The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-02-21


but shall return next summer. Good.
by. Cecil-good-by, my darling!"
The sorrow in her sweet eyes robbed
him OF his self-conrol. He caught her
to his breast and sipwered kisses on her
pure young face I'm an irrepressible agita.
ton. Then, gently putting her from
him, he wrung the pastors hand and
dashed from the hOlse.
An hour later Lod Glenham and NAL
dred Grafton left ZGlitz on their way to
England, the latter promising to himself
a speedy and secretreturn.
That evening, as the good old pastor
| sat alone in his STUDY, meditating upon
the great event o the day, the door
! opened and old Gretchen came in, bear.
ing in one hand lighted candle, in the
| other small packet upon which was
impressed the Londn postmark.
The pastor tore open the packet as
/ soon as Gretchen had retired. Two
English bank-notes fell upon his kneo,
and folded sheet of paper. upon which
he saw handwriting, followed them.
The old scholar .tarted. recoiling, his
gentle face growing troubled and per-
picked.
"A lette p he muttered. "The first
| letter evr received from Cecil's former
guardian have received fifty pounds
| from hin every year, but never scrap
| of writing before. What has he to say
| to me- Does he intend to take the child
| from ne: Is the long mystery OF tour
| teen ears to be cleared away at last'"
HSr Broken unfolded the mysterious
| lettr. strange agitation quivering
Though all his nerves. He believed
| himself to stand upon the threshold OF
| tie solution OF the strange mystery OF
| tecifs origin. A blur obscured his
vision. He removed his spectacles and
wiped them with trembling hand.
Then he spread out the sheet Of paper,
his eager old eyes fairly devouring its
contents.
The letter, as he noticed after reading
1t. was written upon plain white paper,
without water-mark or imprint of any
sort whatever. The handwriting was
course. and slanted backwards, with evil
dent attempt at disguise. There was no
date to the letter. which was as fol-
lows:
"HERR BRocKES: 1t is now fourteen
years since / left with you the little,
nameless child whom you agreed to bring
up, and In all that time have never writ
ten line TO you, nor have l heard from
you directly, but | am aware that the
child is, unfortunately, still alive. l have
RENTED regularly to YOU for her support
the sum OF fifty pounds per anuum.
remit that sum herewith, as usual, in
Bank OF England notes. As she Is now
about seventeen years old, and quite able
to make her own way, shall not send
any more money for her. AS tn is the
first, it will also be the last commune
cation you will ever receive from me.
II suppose that she has been brought
up, in accordance with my instructions,
as German peasant girl. l suppose,
also. that she is contented with her lot,
since sine has never known any other.
Ii she should marry some wood-carver of
yonr people, then my best wishes tor her
welfare will have been fulfilled.
at is scarcely necessary for me to re-
peat what told you fourteen years ago,
that the girl has no friends save those she
and t6ssg9,-:dc at Zorlitz; no relations
to live and 81" f IN tffe" e oSaseutlty of the
Black Forest. My care and concern for
her end herewith. Neither she nor you
will ever hear from me again"
There was no signature to this epistle.
Herr Broken read it over the second
time and sighed heavily.
1.-The unknown guardian washes his
hands of Cecil" he muttered. "All con-
nection between the girl and her early
past is now completely severed. She
will never solve the mystery, will never
know her origin. | almost wish that
had not sent Lord Glenham away, and
yet could not do otherwise. According
TO the traditions and usages Of the world,
girl like Cecil. no matter how great her
beauty. genius, and goodness. is no fit
ting wife tor great lord"
The door was opened while his eyes
were riveted on the paper, and Cecil
came in slowly, half.shyly.
The pastor made movement to pu'
| the letter in his desk, but changed his
purpose.
SHY dear" he said, lyon seem some
how less OF child to me than usual to-
night. My heart is heavy and sore with
many burdens. Shall lay them upor
| your young shoulders?''
The. tender young face at once grew
stronger. with a gravity and courage
that touched the old scholar.
II did not know that you were bearing
secret burdens, uncle" said Cecil. lie
me help you. DO you need money!"
notes on his desk.
mo, dear, 1t is not any fear of poyert,
that troubles me-" he said, gently. -
feel strangely weak. may not live an
other year, and there are things 20
ought TO know. will tell them to 20
now. Cecil. this handsome English lor
asked me to-day for my consent to &C
dress you as your suitor."
The girl blushed and paled. and he
, ewes glowed with O swift and dazZlin
, splendor,
"What did you say, uncle?n she viii
pered, after little pause.
IL bade him wait q year. l told hi
! that you were to young to marry"
e "He loves me He loves me-" Gee
, said to herself softly, her glorious your
s beauty radiant as star. Sand lie
4 coming back next year! Oh, uncle.
r am the happiest girl in all the world
: night !"
: The old pastor sighed and stroked b
!, hair with q shaking hand. A gre
r struggle was going on within him. 4.
" last o look OF decision settled upon ]
e careworn features, and with his trel
E. bling hand resting on Cecils head
D. told her her history as far as he knew
:, He also informed her that he had told
TO Lord Glenham, and that it seemed
make him love her all the more. He til
~ handed her the letter from her unkno'
r. guardian, closed his eyes and leaned ba
er in his chair. His face looked singular
e, worn and sorrowful In the dim light, a
there was a WEAKNESS in the droopi
1t features that told of extreme physi
nv weakness. No one marked the RAJ
g, change of expression in the young Fl
rn at his knee, the passionate anguish in
Ie, sweet eyes, the tense lines about
We LOVING mouth. the bitterness, horror, {