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OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

(All Rights Reserved.)

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

PART 17. "Don't quibble. 1 know you made her an offer the night of the Countess of Helli field's ball, and my coming up helped her to get away from you. 1 intended speaking to you about it at once, but I heard she had gono away. Now she has come back I want you to understand that vou are to leave her alone," shf said. He spoke in a sneering tone : "Am 1 to understand that you regret your refusal to be my wife and aspire to that position ?" "You know 1 don't. * Since 1 did what. 1 have done for your sake, 1 have lived in hell —the hell of a conscience that is ever tormenting me—but it would be a deeper hell —I think 1 should touch the depths of the bottomless pit—if I became youi wife !" said Helen Royce, in a tone of concentrated passion ; ami the listener realised something of the tempest in the woman's soul. "My dear Helen, you are unreasonable. Vou won't marry me yourseli, and you work yourself into a rage if I try to win another woman. Don't you think that it is Vathi r like the (log in the "manger ?" and his tone was cool and aggravating.

"Vou ai-f a wicked man —deliberately wicked —and at any cost I will saw Ursula Calthorp from being your wi-'e."

"At any cost? Would \on explain yourself?" and there was a threat in his \oiee. "1 will tell hr what I know about you."

"And what about yourself? We are in the same boat."

"No ! Oh, no ! I've been wicked, but not lile you, and 1 will sacrifice myself to save her!" she said, in a tone of passionate emotion. "Do you think 1 should let you? At anv cost I would silence you !" he said : and his tone was bitterly \ indict ive.

"That would not help you. I do not trust yoy, Horace. The man I loved and trusted is dead and buried. There is nothing between us but a bond of sin and bitterness. For the sake of happy memories, when I believed you to be all that was noble, 1 would not hurt you ; but this girl -■hall not join her pure young life with yours," she said, resolutely. "1 will marry, her in spite of you. 1 loved you at one time, but it was nothing to the passion I feel for Ursula Calthorp. .She is the one woman I have ever really loved, and 1 tell you, if all the powers of heaven and earth were against me, I would still win her !"

The low, fierce, determined tone sent a thrill of horror through the listening girl, and opening the door, she drew it after her as softly as possible ; then she fled to the door leading into the garden. Jackson was standing there.

"Open the door quickly. He is in the house. Don't let him know 1 have been ;" and Ursula passed through the garden and from it to the park.

The thick white mist hung like a pall over tho park as she ran with the swiftness of a deer towards the wood that divided the two estates. Once she thought she heard quick steps behind her, and increasing her speed, she ran full against the railings. Pausing, she drew a quick breath. She was almost in safety. Then aguin the sound of steps, and Ursula mounted the wooden railing, then sprang irom i|. to the other side ; and as she went quickly forward she heard « sound that convinced her whoever was pursuing her had climbed the railings. This thought seemed to give her fresh strength. She would not be caught, and, almost flying, she presently reaelv d the Grange, and, ctossing the drawbridge, she stood with her back to the door, looking round. Hut the mist prevented her seeing more than a few yards, and she knew that the -man who had been in pursuit was not likely to Come within range of her vision. Exhausted and glad to have gained a haven of safety, Ursula ojMjned the door and entered the house, going slowly until she reached the fireplace in the hall. Then she sank on to the settee that was placed along one side of the fire, and looked at her wet feet and draggled skirts, and in spite of the fatigue, there was a feeling of triumph. She had beaten her pursuer and brought the ring home in safety. Her thoughts came to a standstill as she looked at her empty hands. The bag with the ring in it had gone, Ursula rose, triumph, fatigue, evory=Ihing forgotten in the consternation her discovery had .caused. She shook her skirts, but the bag had vanished. Had she dropped it ? Or had the footsteps been nearer than she realised—the ground was wet and would deaden sound —had the bag been whisked out of her hand ? She had been excited. Such a thing was possible, but not probable. Where did she last remember having it? And Ursula /felt sure she had been holding it firmly ■when she climbed the ruiling. Then it would be on her uncle's land, and for a moment she thought of going to look for it.

"It's no good. It would be like looking for a needle in a bundle of .hay to try to find the bag in this mist, I must wait till morning," she soliloquised. ; If ahe only knew who had bein following her, and if the motive was to get possession of the ring ! Mrs, Jackson had said she thought she was watched. Was there any truth in her suspicion ?

That night Ursula lay awake longing fur morning, and when it canie, bright .and' sunny, she went but to search for the ring ; but though she looked carefully from the house . to the railings that enclosed her uncle's land, she did not find it, and she went home, thinking if she had lost it m the Priory park there was Ht-

tic hope of f.nding it. Jackson would have moro chance of searching for it there, so she wrote him a few lines telling: him she had lost the hag, on the way home, and asking him to look for it in the park.

CHAPTER XXIV. "Miss Finlayson," a footman announced, as Nettie entered the morn-ing-room, where Ursula was stamping the note addressed to Jackson. "Are you going out ?" she asked, seeing, that her friend wore her hat and coat.

"No ; I've been in the park. I'd give the world for a good • long country walk, but uncle said I must not. go about the lanes alone, and grandmother marly had a fit when I named it," said Ursula. "Where do you want to go '?" asked Nettie., regarding her curiously. "Nowhere in particular—just a tramp to shake oft" the blues. 3 . omctimes think a man has the best of it. He can do- what he likes, while a woman has to do what thf world approves."

Nettfie smiled. "I never felt that way. I was perfectly happy while 1 had Jim and I thought he loved me. Now I feel like a <aged bird. I want something and I don't know what. Sometimes I wish I had stayed in the convent. Perhu, s happiness would have come in time, or, at least, rest* But I didn't come to talk about myself; 1 have something dreadful to tell you."

Ursula started. Was she going to te'.l her the ring had been found, and recognised as belonging to Jack 1/E-. trange ? "Why, you look quite pale and ri hftMied ! 1 wonder if you've seen him ?"

*■ "Seen who?" and Ursula's voice quavered. Nettie drew her chair a little nearer, and spoke in a low tone.

"Jack I/Estrange. I saw him last, night. I wasn't dreaming. It was Jack in flesh and blood —no spirit."

"Did you speak to him'?" asked Ursula.

"No ; 1 hadn't the chance. I was stiivUng at my bedroom window ibout seven o'clock last night, and I saw a man on the lawn looking up at the house. The moon had been obscured for some time, so 1 couldn't see him distinctly, but there was something familiar in his appearance ; and while I was watching him the moon, as though it wanted to help me to identify him, cast a faint gleam over the park, and I saw the man was Jack. I beckoned to him. but he turned a way, and disappeared in the direction of tho wood." Ursula spoke quickly. „

"Vou were overwrought, and you imagined the man was your cousin. He .would know it was dangerous to come here," she said, trying to convince herself that both Nettie and the lawyer were mistaken.

"Jack never feared anything ; but if he has come into the neighbourhood lie has an object. I expect he ho|>es to prove his innocence. Very likely he will. Vou and I have Inen miserable failures, yet 1 believed . we should discover the truth."

"Had they done nothing? Nay, the knowledge that the ring had been found was something, but it might not clear the man whom the law said was guilty. If she had not lost it, and could show it to Miss L'Estrange !" thought Ursula. Nettie went on speaking: "I'm half inclined to think Horace saw him, l.ecause I know he would iw hateful to him if he. thought that .Jack was in the neighbourhood, ai.d this morning he was in a Inadi'ul temper. I asked him what was the matter, and he tole me to mind my own business —that women were the most meddlesome creatures on the face of the earth ; that all they were good for was putting their n ers in some one else's pie. I is' ed him who'd been interfering wiih him, and he swore under his breath." "I don't think'because he was in a terni er pio\es that he saw your cousin," saitl Ursula,, who had a very idea that Helen Koycc's dcelara'icn that she would prevent him marrying her was the cause of his ill humour.

"Well, I saw Jack. I can swear to it."

For a moment there was silence ; thin she said :

"Let me take you for a drive ; the o.i.\ -carriage is waiting. Of course, <o cannot talk confidentially beause of the groom, but it's nice out ji' doors."

Ursula formed a quick decision. She would see Miss L'Estrange and describe the without telling her how it had come into her hands, an-' see i-* she knew to whom it •lad belonged. "If you-don't mind I'll drive back with you. 1 want to see Miss L'Estrange." •

"She's ill. We had to send for the doctor, this morning, and he told me she must be kept quiet—that Dawson, her maid, could do all that was required, and I had-better not go near her. So it's impossible for ion to see her."

" Then i'll go for- a- drive with you ;" ami as they passed through Ihe hall Ursula slipped the letter to Jackson into the bag.

"Now, shall wo drive through MyIhemroyd, and round by Four Clovers lane ? Then I can drop you iierc." "Oh, you must conic back and have luncheon with us," said Ursula.

"Thanks ;" and, taking the reins from the groom, Nettie turned in the direction of the village, and the girls .•hatted as they drove through the ancs with the nearly leafless trees arching overhead. Nettie asked i.out Ursula's journey into Devonshire, and the loss of her fosterr r»ar;n;.s.

"It seems ages, since the ball ; Horace told me about it," she said. As they entered the village Ursula lodlttd round with interest. She had heard from Mrs. Ellis much' about the people, and already she took an interest in them. Then she caught sight of Jenny Dcwhirst, tho widow •of tho murdered nianf and exclaimed :

"Stop, Nettie ! I want to speak to that poor girl."

Rather reluctantly Nettie checked the ponies and Ursula got out. Nettie looked curiously at this girl who had taken her lover from her. She had often heard of her beauty, but, this was Mho first time she had se*n her, and now, 'though the man they

had both loved was dead, she feK a pang of jealousy as she realised that her own prettiness looked faded and insipid by the glorious dark beauty of the girl who had been her rival. While Nettie gazed at her the girl, after one listless glance, let her eyes fall, until Ursula said, in a pheasant tone : . . - r

"It's a,, long time since I saw you, Jenny."

"Yes, I'm waiting." "What- aro you waiting for ?" asked Ursula. "I don't know ; -but I want to find something :" and she"" moved her hands restlessly.

At (hat moment the cottage door o| erced. and .Jenny's mother (Mrs. Kawson) appeared. As she came down the path she said : "1 saw you speaking to my poor girl, ami 1 want to ask you if you don't think her changed ?" The last words were spoken in a lower tone.

!'Sho seems more restless ;" and as the woman spoke respectfully to Nettie, Ursula turned again to the girl.- "What is it you want to find, •lennv '?" .

"I don't know ; I cannot, tell ;" and again her hand went restlessly to her forehead. "Here's Horace!" exclaimed Nettie. "I wonder how lie happens to be walking? 'He.:rode off on the Black "i'rfhcojj" :and she turned to Ursula, wli'O" was still, standing by the gauv,-JAhile-, Jenny -stood on the other side in her usual listless fashion.

Horace L'Estrange came towards them walking in a sharp, decided manner.

"Where's the Black Prince ?'' Nettie asked, as he drew near. "The Black Prince has cast a shoe, so I've left him at the blacksmith's. Good morning, Miss Calthorp. I was coming to the Grange," he said, raising his hat as she turned round. An awful scream, blood-curdling in the intensity of its horror, made every one turn to look at Jenny. "Send him away ; there's blood on him—deep red blood. Send him away," she said ; and her tone was frenzied, while her eyes that were fixed on Horace L'Estrange expressed fear and horror. "Hush, Jenny !" and Ursula laid her hand gently'on the girl's arm, but she shook, herself free, shrinking back as she called out :

"Take him: away ! There's blood on him —Jim's blood ! And the stick —it spurted all over the stick ! Oh, my God !" and a scream that was terrible, to hear rang out aa she turned and fled towards the house ; but etc she reached it she would have fallen if her mother had not caught her by the arm. "She's fainted," she said to Ursula, who had followed. "Poor girl ! Let me help you to gel her into the house ;" and between them they carried her in and laid her on a couch. Her mother bathed her face with water and put brandy to her lips, but it was some time before she recovered consciousness ; then she began talking in a wild, delirious fashion. "You must have the doctor," said Ursula. "I'll ask Miss Finlayson if she will drive to Dr. Harrison's and ask him to come at once," she added.

"Thank you, miss ; but don't let Mr. Horace L'Estrange go for the doctor," said Mrs. Kawson, almost fiercely,

"Miss Finlayson will go. I will come back., and. stay until the doctor comes," said Ursula. Stepping out of the cottage, she went to the gate, where Nettie still waited in the pony carriage and Horace L'Estrange stood leaning s>n the gate'.

"Well, how is the maniac?" he asked, curtly.

"Jenny is usually quiet. It is strange the sight of you should send her into such a frenzy," replied Ursula, coldly. Then she turned to Nettie, saying, "Will you drive as juickly as you can to Dr. Harrison's, and ask him to come at once ?"

"Yes, I'll go.' Poor girl, it was terrible to see her!" and flicking the whip the j>onies set ofl at a smart pace. "Will you let me sec you safely home, Miss Calthorp ?" inquired L'Estrange. "I am going to help that poor girl's mother," she said, coldly.

"The Jieighbours will ""do that ; one of them has just gone into the cottage." "All the same, I shall wait to hear what the doctor has to say ;" and she turned away. "You'll find me here, then," he replied.

Half an hour later the doctor arrived, and he ordered the girl to be Moved upstairs .at. once, and promisJd to send a sedative, telling her mother to keep her very quiet. As he was leaving he said : ' "You'd better not stay, Miss Calthorp. The neighbours will be of more use than you." Ursula rose and left the house with him, but in the garden she paused, saying : "Doctor, is she very ill ?"

"She's going - to have brain fever, or I'm very much mistaken ; but if she pulls through it —and 1 don't see why she shouldn't,.she's strong—it's quite likely her reason will return, and we shall know a little more about Dewhirst's murder. It was a shock that sent her out of her mind. That she's had another great shock I'm certain, and it's possible this oiie may undo the work of' the other." By the way, 1 understand it was seeing.^Mr., ; Horace. L'Esteange that upset her ?" he said, in a careless tone, so careless that Ursula' looked at.hihi curiously. (To be Continued).

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19090125.2.13

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 125, 25 January 1909, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,934

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery. King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 125, 25 January 1909, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery. King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 125, 25 January 1909, Page 4

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