Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-21


to desist from his suit.
/ shall win her" be said to himself,
grimly. 81 can work and wait. In
spite of any obstacle in my path, in
spite of Glenham's beauty, rank, and
wealth. in spite OF the fact even that the
girl loves him aud dislikes me, | will win
herl devote myself, mind and body,
heart aHd soul, to the task-but it
should fsil-as l shall not--I would ut
terly destroy the girl before any other
should possess herp'
The hard evil look in his eyes attested
to the truthfulness OF this declaration.
AS the month Of August drew to a
close, Lord Glenham began to make
preparations to quit Lorlilz, as he had
to return home to keep his engagements
with party of guests whom be had in-
vited to spend the month of September
with him at his shooting box in the Scot.
tish Highlands 0a the eve Of his de-
psrture he called upon Herr Brocken,
avowed bis love for Cecil, and asked for
her hand in marriage. The old pastor
was deeply moved, and after considers-
BILE hesitation, revealed to the young
noblsman secret which affected him
profoundly. On recovering from the
shock he asked @
Does Cecil know her history2'
No; | have not dared yet to tell her "
Then keep it secret ttill from her
She must never know it. And give her
to me, Mein Herr, if she will marry me,
and let me guard and protect her.
You are generous, my lord, but this
cannot yet be. You shall not marry her
on generous impulse. Besides, she is
tco young. 60 back to your own couu-
try for one year. leave her to me- and if,
another summer. you still love Cecil,
come and claim her. But now you must
not speak to her Of love She is bat a
child-she is only seventeen
Lord Glenham was forced to acqui.
eace in the old pastor decision.
Cecil was called in, and the earl took
leave Of her 10 her guardians presence,
His lordship's tongue was sienced upon
the subject of love, but his eyes told the
tale bis lips had been forbidden to utter
and ths girls soul thrilled under his
worshiping gaze.
/ am going away, Cecil" said his
lordship, with tenderness be could moi
repress g am going home to England
but | shall return next summer Good.
by, Cecil-good'by, my darling"
The sorrow 10 her sweet eyes robbed
him Of his selfcontrol He caught her
10 his breast and showered kisses on her
pure young face in an irrepressibe agi
tation. Then, gently putting her from
him, he WIRING the pastors hand and
dashed from the house.
A hour later Lord Glenham and Nal
dred Grafton left Zorliiz on their way ia
England, the latter promising to himself
a sDeedy aud sec-et return.
That evening, as the good old pastor
sat alone in his study. meditating upon
the great event of the day, ths door
opened and old Gretchen came in, bear
ing in one hand lighted candle, in the
other small packet upon which was i'm
pressed the London postmark.
The pastor tore open the packet as
soon as Gretchen had retired Tive En-
glish bauknotes fell upon his knee, and q
folded sheet of paper, upon which he
saw handwriting, followed them.
The old scholar started, recoiling his
gentle face growing troubled ana per
plexel.
"a letter." he muttered. "The firsr
letter | ever received from Cecil's former
guardian. | have received fifty pounds
from him every year, but never scrap
of writing before. What has be to say
to meP Does he intend to take the child
from me? Is the long mystery of four.
teen years to be cleared away at lsst?'
Herr Brocken uniolded the mysterious
letter, a strange agitation quiYering
through all his nerves. He believed him
self to stand upon the threshold of the
solution of the strange mystery of Cecil's
origin. A blur obscured his vision He
removed his spectacles and wiped them
with trembling hand Then he spread
ool the sheet of paper, his eager old eyes
fairly deyouring its contents,
The letter, as he noticed after reading
II, was written upon plain white paper,
without water-mark or imprint of any
sort whatever The handwriting was
coarse, and slsnted backwards, with evi
dent attempt at disguise. There was no
date TO the letter, which was as follows
HERE BBooKEY: 1t is now fourteen
years since ! left With you the little,
nameess child whom you agreed to bring
up, and In ell that time | have never
written line TO you, nor have | heard
from you directly, but am aware that
the child is, unfortunately, still alive. !
have remitted regularly TO you for her
support the sum Of fifty pounds per an.
mum | remit that sum herewith, as
usual, in Bank Of England notes As
she is ROY about seyenisen years old,
and quite able to make her own way, /
shall not send any mere money for her
Az this is the arstl il will also DO The last
communication you will ever receive
from ne,
u suppose that she has been brought
mp, in accordance with my instructions,
as German peasant-grl. l suppose,
also that she is eontented with her lot,
since she has never known any ether. II
she should marry some wood.oarver OF
your people, then my best wishes for her
welfare will have been fulfilled.
ut is scarcely necessary for me to re
peat what | told you fourteen years ago,
that the girl has no friends save those
she may have made at Zorltz; no rela-
tions; aud that the best she can do for
herself is to live and die in the obscuriiy
OF the Black forest My care end oon
cern for her end herewith Neither she
nor you can ever hear from me again "
there was no signature to this epistle.
Herr Brocken read it over the second
time and sighed heavily
NThe unknown guardian washes his
hands Of Cecil he muttered. "All con
nection between the girl and her early
asst is now completely severed. She will
pegeF golye the mystery will never know
her origin. alTqqst Wish thai | had Net
sent Lord Glenham away, and yet | could
,ot 40 otborr;sa A Accord;pr7to tbo 80