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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 280, 19 December 1877, Page 4

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

rV ■ f 15v 1.1 k.s. ILmiuikt Lewis.]

CIIAPTER X 1 Ami.—coniJ. So ends tins adventure !” said Pallord. “ Tbo job is done —you are paid —the girl is dead, leaving no trace of her late existence. Eet whatwill happen now, j am content.” They slowly retraced their steps, as Mr MacHoma 1 , haggard and anxious, came from the barn and approached them. FA sorra sight for the puir man, ~i |sT vlrTfraflon,” said the farmer bitterly, p-.nntirig to the ashes. ££ East night, -• when 1 lay doou to sloop, 1 had a tidy roof above me and a warm fireside, ibis was tin! house where I was bom, the noose where a’ my children were burn, the boose in which I hoped to die. Au’ now it’s' gauo. I’m that puir, sir, that I eanua offer ye’ a breakfas’, not even a sup o’ parriteh.” “ I sympathise, with you, Mr MacDougnl,” saul Pullord, “with ail my heart. Yours is a terrible loss.” “ But nueiiilng like yours, sir,” said MacHougal, bravely. Tile vrunvstolV was that the bourne lassie an’ tnc an Id woman wore burnt to death. Puir creelars ! I cauiui speak in}' sorrow for your Jess, oir.” “My poor niece, !” sighed Pulford. £; Her weary wandering brain Las found rest at last ! I fear, Mr MacHong al, that your kindness to those poor women lias brought tins catasIrwphe upon yon. The tiro originated in their room. 1 am persuaded that the old woman, in a frenzy of lummy, set fire lo the bouse and perished with her friend and companion, my niece, in the flames.” “ 1 iiao uao dooi that ye are right, sir,” groaned MacHougal. £i I have searched the ashes for some vestige of the poor creatures, and have found remnants of bone, 1 think,” . •••u’hired Pulford, affecting a deep .vri-'f. “ 1 cannot speak further on this sat,ret. JU harrows up my soul nearly to madness. Lot us speak of yourself. Was your house insured ?” • ! Insured ?” repeated the fanner blankly. 1 dinna nndorsLan’ ! It is a dead loss, sir. There’ll be nae a penny coming back lome true the ashes i” lam sony to boar it. Put 1 cannot permit you to lose so heavily by an net of kindness, sir. Although 1 know nothing of the old woman, and of course have no responsibility in regard to her, yet I desire to lighten your sense of loss as much as 1 can, Here is a Rank of England note fora hundml pounds. Accept this from me, Mr MacHougal, in the name of my dead niece.” The fanner protested, but Pulford urged the sum upon him. He ended by accepting it with a burst of thanks, and with joyful tears, which ho turned aside to hide. ‘‘ May God bless ye accordin’ lo your deserts, sir,” lie exclaimed. Pulford winced. ££ I think,” said the villain, £: that my friend, tl ;e doctor, will have to hasten his return to Inclcdon. His patients will miss him sadly. And as for me, I must hurry back to town with the tidings of my poor niece’s fate. Wo will not in: rude upon yon longer in your Lour of darkness and grief, if one of your neighbours will give a breakfast we will set out upon our respective journeys.” Tiny arc up over at McKay’s,” said the farmer, looking towards the nearest lanu-huusc. “ i’ll tak’ ye there. He’ll gie ye a good breakfast an’ a thoosan’ welcomes.”

MacHougal guided his guests to the farm-house in question. The family was up and dressed ; a smoking breakfast was being put upon the tabic at the moment of the visitor’s entrance. The new comers were made welcome. When MacHougal had told of Pulford’s gift, the Litter found himself regarded as a princely benefactor. Mrs MacHougal and her daughters overwhelmed him with tears and blessings. A breakfast of bacon and eggs, broiled birds, and bannocks, poiiulgc ami cakes, was placed bofoie the guests. When they had finished their repast, and had risen from the table, the housewife packed a hamper for the £ doctor’ to carry before him ou his horse—Pulford buying a stout animal of MacHougal ami presenting it to Jarvis, the ponies being quite

useless. Pnltbrd and Jarvis then made their adieux, mounted, and rode out of the farm-yard together. They paused in the highway for a few last words, and then separated, proceeding in different directions. Jarvis headed for Black Pock in excellent spirits, and Pidford proceeded in the opposite direction, hoping to reach Inverness that night. Me hj id proceeded hut a few mile along tin* road which ran through a wild and picturesque region, when ho beheld approaching at a brisk pace, a carriage drawn by two stout horses. “1 believe it’s Grafton,” he muttered. “ I’ve got away from the MacDougals just in time.” He hastily dismounted and led his horse aside into the shelter of the wayside bushes. Then he crouched low in the shadow, watching and waiting. The carriage advanced and was soon abreast of him. It was a stout vehicle, evidently belonging to Inverness. The

driver on the box was a Scot. Pulford saw the occupant of the carriage, who was leaning forward and looking out of the window with an impatient expression on ids countenance, and recognized him at the first glance. He was Maldrcd Grafton.

I'niford waited till the carriage had gone by, rejoicing in having escaped Grafton’s observation, and then emerged from his concealment, remounted, and resumed his journey, exclaiming gleefully :

‘‘ Too late ! You can go on to MacDougal’s farm-house, Maldrcd Grafton, and welcome ! The jewel yon are seeking is no longer there. Cecil Rosso is dead !” CHAPTER XLIX. OX THE TRACK. The hour was late in the afternoon. Grafton was alone in his chambers, indulging in a gloomy reverie. He was thinking of Cecil Rosse. Ho loved her with all his soul, with all the fervor of his hard and powerful nature. His faith in the ultimate success of bis search for her had never wavered until now, but he was in a depressed and dejected mood, and was considering at last seriously the possibility that she and her old servant might be dead. He pictured her in her bright young beauty, •with her dark brown eyes, with the golden glint in them, illuminating her lovely taco; and with her red brown hair, with its gulden slimmer rippling away from her pure, pale brow, as radiant and glorious as she had been in her homo in the Rlaok Forest. Could that radiance and beauty have died out upon the earth for ever? Had the young life, with its spirit and intelligence, its grand possibilities, faded away like a dream? And if she were dead, bow bad she died? And where had she boon buried?

“ There’s been foul play somewhere,” he said lo himself, savagely. £i f?ho has some enemy, or else she and Gretchen would never have disappeaicd so utterly, leaving no trace behind them. Rut who is that enemy ? Ry Heaven ! I’d give ten years of my life to know 1” He was thinking thus when a knock sounded ou his door, and Lord Glonham entered. The blonde earl looked worn and haggard. The bitter experiences of the past few months had left their traces on ever feature of that noble face. The proud, firm mouth was set in a strangely stern expression ; the broad forehead wore a troubled look : tire gray eyes were graver than of yore, and full of intense and passionate gloom. His movements showed weariness. The entire purpose of his life had been changed ; his dearest hopes thwarted ; but his bravo and resolute expression showed that, in spite of long defeat, he had by no means given up all expectation of finding the missing girl he loved.

“ Come in, old fellow,” said Grafton, rising, Ids dark face brightning. £i Glad to sec yon. Any news ?” ££ Xone whatever,” replied the youngcarl, accepting the proffered chair. ££ 1 knew that you had been following up some new. clew, and I dropped in to inquire into your success.” £ ‘ 1 Lave had no success,” responded Grafton, gloomily. ££ There is nothing more to be done, Glenbam. I have searched the hospitals even, but I have found no trace of the lost ones. I give over the search. Miss Rosse and hexservant were the victims of some terrible fatality, or of some secret enemy of the young lady. I was thinking, when you came in, that she must have had some enemy who may have murdered her !” fTO BE CONTINUED, J