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

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 291, 30 January 1878, Page 4

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

—o [Bv Mrs. Harriet Lewis.]

CHAPTER LVIT.— contd. But Mrs M dsou had not announced her decision when Miss Rossc arrived. She regarded the young g'nl with a sort of pitying tenderness. “ Bit nearer the lire, Miss Rosso, she urged. <( it’s chilly, ft s a frightful expanse to live in this climate. If 1 were not so old, 1 should not use coals in May and sire sighed heavily. “ I hope you will like ttio Hemlocks. At Puny rate, you’ll be side here. I never sec : company !” “ I am sukg I shall find it a sate rtfuge,” said Coed. “The house seems hidden away out of sight among the trees.” “ Ah, they do grow so fast ! But there’s no use in trimming them, or doing anything to the place. It is only mine for life. It was a gay house, in the old days, hut it Ims seen its best, as I have seen mine.” Cecil was interested in the old lady, and her stay at Tim Hemlocks promised not to he devoid or pleasure. >She remained in the parlour for hair an hour, am! wdieu old Sully again offered to show her to her room stie accepted the offer and arose. “ Hid you bring your luggage ?” asked Mrs Malson. Cecil replied that she had no luggage. But you will want a change of clothes.” “ I have money,” said the girl. “If you w'onld kindly allow your servant to purchase what is needed for Grctchou and myself, I shall bo indebted to you.” “ Uh, I’ll do it !” said old Sally. “It won’t do for you to be seen outside these grounds.” The ’housekeeper conducted the guests up stairs to ’ a 'pleasant chamber with bedrooms adjoining. The furniture was oh.! and quaint, the windows were thickly curtained, and a warm, bright, sca-coal fire glowed in the grate. Grafton had insisted on tires to warm the loug-nnnsed rooms, and had left money to pay for the necessary fuel. No damp or chill lingered about the wads, as old (Retched observed with inward thanksgiving. Miss Rossc gave her commission to Sally, with money for its execution, and tiie housekeeper withdrew. “ What a strange house this is!” said Grctchou. “ And what a strange old lady ! I think she is not quite what she was in her younger days, M iss Cecil. Time docs tell upon people !’’ “ She is very kind to revive us !” said Cecil. “I do not like to ha so deeply indebted to Mr Grafton, lie puts me continually under fresh obligations to him, and I fuel guilty of base ingratitude because I cannot marry him. There never was a gentleman more noble, kind, or unselfish !” If on only could and would many him, dear Miss Cecil,” cried faithful old Grotchcn, “I should be the happiest woman alive. If wo go back to London, that Me Bulford will find you there. You will.never be safe again—never—except in a home of your own, with a husband to protect you !” “ Hush, Grctchou,” said Cecil, sorrowfully. “ I shall never marry. Mr Grafton knows this, I think, and his kindness is not given in a hope of payment.” ghe sat down before the fire and gave herself up to thought. Meanwhile, in the lower room, the old lady had turned to Grafton, upon Cecil’s withdrawal, and said, eagerly : “ She’s a pretty girl, Maldrcd, a bonnic lassie. I don’t wonder yon love her. What a pity that she’s so poor !” “ (She is rich in youth and beauty, madam.” “Ho doubt—no doubt. I’ll keep her as long as you wish on the terms we arranged last night. Yon can stay here, if you wish, also, Sally has prepared a room for jou. If you use your opportunities well, you can win the girl easily.” “ And if she refuses to marry me ?” said Grafton, bonding forward and looking full into the face of Ids aged kinswoman. “ I have risked my life in rescuing her from her enemies. I have spent months in searching for her. Bhe ought to marry out of gratitude, if for no other reason. But suppose, in spite of all I can do or say, she chooses to play the coquette —what then ? A sudden agitation convulsed the sharp features of the old lady. “ I’m an old woman,” she said, tremulously. “My mind isn’t as clear ns it used to bo. I can’t quite judge what is right. Tim girl is beautiful. 1 have taken a great fancy to her. If 1 only thought the marriage was really the best thing for her—if I only knew it would be right to coerce her into it I could easily toll what to do. You are younger than' I—won arc a young man with a clear head and a good heart, I know —and you love her. Tci! me, Maldred, would it bo right absolutely right, for me to endeavour to coerce her into this marriage with you ?” “ Quito right, madam.” “ Upon your honor sir ?”

“ Upon my honor as a gentleman.” The old lady drew a long breath of relief.

“ And yon would be very good to her?'’ she questioned. “ I would cherish her as the apple of my eye. I would worship her !” cried Grafton, solemnly, his swarthy face glowing.

“ I don’t care for (he hundred pounds in comparison with this young girls happiness, although Jhn poor, and, for all my son would care, I might starve. I’d like the money, but I won’t do wrong to obtain it. Once more, Maldrcd,” a-.d she looked at him sharply, with eyes that seemed to pierce to his son), “ you declare, before God, that if I help to constrain this young girl to many yon, I shall secure her happiness as well as yours?”

“ I declare it, before Gnu !” 11 Then I promise. I will imprison her in her own chamber, if necessary, or feed her on bread and water, until her spirit is broken !” cried Mrs Malson. “ I will be harsh to her as any jailor—all for her good ! Bhe shall lie your wife, Maldrcd, if wo keep her shut up for years first ! You can rely upon me. She shall never leave this house until she goes forth leaning upon your arm as your bride !”

CHAPTER LVHI. REUNITED. Lord Glcdham devoted himself to the renewed search for Miss Rossc with an ardent zeal that seemed determined le compel success. First of all, upon leaving the railway station, he visited McGregor’s Royal Hotel. And there he found upon the register the names ho sought—Maldred Grafton, Miss Rossc, and servant. Further inquiry elicited the fact that these persons had left the hotel on the previous day, and had not since reappeared. The carl hastned hack to the staiton and made still more rigid investigations, all of which were of no avail. They' had disappeared mysteriously, utterly, as Cecil and Grotchcn had disappeared from London several months before. In this dilemma, not knowing whore next to look, lie bethought himself of a friend—a Scotch lord who lived in Edinburgh. Glcnham laid the case before him. The Scot listened attentively, made several inquiries, and formed certain conclusions quite at variance with those of Lord Glcnham. “ I haven’t seen anything of him,” ho said/ c ami from your account I am quite sure that I shall not see him. fit’s my opinion that Grafton is after the young lady himself. Wait! Don’t interrupt mo. His conduct in visiting Zoriitz last autumn, unknown to you, his secrecy in regard to that letter from old Gretchcn, a dozen little incidents you have mentioned, confirm my belief. Women are sharp-sighted creatures, quick to scent a love-affair, and not at all likely to be taken in in regard to one. The opinion of that Mrs MacDongal that Grafton is bliss Rosses lover is likely to bo the truer one.” “ I cannot listen to an opinion that reflects upon my friend,” said the earl, coldly. “ 1 think ho has taken Miss Rossc to some quiet lodging, where she can rest after her fatigues and excitements.” “ Perhaps,” said the Scot, sceptically. “ But why didn’t he show you that old woman’s letter, if he is honest, .Glcnham ? He’s deep amt treacherous, and you’ll discover the fact for yourself. He’s playing a deeper game than you’ve any idea of. I never had a very high opinion of Ids sense of honor anyhow. If 1 can help you in any way, command mo.” The carl courteously declined the proffers of assistance, and went away to work out the problem by' himself. Notwithstanding his faith in Ids kinsman, the words he had heard produced a deep impression on him. He reviewed Grafton's conduct in his own mind. He was annoyed at himself, but the doubt of Grafton had been skilfully planted in his soul, to rankle there, and not ail the assurances ol his troachcious kinsman could have rekindled or restored his former faith iu him. He resolved to prosecute his inquiries alone, without the assistance even of his (Scottish friend. The task lie had undertaken proved Herculean. Having no clew to work upon, nothing but failure could result from its efforts. Since sagacity and perseverance could not avail him, chance came to his assistance. Upon the evening of the second day of his search, ho was walking in the Cannongato, grave and thoughtful, and deeply anxious, turning over in his mind new theories and and plans of procedure. Suddenly the carl started. A little in advance of him, among the moving throng, he beheld a tali', thin figure, close muffled, strolling with evident aimlessness in the direction of Holyrood Palace. The figure, its carriage and gait, were too familiar to him not to be recognised upon the instant. It was that of Maldrcd Grafton. The carl made a quick, impulsive movement forward with the intention of overtaking and accosting his kinsman. Then his new doubts and distrust of Grafton obtruded themselves, arresting his movement. With a sudden cautiousness, he determined to follow his treacherous friend, keeping himself unseen. He

turned up his'coat-collar above his ears, drew his hat over his eyes, to guard against recognition should Grafton turn around, and settled his gait in accommodation to that of the villain. His precautions were well taken. Grafton looked around more than once to make sure that no one had remarked him or was following him, but in spite of all his astuteness, he tailed to recognise or even to note his patient pursuer. ►Smoking his cigar leisurely, Grafton strolled on, enjoyingthe fresh air and the sight of humankind. He had been shut np in the damp old bouse at The Hemlocks for throe days, seeing no one but its inmates. Ho had kept up his fiction that Cecil was pursued, and the girl was only too grateful for the shelter afforded her. But Grafton had tired of the gloomy rooms, the dark house, the dark and tangled garden. He had tired of inaction. He had tired of Ids aged relative, who, avaricious and greedy as she was, was, in spite of her promise of co-operating with him, not quite the pliant instrument of his will he liad expected her to be. The old lady had taken a violent fancy for her young guest. The girl’s exquisite beauty and sunny temperament had revived in her delightful memories of her own Icing-past youth. Then, too, Mrs Malson was a gentlewoman by birth and breeding, and no love of gold could quite smother her sense of honor. Grafton began to think that he should need to find another asylum for his young charge. pro r.E continued.j