The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-28

thrilled under his WOrShlplng gaze.
4 am going away, Cecil, said his lord
ship, with a tenderness ne could not repress
Il am going home to England but | shall
return next summer. Good-by, Cecil
goOd-oy, my darling!'
The sorrow in her sweet eyes robbed him
of his self-cOntrol. He caught her to his
breast and showered kisses on her pure
young face in an irrepreSsible agitation.
Then, gently putting lrer from him, he
wrung the pastors hand and dashed from
the house.
An hour later Lord GIenham and Maldred
Grafton left Zorlitz on their way to England,
the latter promising TO himself a speedy and
secret return.
That evening as the good old pastor sat
alone in his study, meditating upon the
great event of the day, the door opened and
old Gretchen came in, bearing in one hand a
lighted candle, in the other a small packet
upon which was impressed the London post
mark.
The pastor tore open the packet as soon as
Gretchen had retired. Two English bank
notes fell upon his knee, and folded sheet
Of paper, upon which he saw handwriting,
followed them.
The old scholar started recoiling. his gem
tie face growing troubled and perpleXed.
"a letter?p he muttered. The first letter
| ever received from Cecirs former guar
dian. / have received fifty pounds from
him every year but never a scrap of writing
before. What has he to say 20 me? Does
he intend to take the child from me2 Is
the long mystery of fourteen years to be
cleared away at last?'
Herr Broken unfolded the mysterious
letter. a strange agitation quivering through
all his nerves. He believed himself to stand
upon the threshold of the solution Of the
strange mystery of Cteils origin. A blur
Obscured his vision. He removed his spec
= Il III IL
hand. Then be spread out the sheet of pa
per, his eager old eyes fairly devouring its
contents.
The letter, as he noticed after reading it,
was written upon plain, white paper, with
out Nater-mark or imprint of any sort what
ever. The handwriting was coarse and
slanted backwards, with evident attempt at
disguise. There was no date TO the letter,
which vas as follows:
HERR BRoCKEN: 1t is now II years since |
left with you the little nameless child whom
you agreed TO bring up, and in all that time 1
have never written q Hue TO YOU, nor have L
heard from you directly, but am aware that
the child Is, unfortunately. still alive. / have
RENTED regularly TO you for her support the
sum or $50 per annum. | remit that sum here
with. as usual, in Bank Of England notes. As
she is now about IL years old, and quite able TO
make her own way, shall not send any more
money for her. AS this Is the first, il will also
be the last communication you will ever re-
suppose that she has been brought up, 1.
accordance with my instructions, as German
tented with her lot, since she has never KIN .wn
any other. IL she should mary some wood
carver OF your people, then my best wishes for
her welfare viii have been fulfilled.
IL is scarcely necessary for Inc to repeat
what told you II years ago, that the girl has
no frienos save those she may have made at
Zorlitz: no relations: and thai the best sbe can
do for herself il to live and die in the obScur-
ity of the Back Forest. Ny 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.
The unknown guardian washes his hands
of Cecil" he muttered "All connection
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 Glen
ham 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 fitting
wife for great lord"
The door opened while his eyes were riv-
eted on the paper, and Cecil came in slowly
half shyly.
The pastor made a movement to put the
letter In his desk but changed his purpose.
my dear" he said, you seem somehow
less of a child TO me than usual tonight.
My heart is heavy and sore with many bur-
dens. Shall lay them upon your young
shoulders?"
The tender young face at once grew
stronger, with gravity and courage that
touched the old scholar.
Il did not know that you were bearing Sc
cret burdens. uncle" said Cecil LET me
help you. Do you need money!"
The pastor glanced at the two bank notes
on his desk.
mo, dear. it is not any fear of poverty
that troubles me- he said gently. IL feel
strangely weak. | realize tonight that am
growing old l may not live another year,
and there are things you ought to know. /
will tell them TO you now. Cecil, this hand
some English lord asked me to-day for my
consent to address you as your sutton"
The girl blushed and paled, and her eyes
glowed with swift and dazzling splendOr.
What did you say. uncle3 she whis-
pered, after little pause. q
Il babe him wait year. / told him that
you we're too young to marry"
"He lOvrs mel He loves mel" Cecil said
to herself softly, her GLORIOUS young beauty
radiant as a star. "And he is coming back
in year, On. uncle, am the happiest girl
in all the world to night"
The old pastor sighed and stroked her hair
with a shaking hand. A great struggle was
going on within him. At last look of de-
cision settled upon his careworn features
and with his trembling had resting on Cecls
head he told her her history as far as he knew
it. He also informed her that he had told
il to Lord Glenham, and that it seemed
to make him love her all the more.
He then handed her the letter from her I'M
known guardian, closed his eyes and leaned
back in his chair. HIS face looked singular
ly worn and sorrowful in the dim light, and
there was a WEAKNESS in the dropping fea-
lures that told of extreme physical weak
ness. No one marked the rapid change of
expression in the young face at his knee,
the passionate anguish in the sweet eyes, the
tense lines about the lovely mouth. the bit
terne>s horror. and despair indicated ~ all
her perfect features
The letter fell at last from Cecil's hand,