The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-02-19

glish bank notes fell upon his knee, and
a afolded eheet OF paper, upon which he;
saw handwriting, followed them.
The old scholar started, recoflfng, his
gentle face growing troubled and per-,
picked. 81
. "a ietterW he muttered. "The first
letter ever received from CeciPs former
guardian. l have received fifty pounds
from him every year, but never scrap
of writing before. What has he to say
to me? Does be intend to take the child
from me?i ls the long mystery Of four.-
teen years to be cleared away at lastT'
Herr Broken .untolded the my sterieus
through all his nerves. He believed
himself to stand upon the threshold OF
the solution of the strange mystery OF.
CeciPs origin. A blur obscured his vis--
ion. He removed his spec acles and
wiped them with trembling hand
Tnen he spread out the sheet OF paper,
his eager old eyes fairly devoufing its
contents.
The letter, as he noticed after reading
it, was written upon plain white paper,
without watermark or imprint of any
sort whatever. The handwriting was
coarse, and slanted backwards, with
evident attempt at disguise. There
was no date to the letter, which was as
follows:
"HERR BRoCKEN: 1t is now fourteen
years since | lett with you the little,
nameless child whom you agreed TO bring
up, and in all that time l have never
written a line to you, nor have heard
from you directly, but l am aware tAat
the child IS, unfortunately, stlll atlVe.
l have RENTED regufarlyto you Tor her
support the sum OF fifty pounds per an.
mum. 1 remit that sum herewith, as
usual, in Bank IG England notes. AS
she is now about seventeen years OLD,
and quite able to make her own way, L
shall not send any more money for her.
AS this is the first, it Will also be the
last communication you Will ever re-
celve from me.
81 suppose that she has been brought
up, in accordance with my instructions,
as German peasanl-sirl. suppose,
also, that she is contented with her lot,
since she has never known any other.
LII she should marry some WooG-cdrVer
of your people, then my best wishes Tor
her welfare will have been filled.
"It is scarcely necessary lor me to re-
peat what L told you fourteen years ago,
that The girl has no trends save those
she may have made at Zprlitz; no rela-
tlons; and that the best she can do for
herself is to live and die in the obscurity
of tho Black Forest. MY care and con-
Germ for her end herewith. Neither she
nor YOU wilr ever hear from me again"
There was no signature TO Lnis eplstle.
Herr Brocken reid ii rne second Time
and sighed heavily.
"rhe unknown guardian washes his
hands of Lecll," he muttered. "All con
necLlon between the girl and her early
past is now completely severed. She
viii never solve tne mystery, viii never
know ner origin, [ almost wish that l
had nor sent Lord GIenham away, aud
vel could not do otherwise. Accord
ing To the traditions and usages OF the
w1rld. a pirl like Cecil. no natter how
prpaG ner beauty, geniu, and goudness,
Is no, ii ting wlle lOr a great lord"
The door opened while his eyes were
riyeted ont paper, and Cecil came in
slowly, half.shyly.
The pastor made a movement to put
the letter in his desk, but changed mis-
purpose.
.lIy dear" he said, "you Sc EN- some-
how less OF a child to me than usual To-
night. My heart is heavy and sore with
many burdens. Snal | lay them upon
your young shoulders 2"
The tender young lace at once grew
stronger, Win d SIhflIy anu COuIdR Z
that toucned the otd scno,ar.
~ did not know thai YOU were bear
Ing secret burdens, uncIe," SAID Cecil.
"LeL me help you. DO you need
mOneyW r.s ..
The pastor glanced at the two bank
nOLes on his desk.
"No, dear, 1T Is not any fear. OF p0y-
erty that troubles me-" he said, gently.
Il feel strangely WeaK. l realize to-
night that am grolng old. may not
live ANOTHER year, and Inere are tlings
you ought TO know. l Will tell them 70
you now. Cecl, this handsome Englisn
lord asked me To-day for my consent 10
| address you as your suiLor." t...
The glrl DIushed and paled, and her
eyes glOwed with swift and dazzling
sElendor.
"W nat dld you say, uncleT she whls-
pered, alter a little pause.
81 bade him Walt year. l told him
that you were too young To marry"
"He loves me! lie loves meW Cecil
| said 10 herself softly, her 6 orious young
beauty radiant as a star. And he is
coming back next year! On, uncle, l am
| the htppiest girl in all The world TO-
nlghti'
4 ~. Il Nx., Ill, 4 l.