the saloon. A stewardess had just made her appearance, and ho entered into conversation with her. She was a Portuguese woman whom he himself had hired for the occasion—a dark-browed, heavy-featured person, with something repulsive about her ill-cut mouth, and small, slcepylooking eyes. He had known her a long time, and was quite well aware that her looks did not belie her disposition,

and that she was capable of committing 1 a crime even, if she were well paid for it. 1 They will soon be here, Maria,” exclaimed Mr Pulford, placing a little bag of coin in her hands. “ There is the beginning of your pay. .Be faithful to me, carry out my instructions, and yon shall have the reward i promised yon.” “HI earn it!” declared Maria, grimly. “ Everything is ready. \\ e’ll be off as soon as they come !” “Remember,” whispered Pulford, impressively, “ that on proofs of the girl’s death the reward shall be doubled !” “ i’ll remember !” replied the woman, significantly. “ I shall claim the whole sum, and that soon !” Mr Pulford, well satisfied, returned to the deck, ami presently was rowed ashore. He had scarcely landed when the vehicle, with Cecil and her servant, arrived. It was now growing dusk', with indications of rain. .Both Cecil and Cretchen were well mnflled. “ I came down to see you oft, Miss Posse,” explained Pulford, marking Cecil's surprise, after he had dismissed her cab. “ Lady Trevor was so anxious for your comfort that she insisted upon my coming. The wind leas changed wilhin an hour, and it is commencing to rain, but yen’ll have smooth water and u pleasant voyage. Lot me take you out to the yacht.” The luggage had already been clcposilel in tire row-boat. Pul ford helped Cecil in, Cretchen clambered aft cm - , and himself followed, and they were rowed out to the yacht. He led the girl below to the saloon. “ This is the stewardess, Miss Posse,” he said, indicating by a wave of the hand the Portuguese woman; who si o.id surveying the uew-coniers curiously. “ X end! find in r failhi'ul to her duties and very attentive. There is a good cook on !mat'd, ami yon can imagine yourself ‘ monarch of :dl you survey,’ if you chouse. Here is your state-room. The lower berth is yours; tin; upper one is intended for your male.” “It is all very nice,” said Cecil. “ Lady Trevor has been very considerate of my comfort.” “ Yes, and she hopes yon will throw off nil care, and give yourself up to th? enjoyment of the voyage. The wind having’ changed, you may be longer on the way, hut (lie passage will he pleasant. You hear ti;e Irampliiig of feet on deck ? They are hauling up the anchor. i must no ashore. Cood-bve, Miss Posse.”

He held out. his hand. Cecil placed hors in it, and lie then, with a last word of encouragement, ascended to the deck. The row-boat was in waiting. He exchanged a last word with the captain and went ashore. The sails wore unfurled and the yacht named down the stream.

“ Lady Trevor has be<m most kind, Miss Cecil,” said Cretchen, admiring the furnishing of state-room and saloon. “ Tills is her own yacht. She treats you as an honored friend. She was quick to see that you are a- real lady.”.

“ The whole thing’ seems to me like a dream,” said Cecil. “ I can scarcely believe that I be I, as the old woman says in the nursery rhyme. I wonder at my own boldness in daring to leave London and to undertake such a mission as this.”

“ Nothing venture nothing have,” said Cretchen, wisely. “It would have taken you many years to Jay up a hundred pounds clear of all expenses if you had staid in London, lv.it here you get it in a single winter. We are very fortunate, Miss Cecil.” “ Very fortunate, indeed, Cretchen. And yet I don’t like to work for Lady Trevor nor to take her money, since she is to many Lord Clenham. I suppose I am foolish,” and Cecil tried to smile.

“ Wo are off,” said the Portuguese stewardess, drawing nearer, as the yacht gave a lurch and a bound. “ I will prepare your supper, Miss. Any orders you may give will be obeyed.” “We will go on deck tor a few moments,” replied Miss Posse. “ I have no orders to give. Get anything you please.” She went up to the deck with Cretchen. The shadows were thickening, and so was the rain. And with the gloom of nature came back that strange and unaccountable depression she had experienced before—that terrible gloom that woiyhod upon her like a hideous black pall. “ (Something is going to happen to me !” she exclaimed. “ Cretchen, I feel so strangely depressed. I almost wish we had not come !”

Yet, despising herself lor what she deemed her weakness, she made no movement towards return. And the yacht glided on under sail and swept out towards the open sea and the darkness of the night. Mr Pnlford, standing on the shore, watched the vessel out of sight. Then his florid visage reddened with a glow of wicked jubilance. “ ir>o she goes out of Edith’s life for ever !” lie muttered. “ Every track is carefully covered. Xo one will ever trace her to her doom ! The thing- has been well managed. We have nothing more to fear—nothing. The great danger that beset ns so suddenly has been conquered as promptly. The girl is got rid of—wc are safe !” fTO BB COXTIKUED.J