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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 255, 19 September 1877, Page 4

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

o fßv Mas. Hakuibt Lkwis,] C HAP TER X XlX.— contd. Cecil had been hard at work until the waning light had compelled her to cease from her toil. She had been steadily at work for mouths upon her task of renovation, and was physically lived, hut the wistfulness and sadness of her face indicated a depression of spirits also that was even harder to hear. The history of her sojourn at Black Bock House can be briefly told. The yacht that Mr Pulford had chartered for his villainous purpose had made a long voyage m> the western coasts of England and Scotland, encountering much bad weather, during which Cecil and old Grctchcn kept their berths, and had finally come to anchor about midnight one starlight night in Black Bock Harbor. M iss Rosse, Grctchcn, and Maria, the Portuguese stewardess, had been hurried ashore and piloted up to the house, which was found to be tenanted by two persons, a married couple, newly arrived, and to bo opened and aired for occupancy. Miss Rosso and her servant believed themselves at Greyconrt, in Yorkshire. The occupants of the house profitted by their ignorance and did not undeceive them. The new-comers were shown to the rooms in the tower that had been hastily fitted up for them, and Maria established herself as Miss Bosse’s especial servant and keeper. The yacht sailed away before daybreak, and Loaded for Holland, according to Mr Pulford’s instructions. Mr Pulford had improved upon his original plan and bought the yacht outright, at half its value. When the vessel arrived at Amsterdam, he was there to meet it. The seamen who had been employed upon it were nearly all foreigners. He discharged them, and noted with satisfaction that they shipped in a body the next day upon an East Indiaman, which found itself shorthanded on the very eve of a voyage to Java. The ship sailed, and Mr Pulford hired a sufficient crew to convey the yacht back to London, whore lie succeeded in selling it within a month of its return.

The couple nvho were found in charge of Black Rock House were, an elderly and avaricious pair, who had done Mr Pulford much service in days gone by, and who were too deeply in his power to gainsay his commands. As they were to be well paid for the work in hand, and as the man was being eagerly sought for by the police upon some criminal charge, their retirement to this solitude was regarded by them as an especial instance of good fortune, of which they were more than prompt to take advantage. Muss Rosse and her old servant were trcatedjwith consideration and kindness by Mr amt Mrs Jarvis, as well as by Maria, the Portuguese woman, and not the faintest suspicion that they wore actually prisoners ever crossed the minds of the 2>air. Many things seemed strange to them in their new residence, and in the conduct and appearance of their attendants ; hut Cecil, who was keener-watted than Gretehen, wars too occupied with her work to pay much heed to these indications. At first the girl had been delighted with the w’ihhicss and savage grandeur of the scenery, but when winter came with its furious northern blasts and driving storms the terrible loneliness of the place oppressed her. She began to bo tired of the ceaseless roar of the waves as they beat against Black Rock, and to long fur the sounds of human life, the noise of city streets, the sight of more pleasant faces than these that met her gaze in this strange now existence. She had made the best of her sojourn in the remote Highlands, having taken long walks every day when the weather permitted, attended by Grctchcn and Maria, but there were weeks together wdieu the high drifts of snow and tempestuous winds kept her within doors, to the detriment of her health and spiriis. She was still looking out of the window, when the door opening upon the stone corridor was pushed ajar and Gretehen came in. “ It’s a wild night, Miss Cecil,” said the old peasant woman. “The sea boats against the rocks like the tolling of a funeral bell, And the snow is whirling in groat drifts, ThcvoTl be no walking for a fortnight.” Cecil turned about abruptly.

“ Don’t prophecy such terrible things, Gretchcn,” she exclaimed. “ I could never endure to remain here another fortnight, I am anxious to return to London.”

“AmFso am I, my pet,” said the ■old servant, affectionately. “ Haven’t I seen you pine and chafe at this pnson-Jike place, although you arc too brave and patient to say one word against it ? How comes on the work ?” “ It will be done to-morrow night. After nearly six months of constant labor, the task will be finished in a few hours.”

££ And well finished too, Miss Cecil. You have faded your wools in the sun to make them match these faded tints, and you’ve fitted in your bits of canvas as if they had grown there, and you’ve designed figures to fill up the missing places, and even Lady Trevor herseli would be puzzled to find the places where the holes were. Her ladyship will pay you a good price, but you’ll earn the money, i’ll say that.” u it has been a hard winter’s work, but I shall not regret our coming if we can get away soon,” said Miss Rosso. “ I had formed such different ideas of Yorkshire, It took us many days to reach this place—”

“ .Because wo were driven out of our course by bad weather,” interrupted Grctchcn, giving the captain’s false excuse for the long voyage. “ And this house is not at all like my idea of an English country seat,” said innocent Cecil. “It might be delightful in summer, but it is terrible in winter. We storm-bound for months.' We have never seen a human being since we came here except the three belonging to the house. We might as well ho on a rock in mid-ocean, wo are so cut oil from all intercourse with the world. And these grim and awful mountains shutting us in upon the landward side, and the grim and awful sea hemming ns in on the water side, make the spot seem a natural prison. Yorkshire is very different from the description of it in the geographies. The scenery and the climate, the loneliness and desolation, correspond to my ideas of life near the Forth Pole.” ££ I don’t know anything about geographies, Miss Cecil,” responded the old peasant woman, “ but I wish we were back in London, or in our own dear Black Forest. The letters you’ve written this winter to Mrs Thomas, and the new Herr Pastor at Zorlitz, and that 1 wrote to that kind Mr Grafton, have never been sent, because Mr Jarvis has not been able to leave this place over a day at a time. I noticed that Mrs Jarvis called this estate Black Hock, the other day, instead of Greycourt. She told me that it was known as Black Bock before Lady Trevor bought it, and I thought the old name the most appropriate.” ££ I think so, too,” said Cecil. “ How dark it’s growing! Bing for lights, Grctchcn.”

The young girl took a last look into white darkness without, but the sea was no longer visible. She could not distinguish the whirling gusts of snow, and the sky was hidden from her keenest glances. Grctchcn rang for lights, and Maria brought up two tall was candles, which she deposited on the high mantelpiece The Portuguese woman then drew out a small, round table, which she proceeded to lay for supper. “ How comes on the embroidery, Miss ?” she inquired, in broken English, as she went on with her task.

££ It will be done to-morrow,” replied Cecil. “ And I must start for London the day after.” “ Oil, impossible !” exclaimed Maria. “ The roads wiil bo irapasssahle for two weeks at least.”

££ Then I must signal the first fishingboat I see,” declared Miss Rosse. “ ] cannot stay here longer. My friends will be anxious about me. Some fishing vessel will carry me down the coast to the nearest town, 1 know.” Maria’s swarthy. visage darkened visibly. ££ You’d hotter be content, Miss,” she replied, in a constrained voice. ££ You will have to stay a month or two, at the least—”

££ l will not. If I cannot get away by boat, I’ll try the road to the nearest house,” said Cecil, having not the faintest suspicion of how many miles lay between Black Bock and the “ nearest house.” ££ Grctchcn and I cannot endure this solitude longer. I shall see Mr Jarvis to-morrow. Ho must contrive some plan to convey us to the nearest town this very week.” A tap at the door announced the presence of Mrs. Jarvis. Maria obeyed the summons, receiving from the house-keeper a tray loaded with food of excellent quality, well-cooked and well served. A venison-steak, steaming hot, a pot of fragrant tea, hot roasted potatoes, and crisp buttered toast made up a repast sufficient in quantity for two persons. Miss Rosse dismissed Maria, and wa s waited upon by Grctchen, who jealously refused to allow the Portuguese to wait upon her young mistress at the table or the toilette.

“ Venison steak needs currant-jelly,’ said the old peasant woman, who had learned many things, besides a tolerable knowledge of the English language, during her stay at Black Rock. “ I wonder Miss Jarvis forgot it. I’ll go and get it!” Unheeding Cecil’s remonstrance, she hurried out. Bhe came back five minutes later, pale and excited, trembling like a leaf, and having a most mysterious air. “ Hush !” she whispered, holding up one finger warningly. “ Follow me, Miss Cecil. Throw your cloak over your shoulders, for the halls are full of draughts. You understand English so well that you will know what they moan better than ,1. Come, Miss Cecil. For the Lord’s sake, don’t stop to question. There’s something up—there’s something terribly wrong going on—and wc must find out what it is.” 1 TO BE CONTINUED. J