OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 120, 7 January 1909, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

JAB RJghtn Worn Mi.)

By iiemxy nit hards. V»thor of A I»o> of Iteekoaing. 'lron* the Mill to the Mansion." Etc.. rte

PAIIT 13. "ffrir. nii**. folk* Were fWfiOU* about m»u. *ml there'* not man) ha-i.-n't tnanajred to havr m f»*f> I kn<"V v our mother wrll by *i«ht sho wo* 'often at the tJrange worn Vr. t*atthort>'.« vootMt wife. !.««»> K»Ww». wa* tivinf Lady Monica was m t»-r* prettjr. fair >oung ladv. You art- tik* flip countes*. if you'll :vnse me *»« intf so."*

frstif.,. looked at the old m»* wilh interest.

' I'itl urn live here then"*" "he "\.-««. ovikw. I've here since I w,v« foitrN.n. wh»n I came «.« 1.,n . I'ru »t%»y now. «nd lh<" last f.went', -five \n»w l'*e hrvn btttl«*r. and m* wife h»u.*» Sow w« or- f«ret«!ser!». «n»l »* the rooms* arc til "huf up. there"* just wnc toaid lor th'- w«->rk."

■ \n.i will the house remain i«ke thin unfit"

r rstiia patk«e»l. Sh»> d»df»'t know how fe» nni«h fc.-r s.-ntenre. "fntil tin- heir t* dead. «o far a.» I ran «e.- If he .«t»ted in prison anil Ix-i-n tinfk «t. t writly yrmr-*" en«l : 1,.|( he • i.i and that- mean* he II m-M-r da'e to hi* far*: l„rr—not. Imt « ht»t folk" *av h,,,r seen rt<nv lately. lh*»us*h I've ,m i'.nU'i m it."' i' ■■ ~i.if| ci.me l.a«-k tf he- innrv ,;,,, ■, ■.• ;pi ..\e.l -" tt id I'rsulrt •; ;, ~:■; '.. t t i.-.- :4..»01s he* he.vt. :.. • ..-i I lun\ fie n af« C'»'lt> ?" he . .: ••[. I r !,:■,•! lell \%>H, TTie iinr! (no?. |i:H.II 1.. ■ l' 'I: "II t|l!;|lTi'l im.j TTie on'- I'.h-:' |>.';--on ntin wti ■> nf>ot»t u. : >:,,■ .-;,il -JV. un-« t|,e Tl . riotv. >r . I•• ■. '•i --1 ~t,»l -he'dl iw> motivr 1,, ;,:'! !, r•• \'. i .'. \er »lr»l it l»l»l"t |, ;( .|. .' in. : . \v:n ? xwincinsr l>lO«. \ imhiiii;, >-oM'.ln'l \ni\r done it. <>f (■on;- I J,e ■ :i V I>e to poor Vr .'.-'\ : i 'i' I -hurt net er relieve hr ci il ! "i ■•■• • '"'i oil-—tt, wa-i done

in II tee:-' n! ' . | ~-■- on. t0n..1 1 .-•■ if.-..|e the hou.io "•" ~ .*'e.t t r.u;..i ir- ;,, . i.i> .i ■ V. .M. ii;-. 1 hnl i.nl.Ts from V,i- 1t"..-,'■'• I ' f.-' run -.-■ not to show 4 - v n . mi-- o-- i- . l.i;i. I exjM-,-t lv I |,o"-.-ht |-e,e.ie i- ho v. role for th* |,,p,-r.; ,ii.| th.it -oi-t r>i thine; mii'hl -.- iitil (.. u.iii!- poistnC an»l pr\ in-;'. ».n-l uiru-r: Pn aee».nnf or I-..0.V It -i f-U tle.erfe.l iln .| r|e,,>. Ute i:» -.-. i) lien I o'o. ef. to tou :.,-em - ,-■..- ti- ■ '.,.•>.-. ,iti'' ' Ii": e'« a. piei lino.' •-.- |• or ;. ■■• -i ST i '.i.-'-r m th.- h ,ii t ;,.,t. r,i i.:.e to .i-t.-.i- t OU. f.-rhap-. :on «-o.»,dn'f. mind' iollow ■ i?■ «T me. m I!i n-'< a door further on "

t rmi.-. i' l >iio"..-tl him aton* the Sani-'n. t > t■, -! F"'-ni;- tiv 7 r,in»: to a ..-itl.-.>i",„r. i,.i.ir srin--. «>[>• nituj if. the Oft -••r-.rnt. h-!tl ir. for h<T to pass th-p'u-h. fh-n rtn*tl if after th'-iti. A ci'.rr-pr, f<a«s.igi» !*-*l Into A witr.v !i>n~ hr.U. :\'ah * firr;»t»«:e in it <•"' -i r. vie--- In td l -' ~n-u.t hnvt •>\ indo'.v Ifutt I m!.;, Mil notir.-it 'lh. «.il'. ".it hMiij -.-irh f-iM-1.-nefh ml I'ft'r:! -:v.v j 01' I Villi r-<f 4 -lit, hjfl li, n;-.' 'iri" •-i>r'' to th'-ir r>"»f. anrl

Ul<U\n:V from Ml- rmm!,.-r. «.he rumr 1,, the n.N'liHitin fh.-v u.'i-.- an «>!'l«rr fn.nn!, Mr.in Ml' Crtltllni-t'--'. ""nil- i- >lr. .i«ni'-»." *,*r»l the old luiflcr ; c.ri'l CnitU .ait the fulllength i-cfirci't of a fair-haired. hatut.-o:.i-- : o'lH.; m.in. Hut the mouth « ■'■* irivc'ittr. »be c.v »-X had a shift-; 10-».'.. iui'l n* .-he tfii/ed. her nn.-.f.'oln-ti thought irci that >"'-»»»»• hrtd h.t<l a lu>-'v e-<%,r>.-. The man vr,: i. !tt rvwT h;H" made her »t good | : .111

A a'inTH'iri!; m.t'!'- Frwula jtiwf. .'ml looking round -he *i*r; ||,.r.iT I.To rv ■>■,-.• rommg towards them. .iml .-he notir.-d th.lt h«' look•d atmo r>| •| i!i.| i,of. ,■ r. -. ---1 to -ee •mi Vrr, \f:.s CuMli.)!-;.." lv .-aid. n!» h Id „ul hi. t,■»i..r S„! I: i-• n-n- inr.-d h'-r th»f he \-.,4 n,.i |.lr.i i-'I, ijDfl h.-r f,i»v rtu*h* (i ~,.« .«: .• -.i'.i : ! »■,,,-,- into f.h" rnr'*. Th-n t ...,,r Hi- --.in!.-., nwl «A--d to «••»• th» lin-.i-. I dtiln't thinV \ou would o!-|i t-: I h ,n!fl ti'.f with. ~ moi-l>of fj.*t.-."" hj- nri.»nt-r»-fl. ■r f |..n't Hunk I hi*\'- tt morlMtl t nslr . hut wh.-n jnu =-'•• n houw con.-.I ii!o- v n'l nnfurrtllv «ant •■ \h. I -♦•'-. woman'?! nirio«tity a«-ain ' W)-H. now". >on haw gr»ti-ri.-rl if. itirt.v I Inmt- th- |>ka*urf ol .vrini,* - o-» »cro**« tin- park ?" It mi. or* tin- tip ot hj» r fonirw ••»»■ thitf hr had not <wit» the pla««*. f.ot cu«- .»tntr tliat he did t*»t wi.»h h-r to r, rn»ir>. -"he accompanied him out Of the hoMSH*.

•r wonder \on tlon't have the gar!en ki*|>i in or»l«-r." ,*h«; jmiUl. a* they Irt.iNttl through if.. ••That would tu» an 10-eping up thf ilniY of sj;.iril<-nt-rM. antl I am «nxio«.i to pn-M-nt a c»>od t«i mi' to'isiii »h»'n he me to give «n actoiint of my «ite»nrd«hip " "f)r t.» have atcuiindiited « nice Ittit. fortune in co.i« he never re aPV , *a r! "•*" *h*' ."taid. on the innHJl."hi Hie moment. »'t)i- n second h* (ltd i)" 1 reply : th»r> he *«id : ■•\e». I don't oldwt to money, and I tffinnot Mind to the tart that I am im rnn.-in'.' heir, iind in dotn.X «hat I l«Mcve to txs •he for blm I m«> n«t Ime in the end. th«»»gh. o< course. I hope he will iivin' »i«rt» to hit* o«n." I'r»wla nearly let h»m •!•«• i»he did n.,f lietieve him. rt-iwndwring the ronvi<r*4tir.n *he had o*erhenrd : but .-.he restrained heriwlf. and a* hr. rto.»-«t the gate of the garden h* •-.aid •. I hemr v.»n havr hern to llHllfield Mall, fo th» haUh»-t i«. buried." •Who told >ou therw p«x anything to '>«*r.v ♦" I heard a f»»'«iH» !*•*«*"» »H***. and I !»'"o noting y«** did not Mire to fe told >o«i rvavirtdail ttM> Seattle**. I»> the «■>". «h*t do yen think ot i-o'd CJalcswortliy ?" be Mtid.

"I think he to wy honest and Mrnkghttorwrnni." - "Indeed. th* general opinion fit that he In » peculiar llttlo chap.'' "J«© be Is. And now, before I forget. 1 want>ou to axk Ncltic to come in the morning and »tny a» long a-* '■tup ran."

"I'M drive- her ovpr. 1 want to havr a rhal with >*»»ir uncle." "You won't find him at home. lie'.'* s»»*ns to NniM-h«rMrT on busiW*." :" and who hail a «"-*• l»iri,. n that he wanted to he included in the invitation. fell a wicked natMfortion »n disappointing him. "Then I will accompany you home »i««. if >ou will allow mtv I *up|.««e von climbed th" railing l»>l*rrn *h>- and y our uncle'* park ?" Ik :*« i d.

"V.-ji ; t W«* furious lo srv thr Prior- I havr »«cen told about th< munler M> uncle jour cou*in »" innort*nt. rv> you ?" sh> asked, abruptly. I rVm'f Lno* how to answer >ou. MM* laUhorp. There ore timenhni I think there has nmi • rarruvsje of rustic? : then • renwmhrr the weight of cvmVnce lutein"' lorn, and I mel there i* little rnon for doul.l. llr*ide*. there wn.« onM another person who had motive (or the art. «n<l suspicion hoa not attached to her."

A woman * You think it po?"«i- ---- a woman ma>- he guilty ?" . »h« etelainietl.

Ili> looked annoyed. ••I havr s»atd more than I to ««v my word.".'" hl- - p«u»in|C a* th»n- *hr rs»il»"ir that divided tho two parkv "Allow n»e. Misi Calthorp ;" and he hrr over it.

• I mnrtot forjjet. I ha*e h-ard People talk about thia aii'l urn hrnt that a Woman it K'liit-. I nte:..-. -oil explain I «hall ♦t> to ill • cot ei- th-- vtorna' l -" I rtid not nay I thoucht a wo„u,n r. jmltr. I «aiil that one tvotn.-n had f.lir.r to Ion? for re. t.nge — n 1-oinatk who i« m' of! like an oid clnur nr- •.lipju-r i-n un'orciv|"W •" I «.t«>od ."till and f-md him"Whom do >ou «u.*p«<t ■■> " .-he asked, and het \one «a> full of emotion, lie met h-r en'.- fullv a." he nrt-wered : ■'Siiiii.-iiiiii". I hat- ttondereil ii %',.-► fie in h. r mad anc«-r did it She t. -. ert e\eila?de and b} *teriral. I tor one <.houtd not hold her a<"...nn'al.lc if it w a." «o." "N-ttie' l*.«it a woman Could n.t ha'e d> alt that blow." she V rriii.-iiti<-nm: what the old .iflei- had -a:'i.

\ w piuai* m a fwrv can flo mirh I «J.»n'f I thinW -If d««l tf.. -»nrl I >if>r» ' want «•> thitik l«. :»•.-*>:..- ,i' I U'!i'"-i-.| *h«- «o- C'ttUy | ■ .».i,[ n ,,t. [t j>P«»r -luck -»ifJ-;r tor Irr _ .m " '■*.»». h'-\ «rttk.ft on m ?i'>n«c until they • 41 r,;. f,> flv s?a'''"n I. f !>, to muml to the front !«•>.>!-." vljr -.iirl. • r»t rour««\ «oii won't "vrn hint r, Vtti.- wluit ! have »aid'?" he "No. i»"'l I fton't l.rii.-vr if." Th*-n »* th.'x iurn>'d a cnrn*T *h" «*a« a a«U ri»->.rcn«l>nc th>? "Ifpt. and ha>•'n'«{ forward in timn to nu-'t Mi-.-. Km-. r.> at tli- loot t r-'ila i»w that hor »«c,' flark.-n-'l when h>r .5 ps on llorarn I,'KMrangf. jt(f spr>W« in h'T ii«m»l t«»n«*

h»«n l«irc«r< from your m»-t«? for th<- Hun«tav .-< hoo! treat. I ho|w-«I to have wn you hut they olit inn \ n»i «>-r>; nut " "Wnn'i, you .ttny to I'Jn*:hcon ?" lairl !>•«..ila". ■ No. thank*. I |>rowivr<i my hro-fr.-r I wmUd t'*' h«:n" l'" '"'♦' v. I.h-'k nan'- nv to f» wi»h irrti thm »l'f» > rnor>n fo .«<■ m>l'"' profit.-, but I wilt r n t| another «la> . ;o-«lt> »-. Mi«-«< CaHhorp I v<- no loubt inu'll fHHj Mr. I/Kxtranc- -0 .•iif.-rtniri'ns; that } o'i won't iiii.hh m- :" n"rl n * -h.- .p«>?>.<' th«»r-» «n- a nockintj rti' I ,' tn h>-t »oic.>.

(II wtki: \\ II rnr. nt\«: with tiik missinc; S fl>\|, Th- n-\t morning Ir-ula cot a (offer fr»»m V"i>\ sn> ii>r Aunt .f.inn ««■»«• r«»l well, unit «"l'<' «h«l not f»r»- t„ La, ►• h.r. but nnuhl I'r.HUla ilr11»- ,u ,-r in the afternoon ' "ttro not nil.' there-?" «-n>«l l»'"r •in*''", wlirii slur- told lihiv ih>' i'"ntent* of tli» l-tti-r "You're not Ci-Mic - uur hor*- murh evreli«>. I ttnn(l>-r imi and Mi*» Finln.v»on do not. tide t„c-Hui "

■■>.-». M would t„- plea-ant :" but «« .-he »p,»t..r -h" thought o( what ||.h-»» l.'FjUrang'- had hinted, that tt wo-i |)ov«.ii»!r that Nettie t»ifjplir huvp killed her lover, and for a moment i r?ii|l|i thought of telling h'-r un<-l- what had Ix.-vli .suggested. «if rout -i>> itig by whom. Then -■' ho h.ms>«l h-r mind Mho roiild not {.tit f«e thought of Nettie's guilt ii'T.n from her. ond she wnntlfn-il if that had l«d h.r to taf-e refuge in a mnvi-nt : but. »>' guilty, "hy had »h.- return-d home with the nvimnl intention of finding her lover's nuirdeor ' Finally. I isula came to the conclusion thai Nettie knew nothine about it.

Shortly after her uncle hod gon • to a I'no'm.ifi .umouiv'l "Lord t.'alesaorthy." "I nay. I'm In Iwrk to liml >on nt home." hj«? »aid. n«i th>-> >hook hntnl«- : and she si« th.'t he l«»oke»| •eniiine'j plen«« - d. "I ha\»ii't "-on.any pln<--- 'o j;o to that th«-re'.H miirh rhmur ni futdtng m»< «nit. I'ni-le'f gone to Msin--h'-rter. ntid I ex|Mt:teil N.ttl- Fio•a.i ">on to luncheon: l>nt li> r aunt's jot very well, .so >h«' eoidiln't come."

»aid l"r»i»la. "I «rtv . Co l>«l«"k ttilll li» - . I CrtlHO n my motor-car ; if.*. a ivul hcn'dy-" "Kt'Ulo wants mc to go to ten at the Hall. and I do»»'l want to disappoint h»T. S|i-'3» Hi'' onl> Kill I know. *'•' co'n -<•. »h n-'* Mi«» fto>rr. hut *lw'?> ninth olilvr." "Why not mokn n chum of rnc ? I'm »urr I'm n lwtt«-r *ort than thnt hysterical llttlo fool, who i» ni ilie bottom at all the trouble .lack L'Kotrnnipc got Into." he *aid. "What do yoti tue n n ? -ho n-«kcd. "Oh. she went weeping to him when I**whir»t told her hi- didn't intend inarrvimr her. and Jack, net off to t»*ll hi* cousin hi* mind. W •h«-'d held her tomruo he'd never hav» gone to the Priory that night, p||d he'd hrtvo liem *mong»t n* today. |!ive mi- an innocent-looking. MwwyvH, falr-Mred. wotnnq for playing Iho detire. I Mever did Ilka her, and t «w»h you wouldn't go

there." Ir.vuia suiile*!. , -, >• "Hon't >oti tlrnk you 'ihight cal> the * Autocrat,' by way ol • change ?" "I ftttould bo sorrj' to rob the old ladv of her name, and I'm given to ho»«fng : hut I don't like that girl, ami llofnee ton't the sort of man I'd truM. It poNtJca mc bow he perMiade*! .lock -to lat him mannf?,- tb«- .".intpji Won't you com* i»o--k with mo? The Autocrat will I* ,l !i»ln.-il. She .Mill all HorUiol mv-.«n«e-». ami wanted you to coma ot.r >r.oti." "etfl .lulius. '"I won't ciiiiii- lo IMlifield. been' =*" ! in'«'tid Roinu to the Hal. ih-- eft er nr on : hut I'd like a rid* ■lt io'i- iimiiir-rar."

""I'h'ii put on your hat. and I'll ir.'e >ou a !«•« in &* many niii>'itr.«. l-,<- '•.ijil. with n R r, n. ' lin ui'r.tid tS,.T<- will lie BOlllf d.»r->;iK«- iH.ni- ii vi»u tjo at that rate.' mi:'l I i-ul.i. n s -h- left the room ; t»>»l in. a !«•« tninutes they were flyii.iT Jhro.-h the hille.v. .lllliu.H driVin. . v.hd<- the rhaffi-tir sat l»chtnd In .in in' reiisiily >hort time, or so it -■.iuml Ho Ir-ula. tlvy eattv with tii *■':**'■ <>i th«- If all. Then .luliu* •:r-i-.'d rar up n lati'" thn' hrnn- »»-..>( in another direction, and very .oi.ii M>iliemroyd Hall lay far behind th >m. • I'll turn whrn we come to Iht Cooki ry. ntd ito back by another ior<d." .liiliu-h na.uen:d. in rcplj' to I r>ul.i'.'. r"inaik that : thcy were gome n l'"i!» ivny. i'r' «.<-i>i It he pfiimcd to a buildir.c uiiii tiii!tiv iinhl'v. nncl the tree* iii'iitd it uci-tni «l to b" inf«*tr>«| with took-, tthuv "ra«. caw." was in»e*«iivn' "liiafx wher<* Mi*«i Royce livecj tt ith her iinrle. He was a queet oi«| r)>.i|»—had uinde his money in •.(irl.'.niAiiij,-. or something of lh< Mi d "1 h' n h- retired and bought 'lu; pi,»e,-. a n<l >he lived with him Kw-i-;. nil- tho'ich* -!•.■• w hi? E-.-trr-. nri i( I Mijij-.v-e >he did. oi

Jx(| net er b n \f li\e«| the life «-h« di«l. lie wouldn't hnvir any one at ?he house. i irf»;je-.e the onlv ihai-t-e >.he i-ii-i t''»: w-.i* a tc l.otrdon not\ and ilvm when .'-he %ta»e.| wilh frie.il . About fii'leer month- aco h* die«|. and he had only h-ft la r iht> pounds a year. The rest of his fortune went to rhai"ity. This place j* now a chilrlren's horn-, and Helen lloyce since then she Ijted with her brother, llut the di.-apiMiintiuetit has told on her ; she'-- iost her bnphtnosji. and seems .oar- older." "The,! ton ! 0.-A her l-'foie she •tert to the \(! ,-,i a-_"- •'' said Ursut a. "'V-s. I met h> r onre or twice, and I iho:>.-rht her a real p<»od .sort. Vn'-.. v. on't %ou chance your mind r-.n-l roe..- |v,c,;- ttdh me? Ue rould Co #;ov n that toail and reach Hcllihe'il ip no "ime."

Slv s !u.o\ hj.- head. "N'i-. th-«nV «ou." "All ri.- s ii» . y osi're a.- i|elermin«n| aw tit-,- Aidot-in'." he .said, with a grin.

Tw.fitt tnrnuN". lat.-r the rnr stop\<fil at, the jio;J '-litratio: 'o the llr.m;'-. «n<l • !>; -is a- ■:• omp.-.tK'd her up rh" >«•;>•* .Ims! v.ifhmthe hall \\r pa; •<!. .?ud I iHi'.a .«-a<d I '.»»iirlT i* I ought to n<<k you to «.tn> •«» I'm *i<-<»n when uncle is ttni. n« lionir- '»■' II" crii.tupi. "IVn'» ns»>» »"* anything nltotit the proprt>ii' - I'. <- ne\«-r consulted th'ui I'-ui : • <>!><• hound to. and vh n in dosilii lie. extra, rnrcful to ?.«rritV - «' \o'ii>'!f to them." • Why I ••"n*- , ilt thcui mnrc than *oii?"' .she ask'-d. .sharply. ' Voi rr; a v.t»uian. and cannot kir's r>t <-r 'h. 1r.v".." ■ I v| ; ., ; ;tfi s* f '• .'tii'«l." she said. "I'..it I <i- n't think you will want; i->r<l I Won't -t.»v to lutirlH-on. •utr.>c«-tl «hf proprieties the Autorat, wouid co ior in-, and she'll a<l\i~r >our it:,'!" to fV< n •'dv'p dog for ;"M She "n* talking about it '.he .:t'i.r day."

• \ .lir.p ilr.t; '" nn«l chc looked it. hi:>t in anm/'Tii'-jii. ■' Sniii<-'itti'.<( :ii->'!■• calh-d chaperon- ••. l«iii tiny are <tiKaped to [«np th«ir <•>«■ on : "ii. an«l l"n you ii th-r.> .ir«- any ' ncn* of wanting lo tl«i vjial wet shouldn't risula la'isrhi«i r.»'inly. "lor gooiJii-»:h" «-o ! ." «o ; I don't v ant jiiiv on<- to watch me. I'll •.tin!', fit'- pro|iri<-t ii-*. henceforth, and I'll ix<: t:o any more drives with "<>h. in.-i!'.*. a niil<-r<-iii. niatt«-r : «lie crnn-lt'U'lh'T ui!l •. i«w thai with ■.ivrt'c- lit. 11" «ay. about running m ilouliN- hnrp.- >•>. I'vo chanced my <l nl'«"it on- thintr. If you'll inarrv me I'll let win do the boss* Mil*. "I>«ui't !*• nlisurd. (Jood-bye. foicui Julius ;" nn«l I'rsula I'i't [■>...

For a moment he looked at her : ih'n j;*"ttiiig into his rnr. he drove ijiiieViy towards the gat'-s. "f'oiisin .Inliuo. indeed '. That's ini what I wnint." reflected .lulius. Shortly uft'-r luncheon I'rsula or-i|i-r«-f| h'-r horse : then putting on her pretty d«rk pr«-en cloth habit and rap. sh" yl ofl to the Hail, an elderly crooni in attendance. It was a pleasant ride, unci she did not hurr. : -o it wo-; haK-past three «h'-r ''he reached her declination, it ltd telling the groom she shoukf not >iav a'mir a couple of hours, she i-nt.K-d the house, and the man took the hors«- tit'tha stables. In the hall-Horace L'Kstransc met her. and a» they shook hands he .••aid : "1 was half afraid wc shouldn't m.<- you this afternoon." "Oh. 1 made up my mind to come. (To l>c Continued).