The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-09-25

for assistance on being addressed bY
mistake by an unknown admirer: and
besides / did not wish TO put any love
notions into the girls head; they come
quite soon enough Of their own accord,
So merely said / had been startled by
hearing voices in the bushes-that Defs
haps we were intruders on the domain.
and bad better not stay longer.
ct the place seems retired and dee-
Olate, said I, as we walked down the
tangled walk that led to the beach, I'll
lab evidently unwilling to 90 home.
DO you ever meet any strangers about
herey''
She answered briefly, "No.p
Did you see any one to-night?''
Yes, given with . slight hesita-
ton. f $40 sa - - :
"Who was itp'' -.
A man, I think-st a distance.
Did he speak to your"
Igive these questions and answers
verbatim. to show-whaS I belieyed
then, and believe now, that so far as I
questioned, Zillah answered me truth
fully. / Shouts be sorry to think that
either at that time or any other she had
told me willful lie.-
But this adventure left an uncomfort-
able sensation on my mind-not from
any doubt Of Zillah herself, for she ap-
peared still too much of child, and too
awkward and unattractive, FIR me to
FEAR her engaging in love-affairs, clan
destine or otherwise, for some time to
come. Nevertheless, after this evening,
l always c0ntrived that we should take
our twilight strolls Ia company. and
that l should never lose sight of her for
more than a few minutes together. Yet
even with this precaution proved to be
very simple and short-sighted govern
ess after all
We had been at Hollywood whole
month, and began to wonder when we
should return home, as Zillah was quite
well, indeed more blooming than had
ever seen her. Mr.. lie POer made him
self visible once or twice, at rare inter-
vals; he had always business in Dub
lin" or country visits to pay" His
son acted as regent in his ABSENCE
always supposed by his desire; never
theless often noticed that these two
lights OF the family never shone tOgeth-
OF, and the fathers expected arrival was
the signal Of Mr. Augustus non-ap-
pearance for some days. Nor did the
girls ever allude to their brother. I
thought family quarrels might perhaps
have lessoned them in this, and SO was
not surprised.
1t was certainly relief to all when
the head of the family again departed.
We usually kept his letters for him, he
not being very anxious about them; for
which indifference. as / afterward COM
pretended, he might have good reasons.
Once there came a letter. knew from
whom-marked in the corner, If ab-
sent to be opened by Miss Pryor.
Greatly surprised was | to find it con-
talned bank-note, apparently hurried
ly inclosed, with this brief line:
If Zillah requires more let me know
ct once. She must have every luxury
needful for her health. A. S."
The initials certainly meant his name
Andrew Sutherland-nor could 1 be
mistaken in the hand. Yet it seemed
very odd, as had no idea that he held
over her more than a nominal guardian
ship, just undertaken out of charity to
the orphan, and from his having slight
ly known her father. At least so Mr..
LIE Poer told me. The only solution /
could find for his sending Zillah the
money was the simple one of its being
a gift, springing from the generosity OF
heart whose goodness l knew but toe
well
However, to be quite sure, 1 called
Caroline into counsel; thinking, silly as
she was, she might know something of
the matter. But she only Uttered, look
ed mysteriously important. and would
speak clearly on no point, except that
we had perfect right to use the money
pa always did; and that she wanted
new bonnet very badly indeed"
A day or two after, Mr.. lie Poer, re-
turning Unexpectedly, took the note in
to his own possession, saying, smiling
ly, that it was all right" and heard
no more.
But if 1 had not been the very sim
pleSt woman in the world l should GER
tainly have suspected that things were
not "all right" Nevertheless, I do not
now wonder at my blindness. How
rnrrlA I fhfs,ly 1fh fhor oF
man whom innocently supposed to be
q friend of Mr.. Sutherland?
So matters went on at Hollywood for
little time longer.
'Zillah, my dear, do not look so dis
appointed. There is no help for it
Your uncle told me before he left US
that We must go home next week"
So said 1 one day, trying to say it
gently, and not marvelin9 that the girl
was unhappy at the near prospect of
returning to her old miserable life. 1t
was a future so bitter that I almost
blamed myself for not having urged our
longer stay. Still human nature is
weak and I did so thiBst for home-my
own home. But it was hard that my
pleasure should be the poor child's
pain.
Don't cry, my love, - I went on, see
ing her eyes brimming, and the color
coming and going in her face;-strsnge
changes which latterly, on the most
trifling occasions, had disturbed the ap-
parent stOlidity Of her countenance.-
Don't be unhappy; things may be
smoother now; and / am sure your cous-
ins behave better and kinder to you
than they did; even the lieutenant is
very civil to you"
a sparkle, which was either pleasure
or pride, flashed from the girls eyes,
and then they drooped, unable to meet
mine.
BE content, dear child; all may be
happier for you than you expect. You
must write to me regularly-you can
write pretty well now, you know; you
must tell me all that happens to you,
and remember that in everything you
can trust me entirely"
Here l was astonished by Zillah's
and bursting into . storm of tears.
Anxisusly l asked her what was the
matter.
'Nothing-everythingl am so hap
py-so wretchedI All what must L
These words bubbled up brokenly
from her lips, but just at that unlucky
moment her three cousins came in. She
sprang up like frightened deer, and
was on to her own room. L did not see
her again all the afternoon, for Lieu-
tenant Augustus kept me in the parlor
on one excuse or another until was
heartily vexed at him and myself.
When went upstairs to put on my
bonnet-we were all going to walk that
evening-Zillah slipped away almost as
soon rs appeared. 1 noticed that she
was quite composed now, and had re-
sumed her usual manner. l called after
her to tell the other two girls to get
ready, thinking it wisest TO make no re-
marks concerning her excitement of the
morning.
To BE CONTINUED.