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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 274, 28 November 1877, Page 4

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

[Bv MltS. 11A UIUKT IjK’vVJ:-',] CHAPTER XLV. Tji ]•; i* hj or v: on i: s. The amazement of Pul ford at the rencontre, which was ns startling as it was unexpected, fully equalled that of Jarvis. lie uttered an ejaculation expressive- of utter bewilderment, and leaned from ids horse, peering- into the; face of the ruffian with alarmed recognition. “ You hero ?”he exclaimed, u Yon ?” “ .11/ a really im>, Guv’nor !” exclaimed Jarvis. “ Ami 1 never was so glad to see any one in my life as I am to set eyes on you. The old Kiel; himself must have sent you. And it’s the first streak of luck I’ve had these two weeks !” Has anything happened ?” “ Everything has happened. The fat is all in the lire. If you’re on youi way to .Clack Rock, you needn’t go no further. I arn here, and the gal is here—” Jarvis explained the position fully, whereupon Mr Pul ford uttered another fierce oath. Then he questioned his con federate, sharply and keenly. Jam's replied by giving a iVd naralive of the occurrences of the past few we-. Its. “ I was Ju.d gei.th;’ desphT, Guv’nor,” lie con limit d. “ The gal has writ to some friend in London to come after her, and her friend is expected hero loin error. What I was to do 1 didn't know', only I meant to make a bold strike tonight.” “ f-hc exp .-els a friend to-morrow! Yvhnt Irion 1 T “ Von ought to know that belter’n mo. The inend is a man, of course, that’s nil i know.” Mr Pnlford iviloetcd. lie laiow well that Miss lie?;s.s luid lew acquaintances in London, an! that Gretehen must have appealed for help cither to Lord Glonluan or ilaldred Ora ft on. “ You arc right, Jarvis/’ ho exclaimed, “ The old Lick himself mast have sent mo up lu.ro at this particular time. Wo must malm a Lund suiko tonight. To-morrow v. hi be too hue. I stopped over a day at Inverness, and Miss Posse’s friend may have keen close upon my truck. Ho may oven arrive here to-nigM.” “He may, Guv’uor. Calculatin': close, he ought to have been Imre today,” Mr Pnlford again gave himself up to thought. His fertile brain presently originated a striking idea, which he hastened to impart to Ids companion. it was agreed that lid ford should, ride on to the farmhouse, Jarvis to follow after, I’ulford agreeing to corroborate Jarvis’s statements and represent himself as Cecil’s London friend. Pnlford presented himself to thoMacPouguls.

The family entertaining no doubt that this tvas the < friend’ so anxiously expected by Miss Hosno, pressed their hospitalities upon tlio stranger. One of the men went out to care for Ins horse. Mr Pul ford sat down in a high-backed, rush-bottomed chair at the corner of the hearth, declining politely the offers of refreshment urged upon him. “ I had my supper at a farm-house a few miles buck/’ he declared. “i. am too anxious about Miss llossc to think of an}'thing beside her. is she wed! ?” li ohe hue been vera ill !” said Mrs MacDougrd. “ Vera ill, sir, but thanks to a mercifu’ Providence, she’s about ■well now. I will tell her you’ve coon i—” “ .blot yet, if you please. I wish io ask you a few r cpieslious first, madam—” ‘ { And I hue something to say also,” said the farmer, respectfully. “ The young la.dy cam’ her’ wi’ Jier servant, without ouy attendant whatever. Tim twa were mounted on ponies that were exhausted wi’ fatigue. The j’ouag indy fainted, an’ I carried her in til the Loose in v.'.y arms. They had travelled lang aid far, puir souls. We made them eomforrable, sir, inf welcome.” “ Ay, that we did,” said Mrs MacDougal. “ Au’ a gentler, sweeter lady never lived than Miss .Rosso !” “ bho told us,” continued the farmer, “ that sac had boon couliucd for months in an auid haunted Loose ca’u the Thick Hook noose, whilk belonged to the last o’ the (Jathoairns. An’ site said that she had au enemy whilk was on her track. Sure eaoo, the next day a men appeared saying his name were JDochther Graham, and the two puir women were loony-patients escaped free his mad-hoose at Incledon. fine I hae listened to baith sides, and not being able to joodge between the twa stories, I bade Dochther Graham wait until I could hoar Ir.io Mies Hesse's friends. Miss Posse says that the dochther is no dodithcr, but a men named Jarvis. He lias bohnvlfc vera well. We hao scon naething wrang in him.” “ An’ we hae seen naeinadness in her,” said Mrs MacDongal. <£ Yi-t tlio man’s story is the true one/’ said Mr Pnllord, wi th a long-drawn sigh. “Ho must be .Doctor Graham, of Jnelcdon, a peculiar but most estimable person,” “• Then ho is nae the mon Jarvis.”

“I never hoard that name/’ said Mr Pniford. “ 1 know no such person. Miss Rosso is really insane. She was disappointed in love and went melancholy mad, and her friends sent her to Inelodon, thinking’ that the braving air, the solitude, and excellent treatment, might restore her to health. As to the woman Grotehen, who shares her delusions, 1 know nothing about her. yho is probably some patient who has attached herself to my poor niece—■” “ Then the young lady is yoni niece, sir ?’’ Mr Pul ford bowed gravely. <! Of course/’ said he, “ I was surprised to receive a letter from the German woman in regard to my young relative, but as I heard from the senior doctor of the lucledon retreat that Miss Posse had escaped, 1 came on at once.’” The MacDougnls expressed their wonder and surprise at Puiford’s declarations. Every member of the family had been so deeply impressed with tin; beauty and sweetness of Miss Posse that they had ins (actively espoused her cause against .Jarvis, They did not dream ofdoubling Puiford’s word. They believed him to be the friend (Jretchen had summoned, and considered his testimony decisive. They had not overcome the stupor produced by the stranger’s unwelcome declarations when Jarvis came swaggering in. lie started at sight of Pnlford, counterfeiting amazement. IP's employer arose and advanced toward him, stretching out his hands and exelaiming: “ All, Doctor, is it yon, then ? How do yon do, sir? This is a most unpleasant surprise, seeing you here ?” “ An unpleasant surprise to me sir,” said Jarvis, snaking the hand extended to him. i£ I iVar you will deem me neglectful, sir, for allowin' the gal to get the start o’ mo iu this hero fashion.” We certainly owe a great deal of gratitude to tins worthy family, Doctor,” said Puilord, fur their care of my poor niece, and their hospitality to yourself.” “ Miss Posse is oop and dressed,” said Mrs MacDougal, completely bewildered, ’hldiiali i ca’ her, sir ? Wad ye like to sec her ?” “Pot to-night, madam,” said pnlford, who did not wish to see cither Gucii or Drotehen at all. “1 am fatigued, and would like to be spared the trial. Put if you can kindly accommodate mo for the night, I will seo my poor niece iu the morning, and then remove her from your hospitable roof.” “Ho is right,” said the farmer. “ Let the young lady pass a quiet night. An’ i’ the morning let her gac away peaceable. Tmit is the best plan, wife. Ye can mak’ oop a bed for the gentleman, lire duel X" The housewife assented. She had already planned in her own mind to give up the chamber of her da ugh tors to this stranger, and compel them to resort to a ‘ shako-down” upon the kitchen floor. IShe was about to lake Eispcth aside, to communicate this decision, when old Gro token entered the kitchen. The old woman had heard Pniford’s arrival, and had waited impatiently with her young mistress iu the hope of a speedy summons to the kitchen. The idea of both the fugitives was that Grafton had come in obedience to Gretchcu’s appeal. At last, unable to bear the .suspense longer, the old woman had come below upon a visit of investigation, .She halted upon the threshold, her heart heating wildly. The light iu the kitchen blinded her after the darkness of the passage. She saw a group of persons, but could not make out one face or figure distinctly, owing to the blur that suddenly obscured her vision, fro uu coxt ixuno, J