The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-01-16

my love to her"-(here Zillah sobbedl-
II doubt not she will; namely, that she
should do as every other young woman
of common sense and delicacy would
do, and wait until tomorrow, to ask
the consent of one who will then prob
ably be here, if he is not already ar
rived-her guardian, Mr.. Andrew Suth-
erland.n
Lieutenant Augustus burst out with
an oath, probably very mild in the
mess-room, but very shocking here to
two women's ears. Zillah crept farther
from him and nearer to me.
'I'll not be cheated sol'' storlned he.
Come, child, you'll trust your cousinY
You'll come away to-night?n-and he
tried to lift her on the car, which had
apprenticeship Irish driver evidently
much enjoying the scene.
NO. cousin, not to-night.o said the
girl, resisting. I'D rather wait and
have Miss Pryor with me. and proper
trademarks, and a wedding dress. and
all that-that is, if / marry YOU at ali.
which wont unless Miss Pryor thinks
you will be kind to me. So goodbye
till tomorrow, cousin.n
He was so enraged by this time that
he tried forcibly to drag her on the car
= ut lwotind my arms round my dear
child's waist and shrieked for help.
Faith, sir" said the sturdy Irish
man. interfering, half in amusement,
haif IN Indignation, 'ye'd betther lave
the women alone. I'd rather not med
die with an abduction
So Zillah was set free from the lieu
tenants grasp, for, as l said before. "A
scoundrel is often a great coward. |
drew the trembling and terrified girl
into the house-he following with
storm of oaths and threatenings. At
last forcibly shut the door upon him,
and bolted him out. Whether this in
dignity was too much for the yalorous
soldier, or whether he felt sure that all
chance was over, l know not; but when
looked out ten minutes after the coast
was clear. took my erring, wronged.
yet still more wronged than erring
child into my bosom, and thanked
Heaven she was saved
The next morning Mr.. Sutherland ar
rived.
After this nights events have little
to say, or rather | prefer to say but lit
tie, of what passed during the remain
der of that summer. We all travelled
to England together, going round by
Yorkshire in order to leave Mr.. Lee
Peers daughters at their own home.
This was Mr.. Sutherland's kind plan,
that the two girls might be kept in ig-
norance of the whole affair, and espec-
tally of their fathers ill-deeds. What
they suspected know not; they were
merely told that it was the desire of
Zillah is guardian to take her and her
governess home with him.
So we parted at Halifax and | never
saw any of tls family again. | had no
scruples about thus quitting them, as |
found out from Mr.. Sutherland that |
had been engaged solely as governess
to his ward, and that he had himself
paid my salary in advance; the whole
of which, i'll some way or other had
been intercepted by Mr.. lie Poer. The
money of course was gone; but he had
written to me with each remittance,
and thus I had lost his letters. That
was hardl
also found out. with great joy and
comfort, that my Zillah was truly Zil-
lah lie Poer-her fathers legitimate
daughter and heiress. All had been
led to believe was a cruel and wicked
lie. The whole history of her father
and mother was one of these family
tragedies, only too frequent, which, the
actors in them being dead, are best for
gotten. shall not revive the tale.
In late autumn Mr.. Sutherland sailed
for India. Before he quilted England
he made me sole guardian in his stead
over Zillah lie Poer, assigning for her a
handsome maintenance. He said he
hoped we should all live happily togeth-
er-she, my mother and Until he
came back He spent short time with
us all at his country seat-a time
which, looking back upon, seems in its
atr h los nc ln nin h 70
/ ought to speak of Zillah, the un-
moved center Of so many convolving
fates. She remained still and silent as
ever-dull, grieved, Inundated. told
her gradually and gently the whole
truth, and explained from how much
she had been saved. She seemed CRATE
full and penitent; it was clear that her
heart had never been touched by love;
she was yet a mere child. The only
evidence of womanly shame she gave
was in keeping entirely out of her
guardians way; nor did he take much
notice of her except in reproaching him
self to me with being neglectful of his
charge; but he had so thoroughly trust
ed in the girls uncle as being her best
protector.
The only remark he ever made on Iii
lah's personal self was that she had
beautiful eyes, adding, with a half sigh,
''that he liked dark Oriental eyes
One day his mother told me something
which explained this. She said he had
been engaged to a young lady in India,
who on the eve of their marriage had
died. lie had never cared much for
woman's society since, and his mother
After his departure | learned the whole
story. My heart bled over every pang
he had suffered; he was so good and
noble a man. And when | knew about
his Indifference to all women, felt the
more grateful for the trust he showed
in me, by making me Zillah's guard
ian in his absence. and wishing me to
write to him regularly of her welfare.
The last words he said were asking me
to go and see his mother often; and
then he babe God bless me, and called
me .'his dear friend.n lie was very
kind alwaysl
We had a quiet winter. for my health
was not good-I being often delicate in
winter time. My mother and Zillah
took care of me, and was very CRATE
full for their love. got well at last as
the springtime advanced, and went on
in my old ways.
There are sometimes long pauses in
ones life-deep rests or sleeps of years
In which month after month and season
after season, float on each the same;
during which the soul lies either quiet
any trouble, JOY or change, we lived for
several years-my mother, Zillah Le-
Poer and |. One morning | found,
with curious surprise, but without
any of the horror which most women
are supposed To feel at that fact that