CHAPTER IX. PARTED.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 125, 24 October 1885, Page 6

CHAPTER IX. PARTED.

The old Earl of Langdon had paid the penalty of his sin, and, in the words of Lady Melross, " gone to his last earthly home." The chapel crypt at Langdon Abbey had opened and closed upon him. Ot the crowd of guests who had paid the final act of respect to the murdered nobleman, but one remained— that one was Cyril Chesney. During the interval between his parting with Lillis in the morning room at Belgrave Square and the burial of the earl, he had scarcely seen her, and not once found the opportunity to exchange a word with her, so keen had been the secret surveillance of Lady Melross. But, the guests all gone, Lady Melross s obstructive policy suddenly ceased. The lovers were allowed to meet. It was in the little drawing-room off the great suits. "Thank Heaven, I can have you one moment to myself !" cried Cyril, taking her tenderly in his arms. " But, my darling, •why do you look so wan and troubled ? Life is before us, rich in promise, and brilliant with sweetest hopes. We can well afford to be happy ; let us be." Lillis lifted her head from his breast and gazed at him with hungry eyes of anxious love. Their lashes all at once heavy with rising tears, she exclaimed brokenly : "Oh, Cyril, it seems like death to see you go t Will death part us ? A great fear which I cannot define has hung over me like a pall ever since 1 entered the Abbey gates, and now that you are going— Oh, Cyril ! Cyril ! whatever comes to us, never forget that I love you entirely, and shall love you entirely to the last moment of my life !" She put up her arms with a gentle yet impassioned movement that made hia heart leap. The tears raining over her cheeks, she laid her head against his breast. '♦My poor, little, foolish darling," he murmured, caressing her, "you are only worn with the terrible event that has brought you here. I Bhali see you soon, very soon. I think of that even while grieving that I cannot remain another day at least. But it is impossible. Stern duty callea me back to London. And alas ! time presses already. I must catch the ■ext train, and 1 must secure an interview with your mother before I go. T&en, love," kissing away her tears, "make me happy with a bright smile, and I will seek her at •ace and—" „ , . . j A slow, icy voice starthngly interposed. "That trouble, JMr Chesney, I will spare you," said the voice. The velvet portieres were thrust roughly aside, and Lady Melross etood before them. She wa9 slightly breathless from the haate with which she had come ; but she repeated her words, adding, in the same icy.tones : * " The mother is here ! Ccld as her aspect usually WH, t was •w absolutely freezing. For a moment the lovers stood gazing at her in a petrified silence. She seized upoa the moment. «'lt needs no word?," Bhe went on, her lip curling as she glanced at Lillis, standing spellbound within Cyril's arm -"it needs no words to explain the nature of your business with me. I will settle the business at once. I will say plainly, unmistakably, you cannot marry Miss Melross. I not only disapprove of the alliance, but positively forbid it. Lillis, come to i" She put out her hand and caught the girl sharply from Cyril's side. Lillis, doubly atupified by a refusal as unexpected as it was heart-breaking, only gazed at her in a piteous, astonished silence. But Chesney was completely roused by the act. He bur3t out, wholly amazed and half incredulous: "It cannot be ! You do not mean it, Lady Melross ! Or you mean it only for the present -till Lillis is older?" •« I mean it for all time." " For all time !" Cyril echoed the words with a sharp ring oi anguish in his voice, returning the gaze of the hard, cold eyes that steadily dened "For all time !" he repeated, and his eyes flashed from Lady Melrosa to the pallid face Lillis still mutely and piteously raised toward her. " Oh, great Heaven !no ! With that impassioned outburst he involuntarily extended his arm to draw Lillis again to his side. Lady Melross interposed her own, and stepping back, exclaimed, haughti y : •• Are you so obtuse, Mr Chesney, as not to understand that I decline the honour of your hand for my daughter, and—" "Oh, mamma! mamma!" suddenly broke in Lillis, speaking for the first time, " you will not, you cannot be so cruel 1 Oh, mamma, dearest, what objection can you inuU to Cyril? Do you want to break my heart?" , „ . . . She stopped, chocked by rising tears. "Hearts are not so brittle," returned Lady Melross, coldly, and a little scornfully. "The day will come when you'H thank me for thta."

" Thank you ! I shall die !" oried the girl, with passionate conviction. « Lady Melross," said Ckesney, pale and azita'ed, but yet proudly dignified, " you say the day will come when Lillia will thank you—" '•I repeat it." " When Lillis will thank you for this cruel act," pursued Cyril, disregarding the interruption. ' l The words convey a covert charge which I cannot f\llow to paes unnoticed. Permit me to aek your meaning ; and permit me also to say that while I freely admit that no man could be worthy of Lillis's goodness, sweetness, and love, no man can be more worthy than I. Of my parentage I need not speak. You know it to be unexceptionable. Cf my life you know only that it w stainless in the eyes of the world. Let me »ay I try to keep it as stainless as man can in the eyes ofmy God. Lady Melross, did you mean to intimate the contrary?" m He stood grandly erect, with grandly lea- eyes fixed on her ladyship's foce Lillis looked at him -love, pride, and delight swelling her heart, to the momentary exclusion of every pang. Lady Melross looked at him in unwilling admiration. Tt gave a touch of gentleness to her reply. "I did not," she answered. "Against you personally I have no charge to bring. I only desire my daughter to wed rank and riches above yours, and now assert again that the hour is sure to come when ehe will thank me for my w rldly wisdom." Cyril Chesney's eyos flamed a noble indig- " And you would sell Lillis to the highest bidder 1 It is not the man, but his accessories. Lillis !" turning from Lady Melross in a passioa of love, anger, and despair, " will you make yourself a party to a crime like this ? For a crime it is ! Will you — " " Lillis will obey her mother !" interjected Lady Melross, in stately wrath. " Lillis will marry the man of my choica, whether it be her own or not." "Never! Cyril, never!" cried the girl, with glowing eyes. The next instant they were streaming tears. She clasped her hands imploringly ; she looked, she cried imploringly : "Oh, mamma ! you love me, I know ! Make me happy ! Give me to Cyril !" " In your own words I answer : 'Never ! Cyril, never !'" The fierce mockery, the iron resolution striking through that reply could not be described. The lovers stood overwhelmed. The Lady Melross went out, drawing Lillis's hand to her arm, and looking at Chesney. " You will remember, Mr Chesney, she said, icily, ''that my decision is final, and that from this hour I forbid Lillia to hold the slightest intercourse with you. Till this folly is forgotten you are to be strangers to each other." " Then we shall be strangers for ever ! cried Chesney, vehemently. "So be it." With that haughtily indifferent reply Lady Melross was about to lead Lillis away, when Chesney, forgetful of everything but his misery, threw himself before them. "Lillis! Lillia!" he cried, "are we to submit? Is our happiness to be wrecked for rank and riches ? My love !my darling ! brave all, and— ; " Disobey your mother !' interpolated Lady Melross, scornfully. Cyril fell back, pale and rebuked. " Heaven forbid 1" he ejaculated, brokenly. Lillis escaped Lady Melross's arm. She flew to Cyril. She put out both trembling hands. She looked at him with eyes of unutterable love. •'Trust me, Cyril!" she cried. '-No earthly power can make me false to my plighted troth. I love and must obey my mother ; but I am yours now, yours for ever. Till Heaven re- unites us, farewell ; and, Cyril, believe that Heaven will." Her radiant inspirations communicated itself to him. '■ I beliveit ! Heaven will ! he cried. He was about to fold her to his breastin a parting embrace, when Lady Melross in terposed. •' I cannot forbid you the house, Mr Chesney," she said, haughtily. "It is not mine. But understand that my daughter is mine. Whenever it pleasas you to visit Lord Langdon, Lillis will be a prisoner. I shall stamp out this folly at once and for ever." She was turning in the act of hurrying Lillis from the room, when a startling interruption occurred.