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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 279, 15 December 1877, Page 4

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

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C-iurm': xlyii. cmM. iTdford mi union to bis own room and put cm Ids r.!.o< VV'itr liia door slightly ajar, lie ■wrAhed tho progress of the fire he hud created. The gr. My flames licked up the Mid strew, S , 'IP!Ccl UpOU tllC c'.iiii.s and tabu:, caught at tho framew 'l ie of the civ-or beside it, and sent luu.;, r-d, exploring fingers through the fr'-vico, ca toiling at the woodwork on tiio othm ;.-ide, and mounted to the n•>!•■! i d boor tug above. Wit bin five minutes Hie thatched roof was ail übhmc. fcitill, no sound came lien >.VcU’s room. ; ' hj i’ll suody be suffocated !” thought Jdulford, e. v!ii tai!lly. “ fuic’H awaken from he;- simp in another world than this i ’ Tiio iuiiu 'o came creeping towards his own room and the staircase, Cecil’s room viis all on fire. The smoke and heat v.'cro tenable. Still, Pulford waded. .it wo'’ not until the entire roof was a mu::>s M il- '.'-s, and the upper floor was in Iho grasp of the fiery monster, and a mod, far-iTf cry of * lire! ’ came to ids cars from the hamlet beyond, that ho turned Ids thong]its from the • k-s-,.ruction of Cecil ami Crctchen to securing Ids own safety. He ji.mg open :lie door and unde a dash f>>r tile. ;-ta mease, The lire had taken possession already of the deal i.„ ■ 1 • 'vrnlr 1 ml smps. Gathering a bYiikct over his head lie rushed down dm stair throngii smoke and dame, . a. 1 - hirst Yio t!;-' kitchen, the (lames following dm dive ravening wolves tbrmudi the open door, Kir. ! P ue yelled, t: Wake n i bn: !H;d 11G'■ 1 T’im 1 ’ 1!.• hum! i'.d to o c o:;,i-r 'b'c;-. -• t’c 1:0, eh end si .iggeivd into , ; i, i mi-;his cries, hj.. sprung from ih- r. k-dfs, juju nru-piiig ‘lm nearest ni.-i it; ill .dr hand.-. .Hod out of the uoms hi the wildest terror rind confusion, add ini-; (heir shouts to his. Pul ford hastened to Ids ally. Hi'! windows of Cecil's room we re closed. Jarvis declared that no one had opened them, or escaped by ih m. ‘•lt's too lata for escape now,” said I’uhord, grimiy. “ They !1 never make Uo any inure trouble.” The (armor, nearly beside himself, dmw cm ids garments, and directed his sons and daughters to try to save their h'Mrv. hold Meets. Ho made, a movcm nt in follow them into tho house, held right himself of his guests, and came running toward the plotters. i nvy pretended to bo hastily completing then toilet's. f - Your niece, sir!” gasped Mac.Dougal. “ A i rod tlie old Wuluan will bo burned to death.’’ “ Is timre no ladder near ?” cried IV-(Vii-d, distracbnily. “ My poor girl ! Ti s an tin: work of that old woman, f'uctor, .ain’t you scale tho house-wall ? To see her perish thus before my eyes ! Oh, mei ufnl Heaven V (I-.; made a gesture as if to throw himself into tho liamcs. Jarvis seined din and hold him back. Tiio people m the hamlet came Hocking up, articles of clothing ami furniture wore* dragged horn the kitchen at the peril cf Ilf l , while several men brought a hinder with which they resolved to attempt tho rescue of Miss JUossc and Gref, alien. TV« ladder, too short for the purpose ra pi I red, had been scarcely placed a-'-Yust the house-wall when the roof fell in. A (:'•>’ of dismay went up from the little crowd. Too late !’’ shouted a. burly shepherd, who had been first to procure the bidder. “ The wall rocks 1 There she .goes !” The wall tottered , and fell. The crowd retreated to a safe distance, :>rcj(!.hlvss ami terror-stricken. The flames .- mud upon the entire house, and wrapped it in one wild and lurid Time. Mrs MaeDwigal gave way to her grief in <ears and lamentations, in which her aaugi,levr joined. The father and wm-’ si.ii' their homo swept away before ;i■ ; v eyes with no less grief, but with and tearless eyes. Tim neighbors were loud in rommling, and their proffers ■ shelter. TVdford looked upon the of 1 cash' tion with gloaming eye* ami oO.il idled ,vlh wi.kcd exudation. “ The girl Y dead I” ho said to himself. '■ The tiling has been woll-dono. L.idv Trevor’s Secret is now buried ocyoud all power or possibility of rcssuroction !” CHAPTER XLVIII. PU LF ORD ’S T RIUMI’II. The morning dawned upon a scone of desolation. Where the picturesque lufm-honso of tho MacDougnls had, stood, was now spread a gray level of dead ashes. One solitary chimney, massive and blackened, was still standing, like a funeral monument, making the desolation appear yet more desolate. Tho MacDougal women had been taken to the bouse of a neighbour after the fire had burned itself out. The

MacDougal men Lad lingered late about the scene and liad then retreated to their great barn, which had fortunately escaped the devastating element. Pulford and Jarvis bad also taken to this retreat and had thrown themselves upon the fragrant hay, but not to sleep. Not one of the men in the barn slept again that night. The MucDongals discussed their loss, and the probable origin ot the fire, and the fate of Miss .Rosso ami her servant, in low, hushed tones, but Pulford and his ally listened and were silent. With the first faint gleam of dawn, Pulford crcptnoiselcssly out into the fresh air. Jarvis followed him. “ Shall we settle now, Gov'nor ?” said the ruffian, as they moved slowly across the yard. “ I want to rake over these ashes first,” said Pulford. “ You may help mo.” I’n!ford took up a kitchen poker that lay upon the best mirror the farm-house had contained, and groped among the as! ics. ££ Her room was above lids spot,” he said. ££ We must surely find some fragment of bone to show her fate.” ‘‘ The fire was frightful hot !” muttered Jarvis. “It may ha vs burned up bones and all. Cut wo can make a thorough search.” They did so, and discovered one or two fragments which they believed to be bone, “ Vi c did not need these to prove that they wore dead.” said Jarvis. “Their windows were closed, shewing that they could not have got out that way, even if I hadn’t known it by watching. And wc know that they could not have escaped by the door.” !£ And besides,” said Pulford, ££ I never heaivl a sound in their rooms after the lire began. They talked in the earlier part of the evening, but dropped asleep at last, and I never heard so much as a murmur afterwards. They were suffocated in their sleep !” “ An easy ending,” observed Jarvis, coolly. “ Well, Guv'’nor, Pm glad the thing is finished up so easy at the last. I’ve hud no end of trouble. I’ve rode hard an-1 fast, by night ami by dry, and des'vvc even a larger reward than you piomised me. 1 suppose my wife and Mariai’, who haven’t seen me in nigh two weeks, are about frightened to death about me. They may think as the gal and Uretchen got clear away, and as I’m took by the cops. I shall start for Black Rock at once !” ‘•‘And I shall start for London. Come this way, Jarvis. I’ll pay yon the sum I promised, and giro you the money for Maria, which I agreed to pay her, I came provided with money to settle the debts.” They walked aside to a little distance, and halted under a pine tree. Pulford drew out his pocket-book and paid the sums agreed upon, and, in his good nature and delight, added an extra sum. ££ Sec that Maria does not trouble me with a visit,” enjoined Pulford. ££ And, as for you, Jarvis, keep your distance. If I want your services again, I’ll come to you. But yon must never come near me, remember !” Jarvis promised compliance, counted his money, and put it in his pocket. fTO J’.K CONTIXUKD. J