OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 130, 11 February 1909, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

(All night* Reserved.)

fly HKW.F.Y RICHARDS. Author of A r>n> of Hrckoning.' "From the Mill to the Mansion," Etc.. Ktc. PART ». An hoar and a half later a reply tdrgram «ni rvteHtd. and the mewsag* «w that John L" Estrange *w lr«e.

'I "m gl n d vom'vc come back among us, »lr, and your innocence full} proved." *aid the »u|wrint«ndent, as thev shook hands. and he accompan red him to the door. Jack l» Efr 1 rprnff* |«aiw(l a* he »•* that a great rruml hud gathered outride the I>o-tic»-coart. In some »a> news that the master of Mythetnroyd Hall *a» had got known, ami it spreac in Mvlhtntro*d. rawing the miners *»>ine of whom had only ju.*t come from thr pit. to mount their bicycles nnd ritle with all speed into Ifetltfkld.

\* Minn a.-* tSwv ro« him « great hurrah *ns heard. nnd there was a ring »'r triumph in it. Again and th* hurrah rang out. and Jack I.'Kstrange lifted hif caf»: then caps* wt-re waved nml ibing aloft. and a true ilr:t:<'h "llip-hip-hnrrah f" told of itw> n iMight that their young muster rofti'- l»ack without a : Itirn <m hi* character. As th* rfri.r dr. d f»y the hoot of o motor \» u-> h«ur«l. and in unothet l ord t»«l»"»worth> Mopped H ut. {he ►out of th«* stejKS.

"*nv v si»|«'rtni»n«lent wirctl to let m,v J.now. nnd 1 set ofl »s m on I heard, hoping to have fh»' homwtr »« tnkinjf >ou home. 'htvin.' s:" and as Jack l/Kstun>;v itp', his s«t»l in th«» r#r ani»U». r hi ,>rtv »-|i*nr burst from th«; r it. arv*l *ht-v let't IMlifteld l«c* firrnl w»tt» th»r hiirruli* still ringing in fhrir rrfrs.

'»*• jjiien *ou a |«ro|wr S«»ihl- - »Nt it'fl n lot to make up for rb I s«itl Julius.

• ' T)wtc has »>*en one compensation." 1 epbeil Jack, but h»* did not •,».» hln', mil Julius, who had (ceftil from Mr. t'altharp how Ir- • if'a and l.'Kstrangi' hwl lwvomc ?c----i|)iaii)liil. wimtknil if that was the

IIIAITKK \\M. SHK lIAIi ItKKN HIS OOUD ANUKI., 'lhe nws that Jack t/Kstrangc Hiirri ntErml t«» the police, and ► ereiiv d n telegram saying he was now h- was Imck once ► (►ore at M yth"i»iro>d Hall—had been fii-ncgfit to th>* tJronsje tn one of the tf»r»f»*neifs. At bn nkfast MaJ'on. the util ha I. with a Joyful counIwii'". iimpnrteil th-* information to his it(r r. >r. n'Ml •'"I n t'u'lh«»rj> had o|>ei»iy : but I rsula had Ik'id ipi"'. thoifgh her heart was hrimfiiinj; over with thankful- ■» <•* nnl ji»y. After breakfast—«hen i,i»'!i' had gon** to interhi*w the manager at the pit. saying ihnt he should drive to M>themo.'id ItaM in th«* afterno«»n and see . f ark—l'rsola took her work and .fent. tn'n the morninK-rooot. bother n'ti'rs mr iill»*. as she pictured the 1 »;>{►!n s,s of th * man who had come ark to hi.« own. and she wondered r he rt o'il*l rom»> to the tirange. ,Nt in !•* was an old friend, and <• hat s h - misht want to renew his

with h«r. Th«* thought ~.«»re her lace Hush and h»*r h«*art eat. »»n*l the words. "Mr. I.'Ksraused her to start, then f.r (hi- man of whom she had iev n fhlnking coming towards her. you kn«»w I was back at the H«K. . r'r»e man?" he asked, as he l.er band. "Mtvwt tot it us at breakfast. He « d fhe People rherred you a* ihvuu-jfth you were th** King." I'rsola frswerei-l, »•< she stole a glance at th* e from which anxiety was Mni> h d and now beamed with hap* •Sifte* ■>.

•• ih>",y g«ve me a hearty jjre-t'n<y. owl I c'ad of it. I .Vel it f, i«»#l to know my fellow- ,!!»•« well of me again, though p ' uv»v: ;> large nwmler of the work- ■ ■it,' .M- t nrl lb** lletlitield folM al(f>l tieliete I was Inmscent ; t»!it iv. >*v tN*re is n«» doubt in the ♦rn-rtt* im' any. and their greeting assured ww wf it Hut I came to »ha yon. tt fk-eni!* to me that vwtr b»*. e had ■ great ikal to do with r'V»rii»;t my name. Yuu Iwu' t.» ruy jjood angel." he »«i'l. as -wt down. mi. t don't think I have lion** airy th»ng bot give Mr. Scholo the rir»i—and' rrm that I h*»t. »> «t»i know."" said I'rsola. "We;l. it is difficult to i-siilain. hr 4 U af>{»*ars to me that your pre-n>-e h«*re has brought out the truth. lt»F«re l/Kstrange wniilrd to marry vwu. »nd |«oor Helen lloyce would not allow )on. if jou had wished, to Iwconw the wife of such a villain : then his deal re to speak to you |rd him to face Jenft>. to «l»»»n you talking. 1 told you that Av t,t iht* Nook Farm that I hod an inslescril able feeling that it woold Nr »et! to tell >o» my story. I wantto stand well with you. but it was niwFt* Ifcaß that. I was thinktnjar this morning it was singotn'r I should have »wen the •#*!> one swtetl from the tVean tjneen. Then, attain, the intense longing I felt te ror» e l*«li to F.»gland Is a strangr I can only think lhat Clot meant to make my innocence plain." said Juirk |/Kstrange. in a * IwJw, "It was Providence thai mg» hflpinr >ou nil along. Kven when >om at the Nook Farm you must havv bren guided there, because It is t ,o* Hkelv another fam» would have sw*h a -»'«• hiding-place and »*rsura's Um was confident. Then she added : "Hot «!»>' did you not cmr forward at the time the two. Statements were made public ?" "I want'd to hear what the Home Serretar.. had l« Sf»>*. I didn't wish lo risk go ng back t« !N*rtni«or. and I was all right at the I'riory." ' fthat do Nettie ami Mis# L'EH* tra»*S#r "Nettte In hapfn* as she will lie. Wit! i»e*cr f->rget |n»or Jim. un'l the 1 *1' 1 that hj« cast t/Cf

off adds a stinfj lo her sorrow. Hut Aunt Jan** is unfeiitnedly huppy : ) believe .-.ho will become quite tnlka I have a from Iwitl of them for jou. It was to hep >o j t«» rome and dine with 11* thi> pu-niftß, and I am going lo ask youi ui.cli* 1 o runic with you. Js he al hiiiin 1 ?"

"No : hr'.i gone to see th<p manager at the pit ; but he was tftlkinjj of driving over this afternoon. so I thin* I might acrept the invitation for dinner instead." Th«j- trm !>o laisv talking that neither ol then noticed the opening of the door, ant the words "Lord Gales worthy" mad< them look round in surprise. " Hallo ! You here. Jack ? I *a? rooting to tell I'rsula the new.*, bul I -mh* you've brought it in person You did not let the gram grow under your M." he said. rather curtly. "No. Ui.H.i I'rsula wot n friend ir ihi iI. and I wanted to her undei ihf • changed circumstance*." saio Jni. quietly. "Just >O. Well, I'm gl«d you'vi »jot I ack to your own. It w ß s o l»urnng • home they found you guilty: l>ut the law iuu»t have a scapegoat. :in I y iiu «crc the one they could la\ hands on."

Then they licgan talking al»out other things, but I'rsula M* that Julius was not a* good-tempered a.*usual, and neither man wemrd willins to I nave before the other. When Mr. t'althorp appeared, it ended ir them both remaining to Itinrlu-on. and it wasn't until late in the afternoon that they departed.

As I'rsula descended the dn>wd for dinner, she found lwi uncle waiting at the foot. and Ik clnnred with approval at her whiu cow 11.

"I'm £lml you arc wearing white.' «r "Wild.

'I thought that as Nettie woule t-v su'v i«» wear black I w«»uld not. Yin w. it is a joyful occasion." He nodded, and the pleased look llngt-r. il as he watched her maid wrap her in a warm cloak. Then thin went lo the carriage, and on »h*- way lo the Hall he spoke ol •lack I."K»trance, and I rsiiln renlis«d thai he hod n great liking foi him. »»n arrivini: there she found that Nettie was brimming over with excitement. and Miss i."K»trange. though «|»iiet. ,i|>|«'iir>il different. t>nee or twice during dinner l : rsula ♦toV a Rlanev at her h«»sl when he w.i. talking to Mr. t'althorp. and a irrnt gladness filled her heart when •In* thought of wlini he had said in l lie morninc. »nil she told herself that, though she had not done much towards provinc his innocence, it wst* •loubtful whether things would li{|Vp been as they were if she had H»t come to the f I range, she had K»n the pivot on which things had turned, with the delightful result that Jack I/Kstrungy was once moro tmong his own people. Mi-?* 1/Rstrangc ilid nol seem in im hurr> to move, but nt last she •use. and the two girls followed her. rVn Mr. t'althorp turned to his lost, saying : "•lack, it's almost like old times .*1 you among us again."

"It's n wonderful happiness to mc .0 come bark to ihe obi place, and Vs'l that all the world knows I am innocent of the crime that was aid to my charge." "And to think that the guilty >i n n was living in your house—filing your place, as it were ' I jever likr<l him : still. I h«»l no vason to suspect him. You see, lis intimacy with Uewhirst was not «uown. IK- the way. it was slr n n»ie »ou should encounter my niece when .«>u escaped from Dartmoor." "It was lncky for mc I chanced on he Nook Farm. Silo*, the old serant there, stood mv friend, and Miss I'rsula believed in my innocence rum the first." he said. Then lie *| oke quickly : "I have carried the wmory of her. as I first *hw- her. «itling in the summer-house, looking like n lily in lier white rolie. Aith n*' e>er sine**, and I am glad ,0 think I shsull have thu chance of H«.-e*nc her fre»|iieiit l> John t*alth«»rp smib-d. He wa« not iliml. ottd he saw that J«rk I/KsI range was greatly at traded by his liece. and it did nol displease him. -teeing the >oung man was lunging to join the ladies, he drank his glass of old |iort. anil as he put the ilass down he said : "Now. Jack, shall we go inio the Jrawing-room ?" Meanwhile. Nettie had lieen telling I'rsula that she was going to return lo the content. She would *t«> a little longer at the Hull —it was so nice to huve Jack Imck —but »h" felt that she should lie happier spending her life in prayer than in the world, as it held no joy for her now.

Miss l.'Kstrang** bad knitli-d in ->ileiHe. and tlv*re was a mon; rcsti'ul lo«»k on her fare than I'rsula mil so-n She evidently did not, infend to trv to dissuade Nettie from going l>nrk to the convent, bul lis-U-ned lo l'r»iiln".» vain efforts in silence. "Ihen wh«*n Jack entered tho r«w>m h»*r fare brighlefiwl"Miss I'rsula. when I was biding in the nei«ht«oiirhood. I often pictured ou in my home. on se»*. I knew yon visited Ifre, and il was a pleasure to think of you in the old place." be said, as he lookitl admir* ingly at the fair girlish fa«">:. "And you wtre near whi-n hc »»* acting master of the place. I'id you ■tospeel any thing she asked. "I was lieginning to. I found out one or two things that aroused my suspicions. And >uu ? Had you any suspicion ?" "Not until the last. I knew that I le'en I Joy re ktvw of something ills* tritillable in hljt pnst. nn«l 1 wither likrtl nor trusteil him." "Yet he dnred to love you J I heard that he raid he would win you for his wife." "It w«s a *ain boast." she answerrd.

Jmsl then Nettie joined 'lv-m. and Jack, tliougt) h- liked his unfortunate cousin, in his heart pronounce*} her Inconsiderate to spoil his tete-a-tete. loiter, when I'rsula said good-bye to Miss I.'Kslrange, the lat* ter whispered : "I.ost through a lass. gained through a lass !" ami I'rsula turned awav with a blushing face. "tiond night. You will come a&ain. It does Nettie good lo *ec you. and I" T)»en the horse started. She did put h«'gr Ihc end of th® wnlppß*i and Jack I/Estraffgc. w|>o hj*d btfl) standing near the Cnlthorp's car? riage. went Imck Into the houM I and as he s*t smoking, he drrtned

of n time v. In n I'rs'ila v.ould re;ga as inistresv th'-re. ciiai'tiu xxxn. TTIK ni.L. (i).l' STOUY. It. was i,i, 1.1:• • «?«.-• r»».r. in ' In: year—a year that. i> u *! l> r "»s "=«• '"•'•niful to I I'Mi 1 n. —.-irnl ,-.s -1 a' «»n»" «>' 11j.• elm wim- !ri'lo\v>--looking ni th »• si. jj v. 11. ' 'A .1 : ;ii. - ing in thirk wlii'-- !';•'•• «-:• ' n ' lawn h»-r miti'l wt.i ; '<> t Inst Christ inns. Th«-n *-h' •••"•:! a' thu N«»ok Fnnn. S)i<- Mm] r.<>' anything of 'li" iun- ;!in<.r.c whom ••If un»- n>>w Ir.iiif H>-i wjis a v nli;d bunk : i>'i' -h« wa>- |)ap|>\ in I h<* lo\i> of !;• r J■ > vT '"i ■ points. n rnl us sh«: though' "I ih' in nn>l ll>" untimely fnl»; Ihnt lin'l t»'n thfirs I'istila sighed. Tlvn li'i height* travelled, nml v h': wnnri'-r----••t| if N'eitifj v.ns happy in th«- invent. wh>*re was* now Q ncivji-i-, pn I l.cfore long intended taking th«; veil.

When h-.r cousin's innotenrc wapproved had ileclared there «b< noihieg to hold her lo the world, thjit. henceforth she would spend Hvr life pmyinc f«»r the soul of tlt>; ihb" ?»h< hrd loved—the mon who lia'l In' 11 so suddenly sent to fac«; hi. 1 - Mnsci*.

From Nettie her thoughts went .!> tiny —now known as Mrs. Pewhirst —who was at that moment n pro-lat-oner in n London hospital. Jack l.'l'strange. to whom the I'riory estate ha«l come (as his cousin ha<l died rhildlessl. had tried to induce her to go abroad and lie educated to fill the position that was now- ber> —as the widow of a rich man —but he lisid lnen met with a quiet firmness and n declaration that all Jenny wnnlnl was work. She had taken the matter over with the nurses who Iciil Im-i n with l>er in her illness, wiili ili«* re>ult, that she was going to train for u nurse.

I'rsula knew Jenny was happy. She had that morning a letter from her lhat told her Ihc girl was finding a new interest in life, that the memory of the tragedy, which had haunted her from the time the veil that had oliscured the past was lifted. was liecoiuing fainter. Y«>s. out of th" awful chaos order was !icing evolved, nnd Jack l/Kstrango was back ni the Hall. As she thought of him Ursula's face liecame rosy, .ind she turned wjtli 11 start as a footman announced. "Mr. L'Kstrange." "You've come in a snowstorm," *he said, trying lo s|ieak lightly.

He laughed. "It would take more than a snowstorm to keep me indoors, and T particularly wanted to see you to:lay."

"Has nn.MhinK happened ? Is Miss l/Rstrange ill "Aunt Jan ■ is first-rate : but 1 •aine to talk to _\ou aliout something that liaPlH-neil Inst summer.''

"I>ast summer nnd her voice lad a cim: of apprehension in it is she looked up at him. He seated himself 011 a chair near her as he said : "l.ast summer ! I lielievc it was 'hat afternoon in ihc attic 1 lost tny iieart : you stole it. I wonder if »*oii have anything to give mc in .•xchnnge ?"

I rsula bent her head, ami Ihc coljitr stole over her face to her brow*. •"Woii'i you answer mc ?*" nnd he clasped her hand firmly. She lifted her head, and her face was very t.right n* she said : "Kxchange is no robbery." lie drew her into his arms and •dssed her again and again. "You ha\e made me very happy," re said. "I'o you know, 1 felt I mist know my fate liefore the year ?l«»aed. I'rsula. I can almost for»i\e the miscarriage of justice that i. n t me to Itarlmoor, since it led .0 our imreliiig." "Ah. no • I was not worth much ■iuflering. I.isien ! The ls*lls arc 'himine. What is that for ?" "it is their way here to ring a ■»ind of preliminary pcnl : In a few ttours they will ring the New Ycnr in." I'rsula's face Iwcame grave. (To be Coniin'sed).