Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-02
VOL. XIX NEW SERIES. VOL. xxII

| pieasant one Cecil was transcendently loNe
ly. Both of the young men were desperate
ly in love with her. and each resolved, if pos
sible, to win her for his wife.
They settled themselves comfortably a
Zorlitz, hunted in the forest, and visited the
parsonage daily. Absorbed in his books, th'
Herr Pastor paid little heed to the visitors
whom Cecil entertained. June faded int
July, and August came and went, and still
the Englishmen fingered at Zorlitz. No on'
but sharp-eyed old Gretchen suspected thai
they were the lovers of little Cecil, or saw
the change in her young mistress
'She loves the English lord" the old wo
man said to herself. well contenied. "And
he loves her. The Herr Pastor is falling
one can see it but but when he dies the
little fraulien will have grand home and q
protector, and will not be driven to earn her
own living, as l have often fearedr'
1t was plain to Grafton that the young earl
was the favored lover of Cecil, but this con-
viction by no means dampened the ardor OF
his own love- or caused him to desist from his
| suit.
al shall win herl" he said to himself, grim
| ly. 81 can work and wait. In spite of any
obstacle in my path, III spite of Glenham S
beauty, rank. and wealth. in spite OF the fact
even that the girl loves him and dislikes me,
| will win her | devote myself, mind and
body, heart and soul, to the task-but if |
should fail as | shall not-I would utterly
destroy the girl before any other should pos
| sess herr
The hard, evil look in his eyes attested to
the htlruthfulness of this declaration.
| Al the month of August drew 10 c lose,
Lord Glenham began TO make preparations
to quit Zorlitz, as he had to return home to
keep his engagements with party of guests
whom he had invited to spend the month of
| September with him at his shooting box in
| the Scottish Highlands. On the eve OF his
departure he called upon Herr Brocken,
| avowed his love for Cecil, and asked for her
hand in marriage. The old pastor was deep
ly moved, and after considerable hesitation,
revealed TO the young nobleman secret
which affected him profoundly. On recover
ing from the shock. he asked:
docs Cecil know her history
mo; l have not dared yet to tell her"
Then keep it n secret still 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 can
not yet be. You shall not marry her on IL
generous impulse Besides, she is too young.
Go back to your own country 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 but a child she is only seventeen"
Lord Glenham was forced to acquiesce i'll
the old pastors decision.
Cecil was called in, and the earl took leave
of her in her guardians presence. His lord
ships tongue was silenced upon the subject
OF love, but his eyes told the tale his lips had
been forbidden TO utter, and the girls soul
thrilled under his worshipping gaze.
Il M, ,,o;,,, oua,- Gail call his Lori
ship, with tenderness he could not sup
press. 81 am going home to England, but !
shall return next summer. Good-by, Cecil
good-by, my darlingr'
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 her from him, he wrung the
pastors hand and dashed from the house.
An hour later Lord Glenham and Maldred
Grafton left Zorlitz on their way to England,
the latter promising to himself 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 small packet
upon which was impressed the. London post
mark.
The pastor tore open the letter 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 gen.
tie face growing troubled and perplexed.
"A letter." he muttered. "Ihe first letter
| ever received from Cecil's former guardian.
have received fifty pounds from HIM every
year, but never q scrap of writing before.
What has he to say to mef Does he intend
to take the child from me? Is the long mys-
tery OF fourteen years to be cleared away at
last:"
Herr Broken unfolded the mysterious let
ter, strange agitationiquivering through all
his nerves. He believed himself to stand
upon the threshold of the solution of the
strange mystery of Cecils origin. A blur
obscured his vision. He removed his specta-
cles and wiped them with trembling hand.
Then he spread out the sheet of paper his
eager old eyes fairly deyouring its contents.
The letter, as he noticed after reading it,
was written upon plain white paper. without
water-mark 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:
"HElR 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 written line TO you, nor
have heard from you directly, but am
aware that the child Is, unfortunately, still
alive. | have RENTED 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 il now
about seventeen years old, and quite able to
make her own way, | shall not send any
more money for her. As this is the first, it
will also be the last communication you will
ever receive from me.
81 suppose that she has been brought up,
in accordance with my instructions, as a
German peasant-girl, | suppose, also that
she is contented with her lot, since she has
never known any other. If she should mar
ry some wood-carver of your people, then
my best wishes for her welfare will have
been fulfilled.
1T is scarcely necessary for me to repeat
what told you fourteen years ago, that the
girl has no friends save those she may have
made at Zorlitz; no relations, and that the
best she can do for herself is to live and die
in the obscurity of the Black Forest. My
care and concern for her end herewith.
Neither she nor you will ever hear from Inc
again"
There was no signature TO this epistle.
Herr Brocken read it over the second time
and sighed heavily.
sThe unknown guardian washes his hands
of Cecil" he muttered. "All connection be-
tween tine girl and her early past Is now com
pletely severed. She will never solve the
mystery, will never know her origin. | al
most wish that had not sent Lord Glenham
away and yet could not do otherwise. Ac-
cnritpo tn tho Traditions and usap.s nf the
world, u girl like Cecil. no matter how great
her beauty. genius, and goodness, is no fit
ting wife for great lord.
The door opened while his eyes were rlvet-
ed on tho paper, and Cecil came i'll slowly,
half-shyly.
The pastor made a movement to put the
letter iii his desk, but changed his pur-
pose.
MY dear, he said. ''you seem somehow
less Of II child to me than usual tonight. My
heart is heavy and sore with many burdens.
Shall lay them upon your young shoul-
dersy"
The tender young face at once grew strong
er, with gravity and courage that touched
the old scholar.
Il did not know that YOU were bearing
cret burdens, uncle, said Cecil. Let me
help You DO you need money
The pastor glanced ut the two bank
ON his desk.
"No dear. it Is not any fear of p"yerty
that troubles mt, he said, gently. II feel
strangely weak | realize to night that | am
growing old ! may not live another year,
and there arc things you ought To know. |
will tell them to you now. Cecil, this hand
some English lord asked mo today for my
consent TO address you M your sultor.
The girl blushed and paled. and her eyes
glowed with swift and dazzling splendor-
what did you say. uncle" she whispered,
after little pause.
II bnde him wait year. told HIM that
you were too young to marry.
"He loves mel lie loves me- Coed snid to
herself softly, her glorious young beauty IA
diant as a star. "And he is coming bac6
next year Oh, uncle, am the ,happiest grl
in all the world tonight
The old pastor sighed and stroked her hair
with shaking hand. great struggle was
going on within him. At last IL look OF de
cision settled upon his careworn featuresa and
with his trembling hand resting on Cecils