New-York tribune., 1896-11-15


off almost as a matter Of course. every scnoiar-
ship for which he chose to compete; at coiiese u
would be difficult to say whether ne nao dstin
guished himself more in the schools or IN tne
cricket field After being called to the bar, ne
obtained his first brief in the very frst year py
the most improbable accident In the worio' anu
so distinguished himself that the certainty OIL a
great future lay before him. In short. Cecrs
luck" was prOverbal ,,..,
II such run Of luck had spoiled MIN ht.ie'
II would have been difficult to blame MN severe
w. But his naturally sunny and unselnsn nature
had carried him through the ordeal. and MS ever
ready sympathy with everybody less rortunate
than himself was proverbial now as III MS
childish days. x, -.
Sometimes. as he thought Of the troubles OF
others. Cecil had almost trembled at MS unlh.e n T.
r,lpted good fortune. What was the trouple IN
store for him? The sorrow which should counter
balance, perhaps outweigh, these long years Oh
plenty and content? 1t could not be that ne
alone should escape the common lot. HIS vSi! .I,
successes had made him walk the more warmy, sac,,
At least he would give no onence 10 the uh'ee"
powers by pride and presumption. %
And then at last there came to him. as 10
others, a time Of perplexity and trial.
Cecil Hartley was sitting hard at work In N, MS
chambers one dreary December afternoon. ne
Christmas holidays were close at hand' anu ne
had large accumulation OF unavoiuap.e Tsars
to clear off before he could leave town. IneLc
was little time to spare for idle musing yet every
now and again the young man paused lor ne"
minutes and gazed wearily out OF the dus'y VIII ho
garden Of the old-fashiOned square
He had been both brave and patient all tnrouen
the long, dreary months which had gone ny slhIs
under the glowing Italian sunshine he mad salo
goodbv to Grace Thornton The autumn had
come and gone; winter had laid its grip on ,ie
land and still there came neither word nor token.
Those few brief weeks OF summer mappnrSs shnrSs
seemed remote as were the sunny southern shorcs
from This smoke -begrimed and sordid Lonion
outlook. a., .ra., .o
When-after having stretched his holiday 10
hnnr
started In hot haste for England ne
had left Miss Thornton and her aunt Sun,
travelling In Italy. Before they parteo
Grace had renewed her promise OF commuhical a.
ing with him on their return to England. be
yond that he could obtain no smallest cohces-
sion: no photograph, no promise or sinsie ie.
ter. no clew to their future movements olhce
We have sa id that Cecil was gifted with more
than the usual share OF imaslnatio.i, ', Ia, do
tricks II had played him since that partins III
the long restlesss nights what visions IL haa
conjured up Of every conceivable III whicn couiu
happen to two unprotected women travelling III
a foreign land! ,s
haunted by a terrible dread that the woman
who had come so suddenly into his lie might
simply vanish out OF 1t with equal suddenre,s
Then. as he realized how great biamS wouna tha
be left In his life. he cried almost aloud 10 tne
Powers OF Life and Death for some cer'a'h
tidings OF the woman he loved
But there was no answer to the cry. week
after week went by-tne weeks gre" W iii'.l''.
and still-sencc. AS each post arrived Cecm
scanned with eager hope the cover or ever
letter in search OF the well-remembered writlns,
but always In vain. And now Christmas was
at hand. the wear which had taught him what
love meant was all but dead, and he must
enter on the new year still In ignorance "ne'"e.
that love to be the crown OF MS hie VI
it's bitterest grief ,,
This particular afternoon was an especlaliy
dreary one. even for London In December. Inc
weather outside was atrocious-the WORK pi'
,1r.I,
teresting: his head was aching badly-his nre
was alternately smoking and sulklng.and MS
favorite clerk was at home Ill with influenza.
Another batch of letters by the afternoon
mail With renewed hope Cecil glanced AT tneir
covers: then he pushed them aside impatientlyT :,
all official therefore just at that minute all
unintercSting.
Presently however n convenient season hav-
Ing arrived he proceeded somewhat languidly
TO inspect their contents. one among theh' as
he read IT, awakened little curiosity
Dear Sir The Lord Chancellor desires me 20
request that you will II possible. favor him with
an interview a his private residence tomorrow
al :, o'clock. ShOvd YOU he unable 10 90 So
kindly mention when you would be free. as the
Lord Chancellor is anxious TO see you WITHOUT
delay. 49,,
vate secretary Cecil was puzzled. He passed
in mental review the principal matters then
engaging his attention. but without iinding
clew TO the meaning OF this unexpected man,
date. He looked again at the envelope anu
noticed that It was marked Private TINS
was still more lerplexing. But Cecil was 100
tired lust then for useless speculation. and the
morrow would make the matter clear. 30 ar
ter dispatching a note TO accept the appnih'-
ment he returned once more to his tedious
work. though II with aching head ana
weary heart that he did so. Had his luck
really deserted him at last?
VII.
.vyill you take that chair. Mr.. Hartley? And
will YOU kindly excuse nv finishing this letter
II is OF Importance. In few minutes snail
be at your service. You Will find the evening