The Lost Treasure of Trevlyn | Page 7

to remain there, though the whole property was in the
possession of Sir Richard Trevlyn, the nephew of her morose parent.
Nicholas, however, as may have been already gathered, bore no
goodwill towards his nephew, and would fain have hindered his
children from so much as exchanging a word with their kinsfolks. But
blood is thicker than water, and the young naturally consort together.
Nicholas had married so late in life that his children were much about
the same age as those of his nephew--indeed the Trevlyns of the Chase
were all older than Petronella. Sir Richard had striven to establish
friendly relations with his uncle when he had first brought his family to
the Chase, and had only given up the attempt after many rebuffs. He
encouraged his children to show kindness to their cousins, as they
called each other, and since that day a ray of sunshine had stolen into
Petronella's life, though she was almost afraid to cherish it, lest it
should only be withdrawn again.
As she hurried to the tryst that evening, this fear was only second to the
bitter thought of parting with Cuthbert. Yet she did not wish him to stay.
Her father's wrath and suspicion once fully aroused, no peace could be
hoped for or looked for. Terribly as she would miss him, anything was
better than such scenes as the one of today. Cuthbert was no longer a
child; he was beginning to think and reason and act for himself. It was
better he should fly before worse had happened; only the girl could not

but wonder what her own life would be like if, after his departing, her
stern father should absolutely forbid her seeing or speaking to her
cousins again.
She knew he would gladly do it; knew that he hated and grudged the
few meetings and greetings that did pass between them from time to
time. Any excuse would gladly be caught at as a pretext for an absolute
prohibition of such small overtures, and what would life be like, she
wondered with a little sob, if she were to lose Cuthbert, and never to
see Philip?
Her brother was at the trysting place first. She could not see his face,
but could distinguish the slight figure seated upon the crumbling
fragment of the wall. He was very still and quiet, and she paused as she
drew near, wondering if he had not heard her light footfall upon the
fallen leaves.
"Is that thou, my sister?" asked a familiar voice, though feeble and
hollow in its tones. The girl sprang quickly to his side.
"Yes, Cuthbert, it is I; and I have brought all thou biddest me, and as
much beside as I could make shift to carry. Alack, Cuthbert are you
sorely hurt? I heard that cruel whip!"
"Think no more of that! I will think no more myself once the smart be
past. Think of the freedom thy brother will enjoy; would that thou
couldst share it, sweet sister! I like not faring thus forth and leaving
thee, but for the nonce there be no other way.
"Petronella, I know thou wouldst ask whither I go and what I do. And
that I scarce know myself as yet. But sitting here in the dark there has
come a new purpose, a new thought to my mind. What if I were to set
myself to the discovery of the lost treasure of Trevlyn Chase?"
The girl started in the darkness, and laid her hand on her brother's arm.
"Ah, Cuthbert, that lost treasure! Would that thou couldst find it! But
how canst thou hope to do so when so many besides have failed?"

"That is not the fashion in which men think when they mean to triumph,
my sister," said Cuthbert, and she knew by his voice that he was
smiling. "How this thing may be done I know not. Where the long-lost
treasure be hid I know not, nor that I may ever be the one to light on it.
But this I do know, that it is somewhere; that some hand buried it; that
even now some living soul may know the secret of the hiding place.
Petronella, hast thou ever thought of it? Hast thou ever wondered if our
father may know aught of it?"
"Our father! nay, Cuthbert; but he would be the first to show the place
and claim his share of spoil."
"I know not that. He hates Sir Richard. Methinks he loved not his own
brother, the good knight's father. He was in the house what time the
treasure vanished. Might he not have had some hand in the mystery?"
The girl shook her head again doubtfully.
"Nay, how can I say? Yet methinks our father, who sorely laments his
poverty and