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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 283, 1 January 1878, Page 4

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

fßv Mrs. Harriet Lewis.]

CHAPTER L. AS UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION. Multireel Grafton pursued his journey to Edinburgh, serenely unsuspicious of the Earl of Glenham’s close pursuit. He did not dream that his lordship had actually obtained a clew to the authorship oi' the letter be had received from Scotland, and believed his own proceedings would remain secret and unsuspected. He slept little upon that first night after leaving London, his sinister exultation filling his being and <jtii ckc nin tj ail his souses to unusual activity. lie expected to rescue Cecil from her enemies, to win her gratitude, and he determined to make her his wife before his return to town. He knew well that she did not love him, and that she did love Lord Glenham; he knew well her spirit and resolute will, and that she was not likely, even in gratitude for his timely aid, to marry him. “ Rut nevertheless,” he said to himself, setting his teeth together in a grim and hard expression, “ she shall marry me. I will not take her to London, except as my wife. She shall be safely mine before 1 incur any risk of her meeting Glenham. The countess lias offered to dower her handsomely in the event of my marrying her, and I will retire with my wife to my estate and devote myself to the task of winning her heart. If she refuses me at first, as I’m sure she will do, 1 shall be gentle and patient, but there will be a hand of iron within of velvet. I must be prepared for all emergencies. I must have matters so arranged that I shall not fear her refusal, and also tli.it she cannot escape. Now to prepare the net which shall so envelope her that all her straggles will bat tighten her bonds.”

He busied himself with schemes and plans, and from the chaos of many crude ideas he evolved .at kngtli one that suited him.

“ I sliail succeed, ” he muttered, jubilantly. “ X have only to be patient and strong. Might will win. Before (iienham ever even suspects that she is really living, she will be lost to him for ever. A little marriage-ring will be a gulf between them deeper and crueller than death.”

He bad purchased his ticket to Edinburgh only to blind the carl as to liis actual destination. When he arrived at the ficoLiisb Athens, ho booked himself afresh to Inverness, and sped onwards to the northward without an hour’s

delay. He secured a Highlander who knew the country well, and who undertook to convey him safely and speedily to the MacDougal homestead.

It was upun the morning of this clay that Mr Failure! quitted the ruined site of the MacDougal homestead, exulting in tho,sm-posed death of Miss Fosse and her servant.

A ithough Pnlford beheld the approach ot 'Grafton in time to hide himself and his horse among the wayside bushes, where he lurked, watching with baleful eyes as Grafton passed. Oral ton did not see ov suspect the hostile presence. He looked from his carriage, window, in a fever of impatience and anxiety, and hurried on in the direction of the hamlet which Pnlford had so recently quitted. The littie mountain hamlet, after a long travel, was in full view. “ The MacDougal place is just beyond the hamlet, sir/’ said the driver, leaning down from his box. “ I ken it week Nac u.so to stop for inquiries. I can take you direct to the lioose.” They pressed onward, passing through the hamlet at a good rate. The carriage proceeded more slowly as it neared the site of the MacDougal homestead, and it finally drew up before it. Grafton, thrusting his head from the window, stared aghast at the scene ot devastation that lay spread before his eyes. Where the old farm-house had stood, lay ashes and smouldering embers, from which a faint smoke still rose. The solitary, massive chimney stood like a sentinel from the midst of the desolation, making it yet more desolate. A few pieces of furniture were still in the yard. A score of Highlanders, men and women, including the MacDougal family, were wandering about disconsolately, or raking among the ashes. “ This be the MacDougal place, sir,” said the driver, wouderingly, “ but the hcosa is nae here. There has been a fire—

Grafton opened the door of the vehicle and leaped to the ground. The Highlanders regarded him keenly as he approached them rapidly. “ Is this the MacDougal place?” lie demanded, looking liom one to the other of the group. “ It is, sir,” was the response. « Where is Mr MacDougal ?” ... The farmer came forward with a bow, Itis stolid visage indicating surprise. •‘I see that your house is burned down,” remarked Grafton, in a tone of sympathy. “ When did it happen ?” “ Last night, sir,” replied the farmer. “ As ye maun see, it is still smoking.”

I jm very sorry,” said Grafton, polit. ly.* “ I came here, Mr MacDongal, in answer to a letter which I received from a German serving-woman, Gretohea

Heinrich. She informed me that I should find her and her young mistress, Miss Ross, at your house. I am Mr Grafton-; —Maid red Grafton !” The farmer retreated a step, regarding his visitor in amazement. “ You Mr Grafton!” he ejaculated, incredulously. “ Yes, I. Did you not expect to see me here ? What surprises you in my appearance ?” “Mr Grafton was here last night; he left us not o’er twa hours ago—” “Mr Grafton ! What do you mean?” ££ I moan what I say, sir, that Mr Grafton cam’ here last night an’ slept in this house ,an’ took his parritch wi’ me this morning at a neebor’s.” “ There is some strange mistake here,” exclaimed Grafton, after a brief, amazed silence. “I am Maltired Grafton. And here is Gretcheu’s lettei to me in coufirmatlon of my identity.’* He displayed the letter and envelope. The farmer examined both, and gave particular attention to the post-mark. “ That is the letter, sure,” he said, scratching his bead in a manner indicative of perplexity. “ I recognise the paper an’ the envelope, whilk I gave mysel’ to the serving-woman ye mention. An’ there is the Loch Low post-mark. Yes, that is the letter. The ither mon bad nae letter. He gave nao proofs; but then the dochther knew him, an’ he knew the dochther. It’s a’ a poozzle.” “ A man came here last night and personated mo ?” exclaimed Grafton. “ This is singular. I left London immediately on reciept of this letter. No one knew that I had recieved it—at least, no one dreamed of its contents. What did the man who claimed my name look like?” “ He was a big mon wi’ a florid face an sina’ gray eyes, an a lang, sandy beard—a smooth sort o man, wi a plausible manner,” said the farmer, reflectively. “We liket him vera weel, vers weel indeed.” Grafton racked his brain in the endeavour to think of some person of his acquaintance answering this description. His mind reverted to his suspicions of Lady Trevor’s connection with bliss Rosse’s disappearance, and he thought of Pulford. “ I know of oniy one man answering your description,” he remarked, “ a gentleman named Pulford—” ££ That was the vera name the anld woman ca’ecl him I” interrupted MacDougal. ££ Pulford ! She wad hae that he was nae Mr Grafton at a’, but that he was Pulford !” “ Pulford ! It was ho, then ? I was right in my suspicions of Lady Trevor!” ejaculated Grafton. ££ The whole affair is then the result of a woman’s jealousy ! Pulford was here—he left this morning? Where is Miss Rosso?” MacDougal pointed sorrowfully to the smouldering embers and ashes before them. ££ Good Heaven ! You don’t mean—” £ ‘ The young lady an’ her servant were burned oop i’ the fire last night !” exclaimed the farmer, solemnly. Grafton recoiled, his face white as death, his eyes glistening like burning coals. ["TO RE CONTINUED. J