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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 272, 21 November 1877, Page 4

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

O : fßi Mas. llaiuuet Lewis.] • CHAPTER XLIIT. — contd. Then, as Lady Trevor and he were alone together, Mr Pulford said quietly, in a tone scarcely above a whisper: “Be more on your guard, Edith. If Mr'Grafton had been a little sharpersigh ted he must inevitably have suspected something wrong from your manner while he was talking. With all your coolness and hardihood yon are only a woman after all.” “ It is impossible that Mr Grafton should got upon tho right track,” whispered Lady Trevor, with a shade of anxiety, “ Perfectly so,” replied Mr Pulford, easily. “ And jot I feel a strange uneasiness, murmured the widow, in a troubled voice. <! I wish that the girl were dead and buried. Thou I would bo free from these haunting fears—then I could enjoy my life and my fortune. If she were only dead !” “ You are making good progress, returned Mr Pulford, in a similar whisper. 41 Six months ago jon scouted the very idea of murder. And now' von urge mo to commit one yes, t W o—(br if the girl dies the old woman must also.” “ I have hoard that there no standing still in this Hie,” replied Lady Trevor. “ One must go upward or downward. And I, having begun, must keep on in the path I am treading. There is no turning back for me. Let them both die, girl and old woman, so that I am sale. ” Mr Pulford smiled evilly. The curtain rose, and the f mimic life’ upon tho stage proceeded with its represtntation. Both Lady Trevor and Mr Pulford watched the scone with attentive eyes, but with minds far away. Heither again .alluded to the subject that employed the thoughts of both. They sat out tho play,-and re-entered the carriage and returned to South Audloy street" Mr Pulford. gave bis arm to tho lady’, assisting her up tho steps. ; “ Cornu into the drawing-room,” said the widow, graciously. “ I have more to say to you.” Mr Pulford followed her into the drawing-room. She led the way to a far cornci-, quite out of the hearing of possible eavesdroppers, and plunged at once into the subject she had at heart. - “ I have made up my mind to onr marriage, Horace,” she said, graciously. “ But 1 am not willing to marry while I hurt) thiawor.se than sword of Damocles suspended above rny head. These people have been np at that old house for seven mouths or so. You have not heard from them daring that period. They may all be dead. Something may have happened. There is no one yon can send to look after matters thci-e. Aow why shouldn’t you go up there yourself ?” Mr Pulford started. If you go,” continued tho widow, “ you can urge Jarvis to put an cud to the imprisonment in the way I desire. Yon can learn how well your instructions have been carried out. You can—” “ I am tempted to act upon your suggestion, Edith. Tho Jarvises really do need looking after,” interrupted Pulford. “ I might go in the yacht, but my visit must be secret. I can journey by rail to Inverness, and take the remainder of the trip on horseback. It will be a hard journey—” “ But it will make everything safe.” “I believe I’ll go,” said Pulford, falling into the trap she had laid for him. “ I’ll start to-morrow. Tho sooner Igo the sooner I shall return. I shall have to make tho journey under pretence of

visiting Grey court. There :iro so many on the watch that some hostile cyo may # chance to be directed to my movements * therefore I shall be on my guard.” They discussed their plans for an hour , or more, and then Mr Pulford, quite re- " solved to start for Scotland on the morrow, arose to take his leave. “ I have played that game pretty well,” thought Lady Trevor, exultantly. lie will got rid of the- girl, just as I planned. Then I will get rid of him. My difficulties arc smoothing out one by one. I shall have everything my own way yet.’’ And in high good humor she glided up the broad stair to her own room. She would scarcely have been so much ilia! her case if she had known of the trial' in store for her on the morrow—of the intended visit of the supposed beggar she had seen that evening on • her stops with sickly face and shabby gown—of fate launching itself upon her in her smiling prosperity in the shape of Sarah Peters. CHAPTER XLIV. AN OPPOTtJSB APPEARANCE. ■ When morning came —the morning after her arrival with Gretchcn at the MacDougal farm house—Cecil Rosse , ■ found herself unable to leave her bed. The exposures of the last few days, the over-exertion attendant upon her long flight, the chill and hardship, the terrible anxieties, added to the imprisonment .; and terrors that had preceded them, had \ been too much for the young girl, who

lintl been so carefully nurtured and ten- | derly cherished in the old pastor’s house in the Black Forest. She found herself weak as an infant, racked with pains, and burning with a low, nervous lever. Her pulse was high and fierce, her eyes glowed like suns, but her mind was clear as ev t, and even more .than usually active. “ I can’t get up, Gretchen,” she said, trying to speak bravely. “ I fear that I am ill !” The old woman’s frightened visage reflected the feai. She arose at once, paying no heed to the. rheumatic pains assailing her own tired body, dressed herself, and descended to the kitchen. The family had long since risen and was hard at work. Gre token’s letter to Mr Grafton had already been convoyed to the post. A great tiro was burningon the kitchen hearth, and Mrs MacDougal was employed before it in some household task. She looked up, flushed with heat, smiling pleasantly, as anxious Gretchen came in. “ Good morning,” she said, politely. “ I hope you rcstit well, and the young lady ?” “ Very well, thank yon ; but rny young mistress is ill,” replied Gretchen. “ She has a high fever. Is there a doctor near ?” “ There is nac dochtber within thirty miles, woman,” answered Mrs MacDougal. “But every woman in these pairts kens vera well how to treat ordinary diseases. Under Gretchen’s and Mrs MacDongal’s care for a couple of days, Cecil awakened free from fever and complaining only of languor. Her nurses would not permit her to rise. Elspcth brought her a bowl ofbot spiced drink and a tempting breakfast. Mrs MacHongal was constant and tender in ber ministrations. The gentle, uncomplaining girl, so grateful for her kindness, had won the housewife’s heart. At noon as the family gathered around tho dinner-table, in the roomy, old kitchen, the man Jarvis rode up. Uncombed, haggard, and wild in his appearance, Miss Fosse’s enemy looked as formidable as a gaunt and hungry wolf that had been cheated of his prey. His small eyes glared about him suspiciously. He moved stiffly toward the door, raising his hat, his gait and carriage betraying his fatigue. His manner was full of eagerness. He believed that he should find the objects of bis search at this bouse, or in tho hamlet hard by. Judging by his own exhaustion, he did not believe that Cecil or Gretchen could have yet continued their journey beyond this

point. “ Good-day, sir,” he said, politely, raising his bat. “My name is Graham— Doctor Graham—” “And mine is MacDougal,” interrupted the Highlander. AVilliam MacDongal.” “ 1 have travelled hard and far,” said Jarvis, sniffing at the savory odors that came from the kitchen. My beast is gone lame, and I am myself used up. If you will give me a good dinner, I will pay well for it.” “ The MacDougals never turned ano, gentle or simple frac their dure,” responded the farmer, proudly. “ Ye’re welcome, mon, to the bite and sup ye wad hac. Ooomin. Ooornin!” He retreated into the room, making place for Jarvis, who followed him. “ Here’s a dochther, mither,” he announced to the housewife, who had risen. “ Ye were wanting a dochther, ye ken, and here he is.” Jarvis made a bow, and exclaimed : “ Yes, I am a doctor, but perhaps not the kind you want, if any of your family is ill. I doctor the mind, not the body. I keep a retreat for the insane atlucleden, on the west coast.” “ A mad-dochthcr !” ejaculated Elspeth. “Just so, Miss,” said Jarvis. “I have twenty patients at my retreat, but two of them escaped a few days ago and I am in search of them. I am- very much afraid they will perish among the hills, •if they have not already. Have you seen anything of two wandering women, on ponies without saddles—one of the Avomen being a girl as pretty as a pictur’, with a kind of sorroAvful face, and the other an old foreign Avoman ?” he asked. Mrs MacDougal’s countenance betrayed her knoAvlodge of the women in question, “ Ye are the mon Jarvis, I doofc not,” she exclaimed. u But ye’ll not get the lassie nor yet the auld Avoman, mind that.” PTO BE CONTINUED. J