OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 122, 14 January 1909, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

(All Rights fSrserved.)

\Mfhni- or A Pay of H.M-koning." i/r.iin tin: MiU to •!!'• Mansion."

ruir 1 1 .•-(,.- li.f! ! >'".c;-' '!"••■ tu.%l'l with her. «],., h'.'.'l '-i- -I--' ■■ ■.:■'■'•" : = ■•• *"'«• ■, ~iuu" n;!- ! '"- -. ,i:'-'l 'uv'l <n.k*-n '(»•' .■■;■.-,,• ,-,f. '.,.,. .. ; .-I I, h ■■)■ ''l- f \-i t i^uln ■ ~r.; n i ii' -:•■!":'t. « hi' •'-'' '*""' I'C"' I '^ '" '\' ,','' ',!,, :•• fr-li'." r ,v.|-. ir.-tii- ;-, ;,| ~>•!. .■•!'! 'h-'i'-- v» .1- --at|M*aC- ■■,,,., '.,, ,lv «,t 'ir'.ruri';. ui- ii"a.r ' \ , li; ii 1.,- M..- r-rsf. Ml> on the ~,,.,, .... 1,,., ;..-.i.ut.;. '" .*at>4 U<»' grancl-

'.;■ ,\:-ar H.-I'.ifioWl. yoti jthouldtl't 1. : ■ - n'h i.. ui Kin.- «■♦! h***e n s<toblein«n here," >».i.| rht- voun.t-vs'". I"r«t*u» wa«« «fw>ui to ilefend her and ht* mml® at *|ieerh. »fc*-n ttw »«>rw>. *"!*> Jove, you t»x»ti vil>|>«ng !" ttiwdv them turn towar»fc» the tk>ot\ »v|jere Julius* «« ,xf andt«}{. I »a>* jc andmotber. don't you v.i,h Id Iz-wi n Sirl? Thru yoo *»ititf have trad the pleasure of drcswn<; «►!♦: wf." h» v fald. m : V*»« w»»wldn I have pn>d for ft." • hi- »»t»wervd. Portly : and the other* lrtMjfli*'d. "X,»." Th*n he advanced to l"r----«.i4». ina.tinfc : "I wonder if you'll >U\t> '.l- with wMrh a coimiionplnw lii'if i'v«:sar ?" -TJ«*r"-«lr|i»'nil» haw the little l-rg-£»r d«nripi»." flw «F>-wi"re«l. Miiilirfg "l>k, I ran h*»i» •fev»>Tifl>. May • have ywtr |»r«i.«ra»t»ni*r ?" and there *«."♦ wntt*wal r-auerßt-SM* in Hl* voice. S»- hnmlrri it to him. and when he rrtrrrnrd It. fhc he had put hi* niTi'i"" t»» '»' f 'r *9ll«» and two square ♦Jwncif*. "That's' l»i« iwwny to fti*e one man. >••*» tF»*uk 1 »l*all he a walHlowfif/* «he staid. "\ wal«f!wit*-r f You'll l>« the holUr of the »«atl f" htf answered, tonkins: rttl.fiirii»glv a» her. • Wll ri.sjhl. Then I won't give ywt »»* daneest. Uhieh s>hall I rrosw out ?'" "«Ht. well. If you mu*t. I'll let you fl«ralrh the swiuare ot»». 'Hie AntucrulVSS ot n rattllnit good bond and th«» |v»>i»K- are l>efti»iiting to co«»e." he s»»id. a* Ihr earl and motrtl fdrward to reveivc their gne»t». .lullu.'*V |-r*»ph«-ry *as true. I'rsiulft was* th«' l»»ll*? of ttw? huli. Th«.-re were ofh»-r ««»*< mmre Jr»at»tH>d. hut not one with hj» r chnrtn. and her proptranmn* wn-* ftlfcd dir«:t«iy.

Horn***' l."K>lr»rg* «»«•■ one of the cttrltol a-r»vat!«. and he made his way «f «:**<■«• to I rwnla. who was chattliit; with «r* obi f«i»nd of lier grandfather's ; but when 1/Strange Joined ihciik he moved a way. and the girt not if*! that hi* moiwrr of grecltng the former was stiff and formal. "May I fee >o»»r programme. Miss CaUhoVp ?" ■he rtst-rtl : and a* t rsula gave it bun IV uttered »n exclamation of «li.-initty.

"I had hoped for Ihe fir?tt waltz, but I s*v- >oi» bate given U your roi.s'n. so I must hv content to watt." h- :»UL as he rrlnrned her (r»crrt»M»M'": and she saw that he had pwt h=u inU'rals to thm? waltzes.

-I rf«>n"t think I can gi*e you three."

lie looked down at ncr. ns he *aid : ••IJe ntrrettal ! If you only knew how I ha*e looked forward to this ball ? #

•"St.-I>- it is rot your first ?" she ~n ttrrtil. in a tone of banter.

-Voir iUf my efchly-first. But jo l -* rce i.MI at ih<* others." ho i«n d t and th« exprvasion In hi* eyes and »*»"«• startled I rsula. and «»?»»• iftrtrotl iluinMnlly to .Julius, who I'ttuic io cr»fm ht»r for the first iff H""*.

"I .•*£».*-. don't yon encourage Honm- i.'Kstrenpe." hj«» whispered. »■»* tn--> whirled round »l»e room. "Wi.tf marie you my *k»rpr-r?" she m an equally subdued lone. "I ho|»» >o» wilt." h«* answered. iV ud«eSoi«dy : and then Irsula was •rlrrr 1 .

.1 »tw.«rl«-r of an hour later sh* v*s »t*»otm* with Horace l/Kstrange »»..»» *•■*). re: «*'d her regret that who h-nd fot lieen a»de lo persuade Nel-

It*' d. •"«'h. -she's got ll Into her head tt+at .afi'.-'s done with this kind of. tkCng : hist I'm not uuro thai she winder return to the convent. J It.US h r she ought to have stayed there* I'm not much of «n-authority on * Strip! wr*«. hut I do remember .•omrthing alwut not looking back alter you've out your hand to the plowrh : lut I don't think Nettie is to l«' reckoned »a from day to dw.v/"

Irs'tPrt «lt«l not answer. She had *.»•■ n H»r*« nnd noticed the .•>>.ri"'>.i'»"-r» •>< mingled »rte* - r on«l s*ol' r>. ....-• »i.''H wlnirh her th'HK wnd »»l 'he s»»ii*- t«»r shu r>-fn-K-if *-ir*d l»* - r wni'Tiins *»l.*"it f **'- v m.-*> «iith »h«tw »he wsi" | !>» l|,, '" , i li- >.x.t.«t with n fivi-.ns: •>i' i\i;-.' t'i-i* U - •'o»»n *»f tir- •'"'l •"' !h " *;,.;.•>•■'■•. ,t»*l SEl*- h»ili-«l tin- .U'[ •-ti'rtfi'c ► .' h'f IM"Nf |>«rtu-C ni'ii ~i' i-.i.u-.- ( ii.ii "I. [„■ .i. fhn»''»:(l >fu' vw, i in i-.-i-- Urn-. . '!'.■: i n,rt;»rtl>-riivf't''il r.*Tlir,...Mi. •!• :,.,,, : c_.,lt tT . ■ t. r. - • I (■> !•;• r ' ■'■'•■ "■■■■- , \,.n No'. .»- M'"-'cl' ■ " t v • ' ' •■''■ .., n ■ ~..-: . -;r. \f>- - ' '.;'»;-■'!■[•. ~-i"i H,.r. .'.■ ! r ■...■,|.:.i,--. -<■• '■■■■■ '-i.H'H"'' I , ,'.,r ' I. ■•! ~. \t 'lm.ii.'.I ~,,. . !,■.•! T <■■•■■> >•:•' a !H.ti>: 1,, r i ~ -.1 " ■ li- --..v"t. h.Uf h..[>iii< b-- - ... ',i •;!.- f hj" 'n.-it iirul -■».-'ii--- anl i„ |i ..,;,;„»-..- -»,: -<it it »ilt " N •"' -.- ~-iM ! ml t li.- r-mi "..T x ulnrv (l •!'- ! . h- --,1 , h,-.<iv.\ ■ h- nn-.wM-.-d IU 1 r.-'m h - ■"' !•- -li.- i- «ilil ' h>-» ..,.■:: :■'-. ffv C- ■ n ••■ r : ,x > . ,r ' . l.'l-'--ii.!,-).,- I'n i i j i -,;• ,i. r.i'i}.':.- ..f rhrtii--< ilt !h . • -i' i-, i -; ■ ■ .-fvl . f,h»-n »l.i I r-iulrt s.-.,1.-l h - i--- -! (" h'" l';i»»'>l lHV**riis) h-.-r

has favoured mo. I h;t',»» )>•••>» lonciiier for th>." cham.'«; '«> ivk •• ou -'• 'i'K'stion. f'rsula. jmi mu-» }\i\r ~«-n tJia' I lo*-'' ><"«■ Will %_.>■[ F.• my wife ?" ti.:i vifiu' '• rr>'>'" tvpmjnat" •' h.vl ki u-.- •, f h..t M,.- cUrl not. ilk'- tutu. !,i|f f ! '\i-. iV>-Itt;«; u:' <"!;«. I tki\ a!in."-t. ii '■.-■ I. ••,.>.* r, -v. . ;»"'i it «'au~'-<! ii-'i tO ai'sv .u > i -u.:M;. . 1 >ii. r." . I 'Mi n-'.-t uuu i;. t rvi. ' ' H- -Ir-'V. '.•,* rh.l'f |,.MV.T ■■'.V'r,\ ' V'l'i nri.\-tv'!. rt Ui'.«t. Un- \ o'jr <■ >u-!r» i-' v vsil.i fir.'.- ii-'' - '!:' up pv<«'s<ih . " V,.u !.,>' .- r ,. r:~ht •.-» s''" '' 1,,n n. -. Ur l,'K.:r.i:ic I h.v *"l.l \ liu f ■ ..I!!', .f !••' *, ~'il' V li'-' \m.i I u m y~u i mvan '•' '-' m • ..-I. ..-!■! f -im a nuiri u r..< j.- ''■ ... ;..,> >,,. ,- ~n- . : , , 1 ~., ,~„ ~..■' .■ .('(.:■■ :■,-.■ f!,. v l ,r >(■•' "ll'l • '"■ " !?l ;,- ~ ■ -.1.'. .UI I ' •-! V. ill '■•• 1.-" -fi . . ,'•■ - V, ~!.!.T) .M- N>' "I " in- ■ .>pF'n'..:r\<-.' iu his ton.- drsi. ■: --,! li.'t-. liuf. !'- !• v. h"'.>- na'ui. !■.. ,• m i.-b.'l him.

• f :-.b>»r: . Fu-v.-r rnnrry ' "'i tif.-tl ' thnA >oti ni »• pri'siimpntoM 1 - in laM tht*. tone." sh f> ■■'.ml. r»"-t>li»t.-l\ . K«k n iiioment iv; -(.'nl'ii'.cl hvr incc then h>' -*<nid : "I J«rtif>\c Ihcrc i> (inoi.h>-r man I mu>l «li."«r«»vcr «h<>: oni hj«» pnei.icd nJ»rnj»tlv n" hr? noticed tht quirk fliwh that mounted the girlV forrheod. "ITti'n what ?" »"id t'rsvln. tr>log to .vniilc. "Then it will be had for that man."

"IU«ll.v. Mr. L'Estrange. .vofi an wrv runny. .lii-»t like the hero ol a jw nny dreadful." »hc so id. "Xo : I am a ntan desperately ir r.irrif-t. rrwiln. I have not hern a i;-..«i*l man. h'tt you roulil mnko o: ,r« x ho' >oii chaos**." he m.s.s. h«r' hand ou hin. holding it liriifly.

"I rt me go. Mr. I/Estrange." -*lu e«« tainted, indignantly : and at the -aiiar moment there was a soft frou-.rou of n woman's skirts, and a voice snid. "!*'o 1 have found vou. Mis.*, t'jilthorp;" ami Helen I Joyce, handsome and dignified, but with n white face and eyes that Mviifd to hold a great fear, came forward. onJ as Horace l/Kslrangt dropped her hand I'rsula heard hiiu mutter, "t'onfonnd her!"

"Oh. lam so glad you have iwhi>." f'rsula exclaimed, speaking on the impulse of the moment ; then she shrank rack, seeing the look of ritj*«? nn.lhe man's face, and laying h»-r hand on Mists Noyce's arm, she -aid. "Shall we go back to tho ballroom ?"

At that moment Julius came towards, i hem. "Ive had a nice hunt for you, I'rsnlo. This is my dance. After it I'm going to take you down to topper." he said : and as Ursula n. Nt towards him she was conscious of n leeling of protection. "I say. what's the matter ?" ho *.«<ked. as they walked slowly l>ctwecn the itonks of flowering plants, leaving Helen itoyce with Horace L'Kstran^e.

•'I hate Hint man. lie's horrid." iiu» .-aid. shuddering, as she rememl»ml hi?* words that he always got what he «anted, ami he meant to marry her. •Tin with you there. Hc'k n» insufferable mil. Jt makes my blood lioil when J sec him acting as I hooch he was nm-nter of Mythcmruyil Hull and poor Jack where the »•»." though the I.ord known where hot is*. Anyhow. I ho|ie it's better than the hell he got a»o.v from. Hut what's that fellow been doing to vet you ?" I*r>uln's face crimsoned, and the pair of small, shrewd eyes read her contusion rightly. "I giif~-fi he's tiecn asking you to marry him. and he's in a rage because, you said ' No.' But don't oother". The days when he could na\e carried you off. willy nilly. are though I've no doubt hf's the will lo do i>." Then he added, in «, .honied \oice : • I spy. v.-ps I trien Noyce a witness it the proceeding ?" "No : .-he joined us just before . o'i did. .nilius. have they ever been engaged ?" Up Gloried.

"Not thai I know of. yet I've nol:red th?y seem vcr>* chummy, con*lriVring thai he has only known h»r a year or so."

"She known a great deal about nim." and I know she doesn't think «t<-ll oi him.

Julius looked at Irsuln's fair face, linn he said :

■■ You're no! tin to the mark. Shall we let the dunce go and have a * troll- in Ihe picture gallery ? It'll lie quiet there, nnd I'll show you the l.ady I'rsuln. you resemble." "Yes. 1 should like ihnl :" and in-d-a«l tJt going lo the ballroom they went up a side staircase' and soon «*ached the picture gallery, ll was brilliantly lighted, but just then do«»rlcd.

"Now, this is the young woman, ind if you'd |»ut on the same rireSM and lake her {dace, no one would know tho different*." Trmdn smiled. "She is like me. Was she happy, or *hnl? Has she n history?" "Yes. ""ll is said ihat sin- was forced lo st»nrr> n n»t»n slw» hated, and in a year conn* l»*ick to her father. vow ins; to rominit snkidc if he mndc h.»r re* urn lo h«*r husband. Ulii-n he died « lew >••«!> itltCl' Slv IH;in l-.l P. Cll <!T> lI'III, WI « ll x ,-,,nj>t,, ot hnndntl' tt >'i>i. i:« I «»ri s«>.-i it whs' n wot»«l»-ri>>l!,\ bsipjvnfiirr(*ip-"--« " .i""' «»* nil lor hue. »»nd the world »"l! lo«-t." I i-i'h * «»ii wnnlilii'l Mm r ;»' a r,»-.« :»iirr. ( »-,i'." »;»i«l I TH'lto. ut t r ' n> -*«»*«•. i">> '*"* t.i'c h hi (»■•.•- »>'*• ■!•>' :'<•'■ Ht.lt. .u:»i I'd U..1.L-I > tti'' r:H I Inir l ; *-*>•■ '-wii I .'_-}•;. v- ' 'Hii' t-. 'i -»i«-'-l !>.r • I ! .'il.i 1. O -;. iM f li'i" i" ■.■•!■;■• ■•■ ■ p...... , . : , ... :u lw- •-.. •'. .-..d •>.-.. I in •!■ ■•:-■. .'!■■:-. ■'! -.•> ::■ ■' I „..• ~- ;!,...:-!.' I .h"'i , fl • .'.!•■ -. ! "I' » - ~:,!.»!. it'-'- M., -. I '\' ■•- ! --'i t>i t. .-; i, : f —|t *». .ffv -Hi!' 1 Ulf. I kn-v il v. , v - Uk. ll.'-. H'iC '!••■ "• ■■•»'■:• '••■• \f,.,f f..l'- • li.'.'l .:> -■"'•' .»t i: ... .ml I .in' ■.Mf>.i!->I a ii'.s'.l (it- ! ;(-'.. t|,..il. UI.-IIT HI-'.C V.O'lU] ."'ll •■ : I.lit I'm ;■:.». iI •. Hi !•'*, .-. ~n.l i' 'H !.i-t !u> t. .- V. ill ' ..-i In'"- ui<- .i lot in I' 1 :- I ,[.,,,■( H!,.t-i,f..ri• I Ufi.it org \>'i 'u ! ,»[»'>'i' ' ' '-i'.'' a-Vir'l. ■l'm i.-'!! tin' ;<» i I in-'; >"' i. nii'l r»-<*>tn*; >on t«» '?-; i"'- '-mw.' k".' "««d. . / ',

riIAITKH XX. I n::l;i i :■ ■ ,} \.- ■ l-..-.:;i p«-n'ty on lll« ..r:r. ... -'i • miml. in a «"ti" that -H<i"..-ii sh'' u ;i> ()>-f|ply uiovcfl : t ant !<:>n-. s..n> . .luiius. I don't titirA r. , :-.i;:- i nvt\ for me, «nd I v. u ( routrt Ii- >..ur w-ii> ; but 1 «:o: = 't. !..%f I.OU in »hnt way. ( like r.,u \.•:-;.- much. :>n<l • shall Imj so ;, iiiu iiKi'k'i- a fliit-M'Micc in ou :'i u'-j-i'i'.hip." .;•:" .. ..ui Jim" sp.-ak for a minute; t !-. ■: h • ~mi\ . ~.-; if im -wW-wy i« tbo i.>->t you s ..! ~'!h it I"« 1 rather !••.• your ■ . ■ : •!..-.- ;-.■■• ..' !'. -r v '••lUitl''- I)US- !.-;• :> • ..-; ■-houWI cSi.ir.gi- ymir t : •,- ,"• ' ■ ■ ■ ! ::•:■ t I :iui ; i ;'.' :m>l IKT . ; .t . Iv-.- r.in<l !:avi-!l«fl • - 'iih-i 1. Tut i..!;■'• . ' )■'• n..-i!i whom :.. i ~-,•- .. .-i: ;'..:■ mi" lui'-i ;,. .;- - ..; - |,,n.i " -«-•■«■!)!.-tl impost- !.'■• o r.v.'i sh" a>k«.-d h'-r----i vby i I v. ii -. t'r>»| ;l . l\.- i-.o riu'bt 1.. % -k\ou. li.; :•• ib-r.- at>;- o-h«.r i'.-llow ?" .i»s-i"ir a>i ed. : he i-o!Sn..|! li'is. h.

"Oli. no. I'm ri"t "■ }"'■•• Ullt ai»\ »<.< i»." sli»- >ai'l. • ;h n I fi"> !-'iv.- u|. hope \Ji tl:r .same. 1 won't l>o>h«r >o<i. I»nl we'll bo gtio«l irii ncl>." "Vex. I hat i* what I «»h">itii like.' she said. caßrrU -. <lu:i s)v adried. >tl a moie iV-lilH-ruti- tone "but you nifS'n't think of nn> thing else. IVrhai--- I : h-tll ii«-viT many." "Oh. that's good r I'd sooner be-fJk-M- tS.e end of lbe world would nun' io night than that you'd bean ii'i! t-jiiil : Mat I'll wait and hope. Of lour.-e. I -shall not tell the A"t»eia« >ou've r«-f«»t-d me. or you'd lur.e a bad lime. And now I'm feoint to lake you to supper." A rituple of hours' later, when Kors.e l.'Ksir.ins;*- said " Uood n';'!.-!" to I itula. he whispered, "1 Hbnll win ~.vou yet ;" thin before she eoittd reply he had turned away. The i.exl morning when the ff.ie.'S.s. who had remained overnight, hud taken their departure, Julius found rrsuln sitting in the single nook in the givat hall. As he ap-pro:u-he.-| she looked up from the l>oo!» sh>- was reading, and her face flushed .slightly os she recalled the conversation of the preceding night. "I soy. I'rxula. I've come to tell you that the Autocrat' knows you ha\c refused to marry me. She's «-;.es like a l\nx. and she says I looked "iinutt crnbly miserable last n'ght. She'd mi-sed us from.the room, and r\|iorled good news ; but my fn-,-e told In r that I'd had a knock-down blow. s w this morning *he tackled*me. It was no use fencing—the Autocrat goes straight to the point—and I'd no choice but a He or refusing to answer her questions. 1 kn—.v tha'. would put her in a fage and i»in'-»e it worse for vou. so 1 told her the truth, and I'm afraid you'll hn've a bad lime. She was girding herself up for battle ; but I kn.v.v Mi" wouldn't speak to \ou until the other people had cone. t wanted to tell you just how she knew. J couldn't bear vou think I was cad enough to jive \ou aw-ay." "I could never think you a cad, Julius." she said, regarding his commonplace face kindly.

At that moment a footman catno forward, saying "

"If vou p'ra***. Miss Calthorp, her ladyship will lie glad if you will go into the dra-«'in i-room."

".*-'li'''s nut wasting time." said Julius, with a half-comical expression.

"X«». I thitik grandmother is one ;»f these - |:«-op!e who are mostly nhcad of time, awl now I must face th<* iMiisip.'* said I'rsula, as she rose. ■' Shall I nunc with you ?" he ask«'d.

"What good woulil that do?" "I mijrht *ay I'd changed my nind. and didn't want lo marry you. "I'lttMi *hc"d turn her guns on mc, If -ho Ix-Hevfd hip. Anyway, it would divert her attention, and I don't stand at a lie to serve yon." "Thnnks. I'll fight my own batlles. and I'm not afraid of my grandmother." •Julius looked at her admiringly. "tty .love; I think it would take a pieat deal lo make you show the white feather I" And he watched h«-r as she crossed the hall. "Anyway. J have this comfort — «he's iiot in love with that beggar, Ilora'-c I/KM.range," he thought. Itrlyla found her grandmother with a hook fn hev hand, but she had a ttrong idea thxit she was not reading.

•"Vou wanted me. grandmother 7" •die said, srutiug herself in a little •n*y-ehnir.

••Yes. I wish to osk you a quost'uuC Why have you refused to marry .Julius ?"

"!lecause I don't love him as I intend to love the man whom 1 marry."

Tlie countess curled her lip as she said :

"I see you've got roinantie nolions. I suppose you do not dislike your cousin ?"

"Am a cousin and a friend, I like him very much : as a husband, ho would Im? Impossible."

"Indeed !" and the countess regarded Ursula through her ovc-claj's.-s. "What is there lacking in Julius ?"

"I don't soy there is anything lacking, but h<\- not the kind of man I int--nd to marry. I suppose f\i'i;. i.'if! ha 1 - li.-r ici'.al" "Mnv I iiv), if \dm ha'e '.-vit met V "till ". it-,!"-- '*" " 'Hi-- ..-"•'-i ■<)!) was put in a hard, l!>r i J.I I . 11 • J ivi;..'. •■ .. r-ii! - nVv." t-> dark I. l-'-i..!■:."■ -tti'l ;lv; colour ni-'hcd to »:■•: ('.»■ •. ■To !■<• ('"in inued i