The Morning herald., 1876-08-24

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Ifnc yOu undsrstandi''
tcod aGhas'. In 1 momeot III came
clear upon me: the secret Of Mr.. Suther.
land's gusrdianship -of bis letter to me
intercepted --of the money lately sent--ol
Mr.. Le Peers anxiety concerning his
nisce's life-of his desire to keep her hid.
den from the world, lest she might wake
to = knowledge of herp position. Thewhole
was 4 tissue Of crimes. And, deepest
crime Of all ! now guessed why Lieuten-.
ant Augustus wished, unknown to his
father, to entrap her still childish affections.
marry her, and secure all to himself. /
never knew much Of the world and its
wickedness / believed all men were like
my father or Mr.. Sutherland. This dis
covery for the time quite dizsed my facul-
ties. / have not the slightest recollection
Of any thing more that passed on that side
walk, except that, coming il at the door
Of the cottage, / heard Zlllah say in anxi.
GUS tones: What ails Miss Pryor, 1 won-
der?" had wisdom enough To answer:
Nothing, my dearsw and send them all to
bed.
"Shall you be long after us?' asked
Zillah, who, as I said, was my chamber
companion. "An hour or two" replied,
turning away. went and sat alone in
the little parlor, trying to collect my
thoughts. Toany governess the discovery
of clandestine and unworthy love-affair
among her pupils would be most painful,
but my discoveries were all horror together.
The more / thought it over, the more my
agonized pity for Zillah oyercame my
grief at her deceitful dream. Whatever I
thought Of the young lieutenant, he was
very attractive to most people. He was,
beaid IS, the first man Zillah had ever
1lAsa A, and the first human being except
myself who had treated her with Kindness.
He had done that from the first: but what
other opportunities could they have had
to become lovers? | recollected Zillah's
wanderings, evening after evening, in the
grounds Of the deserted estate She mus,
have met him there. Poor girl! I could
well imagine what it must be wooed under
the glamour Of summer twilight and beau
tiful solitude. No wonder Zillah's hearl
was stolen away! Thinking Of this now, !
feel | am wrong in saying "hearts" of what
at lest could have been mere fancy"
Wonlen's natures are different; but some
natures have known were gravely.
mournfully, fatally in earnest, even at six
teen. .f
However, in earnest or not, she must be
snatched from this marriage at all risks
There could be no doubt Of that. But to
whom should apply for aid !? Not 10
Mr.. LIE Poer certainly. The poor orphan
seemed trembling between the grasp Of
either william, father and son. Whateve,
must lie done for her I must do myself Of
my own judgment, and on my own judg-
ment, and on my own responsibility. 1t
was very hard strait for me. In my
necessity / instinctively turned to my best
friend in the world, and, as I suddenly
remembered, Zillah too: determined
to write and explain all to Mr.. Suther-
land. How well do remember that time!
The little parlor quite still and quiet,
except for the faint sound Of the waves
rolling in; for it was rather will night. |
and our small one-storied cottage stood by |
itself in a solitary part Of the beach. How
we'll | remember myself sitting with the
pen in my hand, uncertain how to begin
for I felt awkward, never having written
to him since / was a child. At first
almost forgot what had to write about.
While musing, | was startled by noise
like the opening ola window. Now, AS |
our house was all on one fiat,
md we could easily step from any window
% the beach. Shuddering with alarm, I
hurried into Zillahs room. There, by the
lin night-light, saw her bed was empty.
She had apparently dressed herself-for
'aw none Of her clothes and crept out at
he window, Terrified inexpressibly,
vas about to follow her, when / saw the
1utter Of d shawl outside, and heard her
'peaking. I
10 BE CONTINUED.
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