OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 118, 24 December 1908, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

(AH Right* Reserved.)

By HEDLEY RICHARDS, Author of "A Day of Reckoning," "From the Mill to the Mansion," Etc., Etc.

PART 10. "She had done that, and you had been unforgiving." said Ursula. "Child, you must understand that to me the deceit was hard to forgive ; but time had softened nrv anger, and I believe if that third letter had reached me you would mover have had to complain of the hard, lonelv childhood of which you

spoke."

Ursula's face brightened. "Oh, Ann and Richard were splendid ! Even after Ann was dead, and he was in deep sorrow, Richard did his best to brighten my life. Do you know Mr. Scholes had promised to find where they are buried, and Uncle John says I can put a marble headstone over their grave ? It is not much, but I want to show that I have not forgotten what they did for me."

The Countess of Hellifield sighed softly. It was seldom she indulged in sighs—she was counted a hard, practical woman —but the thought occurred to her that if the mother had been as faithful to old affections as the child, they would not havt been strangers to each other so long. "Well, are we to be friends ? It would mean something to me," she said.

Ursula looked thoughtfully at her. .Just then her face resembled that of the little child who escaped from lieil—the child who had weighed Reul cr. .Johnson in the balance, and told him he looked good.

"1 don't think you are altogether hard," she said.

"Hard !" And across the proud face there swept a wave of emotion, shoving that underneath were deep feelings, kept in check, hidden «'rom the gaze of the world, but none the less there. The girl with her quick sympathy divined this, ami holding out her hand, she said : "Grandmother, we will be friends." In an instant she had taken Ursula in her arms and given her one earnest kiss. Then her manner changed as she seated herself, saying :

"Now, my dear, that we are frit mis I will sit clown. I was afraid you were going to drive me out of the room." Ursula smiled brightly. She was glad that it was possible to be on good terms with her grandmother. "I don't think you would be easily drnen," she said. An answering smile met hers. "Quite right, my dear, and . I fancy you are like me in that resjK.'ct also —you arc fearless. Ucally, Ursula, you resemble me very much. It is a pity, because I understand you have a poor opinion of your grandmother ;" and as the countess spoke there was a faint tinge of amusement in her voice. "My opinion of you has slightly mtjroicd upon acquaintance;' and Ursula laughed. "Then you will forgive Mr. Scholes telling me about your arrival here?" "Well, I don't know. I told him I did not wish to have anything to do with you. He's played me false." •Ah. lie knew what wa-s good for us both ! I've a great respect for Scholes. By the way, your mother gave you a family name. There has been an Ursula Gales worthy for generations." "I am Ursula Kalthorp," replied the girl, with a smile. At that moment the door opened and \ Mr. Calthorp entered. Seeing the countess, a look of pleasure camo into his face, and he went forward to greet her. "You see, I've been looking my bclo?'g:ngs up, though I suppose you lay exclusive claim to her," she said, as they shook hands.

"Indeed I am very pleased that you wish to claim some share of Ursula."

"Of course I do, and, to begin with, I want to take her back with me. I'll return her to-morrow after-

noon.' "I am quite willing, if Ursula likes."' "Of course, she will like to mako the acquaintance of her mother's people, so go and get ready, my dear. Your maid will pack what you will require." Ursula smiled an amused smile, "Am I not to have ajiy voice in my comings and goings ?" she asked. "No. The young people of today want too much of their own way. Now, do get ready, my dear !" And her grandmother's voice was more beseeching than commanding. ")She's not a bit like her mother." "No : She is like your ladyship." "I'm pleased with her, and I've a plan in my mind. 1 hear she's your heiress •>" and the wuntess looked keenly at him," "Yes : she will have all I possess." "Then don't you think it would be a good thing if she and my grandson were to marry ?" '•.Julius?" said Mr. Calthorp. "Yes, .Julius. Have you any objection to him ?" siie asked, sharply, For a second he was silent ; then he said : "1 suppose it would be a good marriage for her, but Ursula - must please herself. I'm quite sure she would do it whether r was willing or not. And 1 advise you not to tell her that you want, the marriage, it would be sure to set her against it." "llcalh. .John faith.-rp. do you think I've no wit? 1 don't intend either of Ihe young people to know anything about it." lie smiled, •' I have known your Uid.ysh.ip make mistakes." he replied. t'HAI'TKII XIV, .Hi LI US. "How do you like living here?" asked the coiintess, as they drove towards Hellifield. "Yery much, though 1" miss my foster-parents. 1 love them dearly," replied Ursula.

"• M'iiey seem to have been decent people, and educated as well. Your uncle was telling me about it. I suggested repay ig what they had spent and giving them a sort of testimonial, hut he didn't seem to think they would like il." "-Like it ? They would be terribly hurt !" exclaimed Ursula, indignantIv.

"Oh, I shouldn't have expected they would have been so sensitive, but you ought to know. It's quite providential you left them while you were young, and had not become engaged to a man in their sphere. 1 suppose you haven't a lover ?" she asked, sharply.

"So." But as she answered Ursula's thoughts flew to the man who was a fugitive from the law ; ther she laughed. It, seemed so ridiculous that she should think of a mar she had only seen twice. ""What a'e you laughing at ?" asked her grandmother. "Grandmother, do you put such a battery of questions to every one?" said the girl, quietly. "That depends. Rut now it is your turn to question. You haven't asked me anything about your grandfather." Ursula laughed. "I had forgotten I had one living. I've heard a great deal about you, but I don't think any one has named him. How is it ?" "Well, to tell the truth, he doesn't come much before the public. He loves hunting and shooting, but he, abhors politics, and the estate would have gone to ruin if I hadn't looked after it. A baby could cheat him—we soon found that out —and as 1 like managing he leaves all to me." "You don't know what you'll do in the future. But I haven't told you anything about your cousir Julius, Lord Galesworthy. His father was seven years olq"cr than your mother, and Julius ip twenty-four He has lived with -us ever since his father died. He was only a child then, and he lost his mother at his birth. I hope you'll be good friends."

"I hope so. I've always thought it would be nice to have a brother, and a cousin will be almost the same."

"No such thing. Brothers and cousins are quite different. See, this is the entrance to the park ;" anil as they drove up a lovely avenue Ursula looked round with interest.

It was a long Way to the house, which looked like a castle, and for a moment she could hardly realise that this had been her mother's home. Then her thoughts were recalled to the present by her grandmother saying : "There is your grandfather, and Julius is just coining down the steps." A stout, red-faced man was standing at the foot of the broad flight of stops that led to the principal entrance, and a-s the carriage drew up, a rather small, insignificantlooking young fellow with sandy hair joined him. The older man spoke as he glanced at Ursula : "Welcome to Hellitield Hall, my dear," he said, as he assisted her out of the carriage ; and she noticed that his face beamed with good nature. "Here, Julius, take your cousin into the house," he added, as he turned to his wife. The young man looked approvingly at the girl. "Come along and I'll lead you into, tho ancestral Hall, and that kind of thing," he said, with a K rin that annoyed her, as she was feeling deeply moved at first entering her mother's home. "I say, what's 3 r our name ?" he asked as they entered the pleasant morninig-rooin. "Ursula Calthorp," she said, feeling a little amused in spite of herself at this new cousin, who was certainly not like the ordinary young man. "Oh, so your mother gave you the family name. There's Ursulas without number hanging on the walls in the picture gallery. Some of 'em are good ; some of 'cm bad. I guess you'll be one of the. good ones." Ursula laughed. It was amusing to hear him speculate about her. "Don't be too sure. I wouldn't like to vouch for my own goodness."

At that moment their grandfather and grandmother joined them, and the latter said : "Now, Ursula, I will show you your room. The luncheon bell will ring in ten minutes, so you'll just have time to take your hat off. My maid will unpack your box this afternoon."

Ursula followed her grandmother upstairs, and she had just time to make herself presentable by the time the bell rang. Ooing downstairs, she found her cousin waiting for hen fit the foot. "The Autocrat said I was to steer you wifely to the dining-room," he *aid, with a grin. "The Autocrat !" exclaimed Ursula.

"Yes, that's what J call grandmother. .1 was looking in the dictionary once, and it struck me that it was the very name for her. If she's not an absolute ruler, I don't know where you'll fine one. The poor old granddad daren't wink without asking her. and she bosses me about as though I was a kid. Perhaps I shall have a rest now ypu've appeared on the scene. 'You're a girl, so you won't dare to call your soul your own." "Won't I ? You're very much mistaken. 1 shall not allow grandmother to interfere with mc," replied I'rsula. "Won't you now ? Then there'll be fun watching the lights." he. said, as they entered the diningroom.

During Uio luncheon i lie countess chatted pleasantly and .Julius made. an occasional remark, but the earl gave his whole attention to what he was eating. Once or twice If.stilti caught him looking at her in a kindly way, and alter luncheon lie offered to show her his hunters, and .she gladly accepted his offer, running upstairs to get her hat. The stables Merc some distance from ihe house, ai}d «s '-hey crossed the gardens her grandfather said : "Little girl, I .daresay you think your mother was badly treated, jnnd I'm not going to deny it ; but f3ho vpxi-d ypur grandmother, aqd, sho acted ns though «he thought best. You see, I knew nothing about those two letters poor Monk'u wrote, or I .should have gone to her ; but her mother didn't see it in quite that light. She says the

poor girl needed a lesson, and sho got it. Poor Monica !" he sighed ; then added, in a different tone : "Of course, your grandmother never meant things to be as they nave been. She didn't receive that last, letter, so you see, little girl, it \s been an accident that you were left out in the cold, and T hopo you'll be good friends with her." ,he said, as they reached the stables. An hour later Ursula and her grandfather turned their steps homewards the girl having won his everlasting regard by the admiration sh" felt, for his hunters and the fcarles,: way in which she. stroked and pat ted them.

As ihey cross"d the lawn they saw .Julius seated und-er the shade of a great, tree- pulling at a pipe. As they drew near he took it, out of his mouth, saying : "If you'll sit here, coz. we could have a chat. I'll put this thing out," he added ;as he looked irresolute. "Yes. keep Jul ins company. my dear." said the earl. "Don't you think grandmother will want me ?" "No. She'd like you and .Julius to be good friends. Then as he leisurely advanced, Ursula took the chair her cousin had pushed a little forward. " The old boy's gone, because he's afraid of giving the show away, and he'd catch it if he did," said Julius. "What do you mean ?" asked Ursula, who was beginning to think her cousin decidedly peculiar. "Oh, the Autocrat has got a little scheme on hand." "1 don't think it's nice of you to call your grandmother that. I wonder if you'll call me the young Autocrat ? People say I'm very like jter."

The small blue eyes studied her attentively.

"So you are ; but there's a difference—you'll never boss a fellow round as she does. Now I'll tell you her little scheme. Last night I was in the smoke-room—they thought I had gone to see one of the keepers—and the old folks were strolling up and down the lawn. The windows were open, and I heard the Autocrat say : 'lf this girl, Ursula Calthorp, is presentable, I intend her to marry .Julius. Scholes tells me she is Calthorp's heiress, so if they married it would be a capital thing. You've.-never saved a penny, and though the estate is not encumbered, Julius'' must marry money. Then with it and his pedigree the Hcllifields should become a power. Rut you must not let either of them know' I want them to marry, or they'd be certain to set themselves against it.' Now, what do you think of it ?"

Ursula had tried to stop hira speaking, but he had gone on. When he ceased, she said :«. "I think it was horribly mean of /ou to listen, and I'm ashamed ol you." He grinned. "Yes, I think it was a hit shady ; but I wanted to hear what was on the go as soon as I heard the beginning. You see, forewarned is forearmed." Ursula looked at him indignantly. "You don't think I'd marry you ?" she exclaimed. "Before I saw you I wasn't sure : but I made up my mind I shouldn't bo sacrificed if you were like tho Autocrat." "Sacrificed !•;'> and Ursula's voice betrayed her anger. "Just let a fellow finish what he was saying. I knew when I saw you that grandmother wouldn't have her mvn way with you ; but she'll fight for it." "Then she won't get it. I wish I'd never cotne." "I don't;" and he leaned forward. I.xing his small, keen eyes on her. "I'm inclined to think the Autocrat is right this time, and that we could be good chums if we married."

"How" dare you say such a thine; ! When I marry 1 shall lo\tr the num." "Oh, and you don't think you could love me ! Now I've an idea I shouldn't find it difficult. 1o he spoony on you ; hut consider the advantages, as the Autocrat would say. You'd have a title to start w'ith, and some day you'd he a countess. Then there's this place, and another fine place in Hertfordshire." " You little wretch ! l>o you think those things would buy me '?" and Ursula got up and went into the house.

The next afternoon, when she had taken her seat in the carriage that was to convey her home. .Julius leaned over and spoke in a low Lone :

"Jf you make up your mind to run in harness with me, I'm willing though a man's never free alter he gets a wife; but no bossing. you dnderstand. That comes in the agreement." Ursula turned her head away, awl \s the carriage drove, from tho door, iho muttered, "The little wretch '." CHAPTER XV. MAD .JENNY. The next afternoon as Ursula crossed the hall she met -Mrs. Ellis, the house-keeper, and stopped to speak to her, and the latter inquired if -Oie'd enjoyed her visit to He Ui fie Id Hall. "Yes, fairly well, but I would rather lie here. I've been wanting to have a chat, with you, Ellis. I'll come with you to your sittingroom," (To be Continued).