ZILLAH SEATON'S SECRET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2613, 9 August 1876, Page 3

ZILLAH SEATON'S SECRET.

(Prom the Argotyy) (Conoluded.)

It was on the last day of August that Zillah's mood changed. I remember the date well. The postman had delivered the morning letters ; one for my father on business, two for Zillah from sohool friends, and one for me.

Zillah read her letters listlessly as usual, had put both down before I had finished the second page of mine, and she then took up the newspaper. Suddenly there was a sbarp ory, and we looked up startled. It came from Zillah. She was pale as death, and had risen from her seat, the newspaper dropping from her nerveless hand.

" Why, what is the matter P" I asked, in

alarm.

The question seemed to bring her to her senses. She smoothed her face, into whioh the oolour was returning, and affected to laugh. "Do forgive me, Baohel ! I have not lost my foolish fear of spiders." And with that she escaped, and ran np stairs.

Ralph looked at me. My father, dulled with age, was spelling out his letter through bis speotaoles. " I did not see any spider, Ralph !" " It was no spider, Raohel," he answered, in a whisper $ " ifc was something in tbis newspaper!" He picked it up, and ran his eyes over the columns she had been looking at We carried it outside, and gazed at them together. "I see nothing that would concern her," said Ralph, telling over aloud the items of news ; " great fire. Shook of an earthquake. Servant girl drowned. Two young men got drinking in Ireland, quarrel, shot at eaoh other with pistols, one of them—Gerald Oakley— is wounded mortally, dies. Arrival of the Sultan. Wheat gone np a shilling a quarter— aod so on, and so on," concluded Ralph; "all this can be nothing to Zillah."

" Let me look for myself, Ralph," 1 said, taking the paper from bis band, fully persuaded he had missed something or otber that would prove the clue. But no ; I could see nothing. And I told Ralph that, after all, it must have been a spider. From that day Zillah ohanged. She became herself again. Her oheeks regained their bloom, ber eyee twinkled like twin stars. Old Dr Wall put it all down to his physio. She became gay, too, mere like the Zillah of old, and astonished us all by her flow of spirits. Mr Proudleigh was fairly astonished at the ohange in her. His attentions were unobtrusive, but none oould doubt that he was seriously attaohed to Zillah.

" It is all owing to a spider," said Ralph one day in the lawyer's hearing ; " Zillah saw a spider one morning, and ifc pleased her so she cannot get over it yet; I hope she won't." . . .

I saw Zillah flush, and pale, and shiver under Ralph's light words. Before two months had passed, Zillah was as bright, as sparkling, as witty, as beautiful as ever. She had her days of gloom, wben her moods were alternately sullen and sad ; "the blues," she oalled them ; but in tbe main she was -jnst tho same as of old, only more fascinating. She played and sang a great deal, and her voioe was really remarkable in its strength and sweetness. Mr Proud leigh's visits became more frequent, and we all saw how it would end. We had no objeotion. Cliff Proudleigh was a noble young fellow, and if Zillah must marry some time, we were glad it should be to bim, and not farther away from ns. December camo in. In tbat month they were formally betrothed, and the marriage was to be on the third of April. Zillah crept to my room and showed me her ring, and hid her wet faoe in my lap, after she had given Cliff her promise.

" Why these tears, Zillah ?" "lam so happy— and yet so miserable ?" she whispered, in answer. « Miserable ! and why ?" I asked, in sur» prise. " Because I — l have been concealing something from you so long ; oh, Rachel, I must tell you ; but don't blame me, don't despise me, for Heaven knows I have suffered enough for my folly." "Well, ohild, what is it P" " Bat promise me, Rachel, that you will not reveal what I tell yon." I stroked the soft obeek soothingly. "Whatever you tell me, little sister, I promise yon shall never be betrayed. Yon may trust me." " I have wanted to tell yoa ever since I came home," she said ; "but I never oould muster the courage until to-night ; now I feel as if I oould not rest until yon knew it ; I oannot marry Cliff until it is told ; it is something about my sohool life, BaoheL" "Well, well, dear; let me know it, what ever it be.** "We bad great liberty, you must understand; great liberty; a oollege is not like a sohool, where you are watched over; tt waft*,

this one was not; young ladiee, when they oome to a certain age, are now trusted mere than they used to be ; some of the pupils live out of doors, and we could visit them almost as we liked."

"I see what yon are going to tell me, Zillah ; you picked np a lover." "Yes; Gerald Oakley; he was a bold, reckless, strikingly handsome young man; a brilliant scholar, of dashing manners ; jest the sort of man to dazsle a silly girl; and half the girls in tbe college were in love with his handsome black eyes and glossy curls ; I never luved him; indeed, Rachel, I never loved him; but I was daxsled by bis atten* tion, and proud of being envied by the girls ; he made me protestations of love, and wae so impassioned, so persistent, that I entered into an engagement of marriaf ; tbat was just before I came bome last year." "And you never told us !" She shook her head.

" Immediately opon my return to scbool he began to urge me to consent to a secret marriage ; he never oouH be happy, he aaid, until be knew tbat I was his, and his alone ; be wanted to be ture ot me, and a year wae so long to wait; we could be married secretly, and keep it a secret until Uie proper time appointed for our marriage, he urged ; when we could be re-married again publicly, and no one need over know what had passed unlet* we ohoso to tell ; he wa* rich, he eaid, and had a good home v j givo me eventually, oue that my father could not object to, and he meant to read for the bar, and make his mark in the world."

" But did you listen to tbis, Zillah ?" " I would not listen at first, and ho became angry, and for a week we scarcely spoke to each other; it made ma almost wild with jealous pain wben I saw him smiling down upon tbe other girls, and I thought then tbat I could risk anything rather than lose bim j well, Rachel — don't frown; don't make me think worse of myself than I already do— he arranged matters, aad we were married in private in tome old city ehorotu I gasped for breath. Speak to her I could not. Zillah went 00.

"For a few months the romance of the deed, and the novelty of being a bride in secret, and the exultation of knowing that the handsomest man in Uie world waa mine, were sll enough for me ; thai I began to thick, how harsh I had been."

"And you went baok to oollege all the same ? " 1 said breathlessly. "Of course I did j but I oould go out to meet him when I liked ; I have tola you we elder girls had great liberty." "How do yoa know it was a legal marriage t» "Ob, it wae tbat, Rachel; the olergyman gave me a certificate." «* Well, go on."

"Gerald grew tyrannical in time, and was unreasonably and absurdly jealous if I even chatted for a moment with anyother gentleman in his presence. He was indiscreet in his conduct too, would demand that I should go out to see him at times when he knew we were not allowed to go out, and then would upbraid me for oot coming. I lived in constant fear that my secret would be discover*!. Day by day I discovered new faults in my husband ; I saw how selfish he waa, how unprincipled; in short, how worthless; and I grew to dread to see him. When six months had passed, my eyes were fully opened, and I saw how foolishly reckless ray oonduot had been; but it was too late. Gerald was changing in other ways. His manners, his language, grew bad ; aad lat length found tbat he was frequently intoxicated."

"Oh, Zillah!"

"My yoke almost maddened me. It is no wonder I grew haggard and hollow-eyed. Bat neither governesses nor schoolfellows suspected the cause. They oalled it over-study ; and I did indeed study hard those Weeks, to keep up witb the rest for examination. Gerald grew worse. He offended one day against the laws of order, and got locked up by tbe police. One of his friends, speaking of it before me, said he had never in all his life known any young man who had suocumbedto vice in the rapid manner that Gerald Oakley had." "Good heavens, ohild !"

"One day he dared to oome to the oollege and ask to see me. We were in tbe Frenoh room. Mrs Hervey, not understanding who it was, only that a visitor bad oalled to see me, said I might go. Gerald was waiting in tha reception-room. He had b«en drinking, and was in a half-maudlin, half-reckless mood. ♦We have both been fools,' he eaid ; 'lamaa siok of it as you are, Zillah, and I propoee that we say quits. I got you into this, and I will let you off, without saying a word to anybody, if you will me. I could not take yon with me, you see.' 'Where are you going?' l gasped. 'Over to Ireland; called away on business. Let it be so. I will go my way and yon shall go yours, and we will never molest each other, and it shall be as if we bad never met. Tbe man who married us is dead, and the secret shall stay between you and me. If I propose this, Zillah, it is yonr fault; and it is as muoh for your sake as mine; for you have learnt to hate me, and you know it."'

" And what did you answer P" "I seised npon his suggestion with eager* ness, for death itself would have been preferable to life with him. I felt that my life waa for ever blighted, but it gave me a little relief to think he was willing to go and leave me in peace ; and he went. He was true to his word, and never, lam sure, lisped the secret to a soul. To this day no living being knows or suspects what I have told you, save myself. Gerald Oakley is now dead. Isaw his death in the paper that day when I oried out. It was he who wae shot in that quarrel in Ireland, and killed. That newspaper is in ray drawer here, and von oan nad what it says. I know I was wicked and shsfol to foel so glad ever suoh a death ; but oh, Rachel, it waa horrible to think I was his lawful wife, and that he might some time olaim me. It was jnst Hke thenightmMre all the time. Andnowtellme: do you think it is wrong to keep this a secret from Cliff P I cannot tell him, it seems tome, and he will never know it unless I do. Heed I tell him P"

My eyee grew dim with tears of oonipassion as I looked down in the pleading eyes and agonised young face. " The secret appears to be safe," I said, after thinking, "as the clergyman and Gerald ara both dead. As to Mr Proudleigb f-well, I hardly know. Ton should have told him tbif bef ore aooepting him." "But I did not— l oould not. Oh! Rachel, don't say I must tell him now!" I did not say it. It was wrong of me, I know; but I felt for Zillah. She covered my face with kisses.

And still the days went by, md evwy oot Drought Zillah's wedding day nearer. Ska and Cliff seemed twa ae happy jorm as evsr

daya long gone, when I— bufc this story is not about me.

I knew that Zillah fairly worshipped Cliff wifch all the ardour of hor nature, and ho loved her wifch as a pure passion as over man felt for woman. Her voice seemed fco soar up to the clouds sometimes. I used to wonder, whon I heard her singing, if she went up to heaven in fche night and learned her notes from tho angels. And.se fche winter melted away, and Maroh oamo in. A lovely March, bright and mellow aa May. It wanted but two weeks to the wedding, when one evoning Mr Proudleigh oame up later than usual. Zillah was atthe piano, singing a now littlo song. Sho began it again for her lover. " I should have beon here oarlisr," ho oarolessly remarked, as sho finished ; *" but tor having to go to Woxborough to-day on business.

" All tho way to Woxborough !" exolaimed Zillah.

" I went by train. And whon thero I met with an old acquaintance whom I had not seen since we were boys togothor— but ho is younger than I, I should not havo recognised bim but for heoriug his namo oalled oufc. He was standing at tho door of tho Old Bull Inn, looking fearfully ill, and his arm in a sling." " An accident, I suppose P" "I suppose so, Raohael. He did not explain } only that ho had beon shot, and injured inwardly, as well as having his arm broken. . All ho eaid to mo about it was, that he had got into a quarrel some time ago, and it ended in his beiog shot," " What's his name ? Does ho live at Wexborough P " " No ; ho does nofc livo thero. Never, so ras I know, wan thoro boforo. His namo is Oakley-Gerald Oakley,!" A minute's pause j and thon Zillah's hands seemed to bo playing curious work with tho keys. I ran up to save her from falling. '' She has been singing all the evening/' I aaid, as they came round her, wonderingly, "and has ovortaxud her strength. Ralph, | open the window. Ib is only a fainting flfc. And do you all ploaae go out, and send Harriet in. Yes, even you, Mi** Proudleigh. She will .get round qui.-kor alono." We got her upstairs. to bed; and I kept everybody awoy from hor, and took my own things to her r<-jm for tho aighb. Mr Proudleigh went homo concerned. Ztllah'a grief and despair wero awful. I could not, comfort hor — how could I ? —and thought it would end in bfaia fevor. For fcsvo 01? three dajs sho stayed in bod, Her lover camo over, but sho would not eee him. Sho would seo no ono but rae. " What ia fcb<: mattor with her P" my father a nd tho boya Kept nuking j and to that I only answered that, Bho needed quiet and rest. S he would oover hor face, and oob and moan, a sking whafc fiho >vaa to do, and wishing sho 0 ould dio. I was wel.l nigh orassed myself — roy brain waa in a whirl. At any timo, m ifc seemed to me, tvd might; expect lo soo Gerald Oakloy. Wiaat, eleo could ho havo pono to Woxborough for, but to como on to Zillah P J I bad had many a triul iu uiy lifo, bufc nono like, this. It wu* on tho third afternoon that a note came from Mr Proudleigh, to inquire how Zillah was', and to nay that ho Bhould not bo able to como himself that day. Paor Zillah tossed her burning hond from eide to side on the pillow iis ehe mid it. "Don't, Zillah. Do try to. bo moro calm. you will surely have a fovor." . , " I wish I could. hav<)on>v~-and rfio !" was fcho answer ; " oh, wliwfc will become of mo ? — what will beooKie of mo 9" In despair, for flm wns woiw than ovor today, I sont for old Jlr Wall. Zillah feigned sleep when he camo, and would iiot speak to him. But he' saw her /lashed faoe. " What ie ohe> so excited ovor?" asked tbo old man; "this wedding. 'of hers that's coming off P If bq, tbo sooner it'n over tho better. I will B"r,d hor a flodativo." Sho took the I Nativo ; she did tako that. "I wish 'it was a doso of laudanum," alio cried, "that w/.uld put mo to sleep Uv ever." Tho next evening, an usual, Mr Proudleigh camo. My Brothers woro all out, my father was asloep, and 1 had to go down to him. "Did you got uiy noto yostorday, Miss Seaton P" he arkod, aftor making inquiry after Zillah. . " Oh, yes. Your servant brought it quite safely," I replied, "I got a telegrnm from Woxborough this morning, asking mo to go ovor to seo tho gentleman I told you of—Gerald Oakloy. He was worse, and the landlord of fcho Bull telegraphed. I made what haste I could 5 but it was too late." "What do you moanP—how too laleP" I oried, my hoart boating. " When I got thoro poor Oakloy was dead. Ho had died only ton minutes bofore." I went to tho opon window, apparently to look at something j in reality, to gasp away my emotion, and got a ' breath 'of' fresh, oold air. " What was tho mattor with him P " I eaid, etriving to opponr calm and careless. *' That old inward injury he spoke of, fcho shot, had not healed, and there arose sudden complications which speedily endod iu death. Poor fellow I Tho landlord said he was most anxious to sec mi-, as ho bad something on his mind fchat he wished fco... toll me, and also fco make a will'. Ho could do noithor j death woe too quiok."

"And — don't you know whafc ifc was ho wished to say? Doss not tho landlord know?"

"No; Oaklej did not disoloso a word of ifc. Failing a will, ids brother comos into the money. I am going ovor tho d-»y after tomorrow to the f unoral.

" (Jood-bye, Mr Proudleigh," I said, whon he was taking leave j " yes, I will bo suro to givo your mossago and your lovo to Zillah ; and I think she will soon bo better now."

What news ifc was to earry her!— joyful news for hor, though soa iu itself.

Wben the first emotion was spent, Zillah oried softly j cried, it seemed to me, the bost part of the night. " I shall toll all to Cliff Pruudloigh now, Rachel," sbd said, tho following morning j " and leave it with him to forgive me, or to break with me, just as ho sees best. Ob, never, never will 1 oonoeal unything again j not tho smallest evonfc in tho world. Theso last few days have nearly killod me, and thoy wiU leave me ft lesson for life,"

Zillah ohose an evening for the communication whon she and her lover were alone. The boys word out oriokotting j I waa driving my father up and * down the green laties,, in the pony ohaise. Seated by themselves at the open window in fcho twilight, she made her confession. Did Cliff Proudleigh break with her ? No j iis iovewas tme and deep, he only gathered her to his heart: with a greater 'sense Of-WOtortiOßSYv.'xu.,;^ -.i: (y-y' "'*. <rtrVl .'.) v sthoiweddto]g^irWiput off to the autumaby Zillah's wiih j and when my father and the