Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-21
LADY TREVOR'S SECRET.
CHAPTER l.
IN THE BLACK FOREST.

In the midst of the Black Forest, in
Germany, lies hidden the picturesque
village of Zorlitz.
The principal building in the village il
the little wooden Lutheran church, the
only house OF worship.
The pastor Of this church, year Oh
two ago, was Herr Brocken. or Father
Brocken, as he was atectionately called
by his people. He was kindly, simple
hearted man.
Here he had dwelt twenty years The
father, the pastor and the guide Of his
simple people, here his wife had recently
died; and here he hoped to be buried
He was childless, his family consisting
of an old housekeeper and young CIR
known as his niece
The niece of the pastor was the idol o
the good people of Zorlitz She tended
the PEASANTS in their illnesses; she Wis
tied the quaint old houses like sun
beam, bringing with her always warmth
and sunshine.
One afternoon in June, at the time w
have indicated, our heroine, after max
ing a call upon a sick old woman, began
the ascent of tue steep hill in the direc
ton of the parsonage. When halfway
up the slope, she turned aside into tht
woods, pursuing Q shaded path at an
easy pace, swinging her broad brimmeC
hat by itN ribbons from her Srm, ant
carolling German song in sweet voice
that reused the birds to emulation.
She was about seventeen years Of age
tall, slim, and graceful, with beauty
unmistaksbly English, and yet more un'
nistakably pstrician.
This girl, with her wonderful beauty,
which would have made sensation ia
the queens drawing room, with her ex
quiste refinement Of looks and manner
that DECLARED her gentle birth and breed
ing, possessed q grandly generous nature
warm heart, and impulsive tempera
ment, and, withal, personal magnetism
that attracted every one to her
She had been thoroughly well educa
ted, the good ysstor and his wife having
glor,sd ia her keen intsllegt, and in her
thirst for knowledge. They hss Taught
her various languages, music, for which
she had a positive genins, drawing and
painting, and various feminine arts; but
her accomplishments were among the
least of her charms.
The path along which she was walking
came out upon spring, whose clear pool
was shadowed by bending trees. This
was a favorie resort Of the young girl
and she sat down upon the green bank
the song dying upon her lips, and a
strange gravity overspreading her face
"Oh, dear, she gsid, siehiDg; :" am
so tired OF this dear, stupid old Zorliiz
[ wish that ! coull see something of the
world outside have read of the great
towns, of different peoples, of life beside
which ours is stagnsGGn. an growing
discontented. Must | live hers oil my
lif., and die, and be buried hers, know
ing nothing OF any better existence2 II
it we're not for ltaviDg uncle I'd beg to
be allowed to go someChere as governess
But | cant leave him, and he will never
leave ZorhlS And yet Id give ha,s my
remaining life for ehange-if ! might
only 60 somewhere aud see something OF
the world. "
Did sDme mischievous spirit hear her
complaint and resolve to grant her wish ,
For a change IN her life was close at
hand-a change greater than even her
vivid Imagination would have dared con-
ceiYe. That very hour was the last she
would ever know of commonplace exist.
eaee. Perhaps it was as well that she
could not read the strange future before
her, else she might have ahrunk from it
in terror and misgiving, preierring the
safe shelter of the Zorliiz parsonage in
the depths OF the Black Forest TO the
whirliuG vortex, the perils and troubles
lying 10 wait for her in the great world
outside"
She was still musing diseouteutsdiY
when a sudden rihe.shot rang out
sharpiy upon the air-a deer went flying
past-and stngiRg pain in the girls
left arm sent thrill u teiDtness culver
ing through her.
a loR cry escaped her as she realized
that she had been shot. That cry was
echoed from the l'gs Of two huntsmen,
who bounded into the glade, aRd halted
! abruptly at sight Of her,
by Jovel' exclaimed one, speaking
in tho English language, "A perfect
Diana, 6lspbsm And you've shot
heri'
The other raised his baud ig ~ impe
rious gesture, commanding silence, and
advanced toward the fainting girl, his
coantenance still wearing an expression
0i horror 10 which were now mingled q
deep pity aud keen remorsefulnsss.
The girl bad tainted quite away by tht
time he had reached her. Flinginl
down his unlucky ride, The young mar
devoted himself 10 her recovery With pc
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