OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 131, 15 February 1909, Page 4

OUT OF DARKNESS; OR The Priory Mystery.

(AU RlgbU

Dy ltr.l>!.r.Y IiMIUIUS, Author of "A ■>' H" Zoning "From Uie Mitt to 'he M*/iS«oo." i;u . Mtc.

PAIIT ua. • Tbt> are ringing over |Hior Hclct BojrrV «r»ve : It will hurt tin vi«ar llifj said when (be jo> Wl» rang lh« nfitbt that \Oll rcturrn-d t« the H»H that h- wpnt and prated th' grave." "I*««r Hoys*?!" At that monwnt Mr. Calthorp en tertrd the room.

"I heard you were here. Jock." h* a* he came forward ; th« a ' « i{ltiw:nl quickly froui one to th« oilvr.

"Y«!», t nunc to ask I'r.ula a i|in?~ lion, and sdw has given me the an»«rr t hoped for. Will you consent in our marriage ?" * *«ti I didn't, what then?" and 1 hfrv wo* a humorous twinkle in Mr. Calthorp's eye. "then «e should do as our parnt.« diil—take the law into our own libbN."

lie laughed. "I'm quite sort you would. \©u art- j, mwl determined fellow, and rniii'a i.«n'l meek ; but I don't mind tf'liirrr ?mi I would rather sh«* was \»»fir woe than any other man's. Hut tott'll have to reckon on Counts s 01' IMlineld. She haw mad- up iK-r mod that t'noila l* to marry fttfimn. I'm afraid it will liv a blow 1 u him/"

• I;, 'rn'»w* I don't care f„r him. I'M l tfi aodoitither hj»»» nothing to tl.. n iH, rm-." e.%rl«iiMrl I'r'Ufrt. •• | •» «h"- l»iinltS iiltitwi.'*. I»'»t ! h j#-t ►'> afi , j'i rl,v e v I) * >»n»rrn»s»". uni. ' »b- t:»an;v w«H «•«•»«•*

: n r'. i» lf«> l.'K'lrongtft- •• j-.r.-1 ■ \ »»-nf nmrvt." "\»»i i'«>n'l think I IwA that into ft ': f

*•>.»: Ntl. t»H the smiw. »• c i, >• jfif- t>'il plttre to >«•». Now 1 sr"im;. I know I'm in the *•). t !VJi rnj»rl lo ihv jtwi at dinw*'."

If wit- ih' New Year that I r (h' # hid kn«*i»•». and when it w»i «{«*•'" »f.»; s old th*' morning pwsl Whoutbt I r-nla t > b'lt« r from Sila*. Crill' r-i «t »k pnt; she waited unlit r»«J» o\er. and going ||t* morninf-room j>lk broke .*eai>. which l»>ri« the stamp of a tronxbk. Ktitlmllv lletsy had «»■ ni hrnUmt th>« MUr secure Hxtfi pif;rr>g rT »"t. Then *hu read :

"Ivtur —I I ouijht to •*».* M»* < rntth»r|>. I»u* it don't come wtlnrHf when I think of jwi ■» KW»' up »**»>■ r urn e>r*. :*•»* I h«pe J •>« II wnw t, hi?» *.« »w»t tm-anl for a l»l»crt*. . o it dw* l"ok like il. Mr. i/r- Ifnncc wrote rM to'd u* t» hit of ww*. »« hj«" coi»»K C«» fupmrv *»>w. I «>urpri«w'd. I kn»*w it would »oit»* c lw'ii I heard l» roiw twtli to hi.* i»»n and <(ut>d tl"»r of «rii»f afore hL» fltluw it* w. Ik h4l» »<« ib«»l never ►orjjottvn how lr>v> h >ou ItKiked. with that pitiful, -c«re«l look. wh n }pti .-a* him .«• landing if; hi* «o;ivktV drei"* l**itl? Jin th«* garden, and the time h»* talkrd to tmi ii» lk< attic M fmi»h«l him. and hr"n wrvt-r Iwm a whole-hearted w a n Voa w. loiwie. if lhnt'» I !M»rt nf matie the match, wring I vti«Ml for hi* inii««*«v and inIrMftsrtil >om to him. in a more il*» literal." wa> than he bad done in thv gard» n. "I ken then. roMr. a* be *•* «" irvwweiit mnn. and Ihere'd bwn other Marnier made •>> #wl Jury, and t w;v* right. Mr. I/K*t ransre o jnw'd a ''it* hand In Henri*# hi)* name. ami it >«w *o w;i» fit y Co 5 o*P in the nick of time.

"Vrlf. niiw. I »»»l In •» , ll a« nr hril llv* wife *i"h )«w much i«y. I'm thinking W lb«*m »■' «•"* ijuff I an **n w» here. ' nM>irr )>n«l mi*-"*!* will I** (frrail) l>h> w .<(fl I hut yoflHr won th»* l>' v ' of *Mb a kihnl man. and rich a* Hp> Y«*od. I'm rtjtht tired of writ : s»ft. «nd 1 haven't I old >i>« ** Mr. l/KMraoiy u» to come nn<l llv*' at It*' Mr »t M> Ihrn*royd Hwll. H"s» a hM*lhrali»h name, but he w>» If* a fine plarr. and the !«*»>» „ r.**v llllle hott'F. The oM wvniaii who »l<rnil>'il lo Ihe $»!«!» i« itiHl. and llwreV t»o *hSlltnc> a week lor tVtwv if *b«' o)w*« Ihc i«fe. awl a pound l«r »»> for tttuMfkiUMj in the jtf»r«V-n Jn»l lanr), miwk ihfcrl> xhillinr* n ami a f»w *,»»'*••" r We'll k ne*« door lo mtlbor.afrw*. »"«• •! would lie flying in Km* ><»r* ot lYirt'ldrate lo Mww «ikli »n ar,d !">»' wrote to thank Mr. l.'B»lr»njp« and Idl him writ rnmf In a month. Von w. rsrii fbt* offer wouldn't hate lemptrd iw if ihc nw»lrr and wl»t* had i|*«l: l»ut Mr. Cvwgr l.» differ* - nt. ami I IrlifTF he owe* »*t » grwljte i'or hrlpfna; Mr. I»"B»tr«#pr lo grl (•"rtr ot the |>olice. I'm inclined lo rhtak K-> got it into hi* head th»t if >om hadn't .««en him. he iwscht fc«*e had fww with *w»». in !»pite of jour lieing a gre»t fadt*. llv !»«id *nii*'lh>i>|t of lh* <w>t wk.". uml I ,wl him ~Tnd *intr- I turn he".* tie**# »url> with »w ■no ."Ton ««c I ."•hall l»* gfad lo tt'"l »««> from the farm. w» il tfiA-iin'l Mm the »•»«?. and we'rv forw»»d to ha* in* a K*lm|iws r> > »>»f banitfe law. Hrt»y Is* chucking hwraa** w«r »h«ll he therr f«»r ih« we*Mli>g.—V owr nfis*** l ''"' **"*"* van*. "HII.ASt."

"It wo* upad of J ark not lo (orget old rttlw. but t might have known he* wowbl rvtnfmUr the old manwM «» I »!•*»!» (Mtbt thai *htt wotufd rrnm lh* old coupto Mrr tmv Ixcamv even »>ri|thler.

CIMITRK .\XXIII. tI»NiLISI.»N "Hhat fc» this* awww I hrar ilmhil nw Mnf engaged to Jack I,' »lmnf(c xiid Ihe Co«i*lcs» of lkflltli«ld K who had l«m ill at* Ihe >Vw Vrar . but hearing of Ihe «- a» M«n a» »hc was able |o owl. "It ht'l hmwuw. grandmother; a downright fact, and t think (mi to «-rrtsr«l oar." 4«id |rr««M»».

"I fail to msb how it Can l« «■'ngagemenl without my consent

ci>nsiil"r Ixjt h I/Kstrange «n«l > hn• behaved abominably to lake 1 fv: matter for granted without cut- - iinnn me. You. at any rate, ought 0 ha->f consulted me."

Whnt w,,* the u«« ? You would hn-.•- objected. and you know it ■ have marie ony difference." "f»( course I sl»*«ibl lirvo, and do You will have to thin ~ill v affair up. ? hn'.e always in-i.-mled ym» to tn»rr\ Julius. and I h<>|»- ;uu *»ill realise ihut it Is your •lot*." sub) the r«»io>»«-s«.

"M; duit to n man I don't lovi- !" and t'i>ula'» tone was tie* linn:.

•IN.,i t l»; n sentimental fool ! You litot- the interest of the family <ll i'ii!i>iil>'r." "VMir.t iiiiitily

"Your mother's family : and. for the matter of tlmt. if you iHxrame l.ady Cnloworthy. and ultimately of llellifield. tli«- (,'althorp Ikij il> would Iw* aggrandised, ty. I onlii, t think you are very short-sighted. .Julius worships you. I'm !M»r« jou woitld In? happy." "I don'l think »<i : it doesn't do for nil the lovw to be on one aide. I. t»H>. Hiu in love ; 1 could neter lie happy with any one but Jack." "Iluhbish ! Ho you think a man who *|Ttit a y»*ar In a convict prison can make >o»i Iwppy ? ll« muitt hnve deteriorated."

"Stop !" and t'rsula »pol.« with decision. "I won't h«*nr you »ay a word against him." tl>'(iirc the count***.* could reply Mr. ("altl»orp rnlervd the room, as he shook hands with her he noticed that Inith the counter and Ursula loo'id esritwl.

"I*lll afraid I'ic interrupted adincii>«fon." he «f«id. quietly. "Uromlmother >poko rurlely. untruly «l Jack !" exclaimetl I rsula. The <*ounte"?» of llellifield ga»|wd. She. who considered herx-lf an authority an anything and everything relating »o k«mml nuinnem. to lie accused of

"I'ratila. >our mi*ldl«;-cla>}« bringing up in (piling.. No wdl-tired Kir I would hnv c accused lu-r granilmolhT of ruilfirw. Hh' fuel it"—and .'•he liirwd to Mr. Calthorp— '* I told her thai Jack L*K»trange couldn't mnke her hap|>.r. that prison life «rp<> »urc to have ha'l ti baneful influence on hUo, i»nd (lie got in a temper." Mr. Calthorp *n»iled. "I'm n><L vrr\ much surprivd. Any woman worth hrr name would d*~ (•ml the man she lov«?d. and I'm <u*e y uur nccn.*ation «ns unjust. .I«ck hn> not ik-t-rionit'il : he i* a n«j|»lr Mlow. and I would rnlbcricivp I'wi'n to him than i«» any man I know." he !*»id. «piietly. "You turitct .1 uliu». Think what in nlliiiKc lrl*wrtt tilt two would iivnii "It uould lifting (he Helli(i lilt I" hi«li»r. them more iiHiir.'i to j»|»"»id. «ilid the Calwho l»y fhcT work ri»«*n to lli>*>r |>r v iil |H»»illi«i. would !«• »il*»»»rli* »l in the llellifield.H. A." (or .fuJiir*. hj«" '" 4 n ijtmd fellow ; |»ii f ilon't Uiii»"» !>»• is the man who would mal»»" I "nulla happy." "lie worship* b»*r. and \our family needn't In- nlwurkil In the HelliI «».r n.-im«- mini l»r another Calthorp. of the t<r«n«i'." **i:«'ttlly. Rrnn«liimlh«-r !" exclaimed th«* «»rl. I»l»»hil»i< furiounlv. "I*•.»"! I« j>i'ly, chHd * ThiM? matter* tunc to I* >li>ai!»«l when a mnrrinKc is iirrnnpril." *aid the ounte^H.

Itui u n a tot-rring*" i" t.ot jf.ting to t,e we needn't discuss tb>Ti." Miid Mr. Cnlthorp. but the o'lincsf ijtnorvd h'* word.*.

"K >«»ur objection i> that your family name will die out if you lon't a crept the imdution of the rilkulty that I »n.Bip»t. I should liltc to point out that the *amc will b ß ppen if -h«- m»»rriej» l/Ksd range. i*h»-y are an ol«l f«uiily ; he wrill not take > our n»»me."

"I j-holl w%»*r «.»ii him : but, a" t g)i there n>ay >lill In* Calthor|*«. lhi>»K'* the vcrnif will I** il»«»ns»d. it will Ik? rhanfps"*!. i' Ik- oi lh«- (Sr#nß»'. and t'atthorp. of lb* llnll. when I am voulll Bgfcv 111 that ?

"Yi"*. I» r,|lwr > lil»«j 11 nil r>-"|» > ct Inrk l.'Ksirnnr. ami I rrnila loves Aim.""

1I«t l»«lyj»bip n»««. -John f"allhor|». ymi an? n fool—a rtimnnlic fool." i>)k xiid. with ener-

"'I stm :»orry jour ladyship ha" M ' r h a p«»or opinion of iw. t»H *« cannot alwav* w eye to eye." Sh>> did not reply. nnd he with hrr In silence to the door. Then a* !>V? went down Ihc *t«*p* (*• r>.--Mirn d lo I'rsula. who wa* looking i»nhn|ifiy. "My dmr. I knew there *a» l»ound lo tie a battle between you and »owr grandmother. You hav<S come uO victor, and in lime >he will like *«» m all lie lo ti'-r for not giving wa> to her."" hi- w»W. A few hour* Inter. jiii.*l a* • hj- butler had placrtl the ten on ihe lltllc I able clow «o the hall fin*. I'ruula heard foot»tept». and looking up. »hc <«w Jul ill*.

"Vim an? )«>t in time for Ira." *he Mid. lr>>ng to "jwk #» u»uul. "N«r\pr mlml (Ik Ira. t'ouln. 1 r«nw* Iq uil vow thai I ki»:w nothing hlwml im Bmmlroollrr'* Mi"' hn- lu!il me ilhiUßh nf hat *br <>tiiil lu inak i»> W«jd 'mil- I «nulilli'l «t»k }mm to I",' in) * ifc no* I Know- .»o>i li«c himiilkt itmn. Mhrn »,»«» rrfuaol mk- I llioUKtii jour heart «»« frm to *in. though now iwl lh«*n I'tl a mi*|mcioii I Hit I ,»«u hitnl iwini*' «ilher fallow. Now I'm |mtl> wnre John and >uu ««« in lute front the Uine >ou flr*l met. «nd he*.* « fine fellow. I don't want ion to think I'm mean enough lo (rw|f(r >iw \our hawinc**. »o I've 'utile (o «ri.«h < «»u nitd him all good thing* Wnw I ••Mo! *hwn «ro jou going. Junto*?" i»he a*ked, fw dKmaj. "To Huuth America. I n'ani (o wr the world."

"" Hut itmmlfal hvr and grandirniher. I hey *lll ml*.* you fearfully.*"

"Thnt run nut Id helped. I'll tell .«im »lmight, I"r*wlg. 1 couldn't M«y rtr after >o«i v«n married, i w«nt ion to he haptO 2 but the »igtit of «u4 would he mora than » could *taad, mi I diall go aliroad for a lew % put# : then I hoj«e to come home jih! settle down."

'What doe* gron»Jmo»h«T say ?"

"I.otM of things. She sail f must imirrv siiin«: oth°r Rirl arid • n I (old h< r I tva> tfoniK. i.-i' -ti'- pnri irularly Run'"'! Nx- rtmrr;. I • bo'il'l liaxi. a I.no ( h I'' us Amerifo. «ii" 1 nugli! 1,"" fur' !'.t. ;-n'l l»rimt N%r & Hottcnlo' for ,i. da'iciitcr." !" <\<:laiii c'i ' r-'.i.i. I was fori '<l 10 -hul !vt up. 1 cnu'cln't .si nml h'T. Ai.<i :.o '. tj«'.t»il-li\i-. t'r.s'ilii," ho *ni(!, Hit hnnd. ""You haven't ha«l «n> ''a." sin: flunking 01" "j co- rr h«:r rmoii«>n.

"I couldn't drink it. *»»>* i »oi. I'm not a religious chap. Mi' the Alii.ighiy knows how I nimn thu' nn«l wringing htr hanil. iv turn»il u«a>.

A* hiK fi»olM«'ps ili«."«l nwny. 1 r«-u----'ii in th»! s»*at in th<r *-<x>n l* Mini., «nd huoing hrr head in M-r lii.nds. ,«.he wept, and the afraii ««•>. "If only Julius wouhl r>.tord'il h?r as a sister I"

Th- clock on the Mrucl vjx. The cl* 1 ®!". yir,ik»-s rou.s«l Vrfiula. and hj« r ••>«-*. .-h'* lookc«l round <n « »lr«nmy • lu>hion. only Th«- sun w«s .streaming through ih«. holltind blind, the birds w»r<- m'uks life; iii chorus, and a vag»«- c.mof satisfaction filial her. Sh- wa.'".'glud the do> was brigh', th«* birds ."inging. Sud«k*nl> s>k nnli'Hil why.

II wa'* nnniv«r.sarj da> , an«l li' ' wcdflineday.

Springing out of lied, she wrnp)M-«i licr.M'lf in a drci««iDg-gown. ari'l k" ing lo the window pulled up 1 blind. The |uirk lay bathetl in ■>arl\ morning «unshine. It ha<l Im> n jiint such a day .M*xtcen*y«"ar.;«ko. when !»h'* fled from the attic wh»*re Kichurd lay dead, anil n* i«hc thought of it. s»he rememljered whnt Siln% hnd >aid only a year agothai th«" .Mm hml shone on every an-ni\«-r>ar\ day since *he w'ent to the farm, and now an the it -hone, and i»he was to have si bright wedding-day.

Standing there her thoughts went I nek to thnt daj. just a year ago. ulieii she hnd tn!ke«l to Silas in the gird-n. saying *he wanted t«i know something «*f her own j««»plc that she wii« tempterl to smash th< bicl.el. and »ee what it would re* n*t. The obi man had told her lo wait —1 hut what wa* worth having wa-s worth waiting for. Then Jack l/Ksiramie h:»«l come in the guiw oi a ' onviet. and she hail not thought that one year henc« would »w their marringe-day. The sccinwl very rval—only some of tho.se whom she Ixkl Skvihl had gone with it—and ' r*ul«i sighed as her mind tra\eUe«l to «he da.if when she lived with Ann and Hlcliard. and she heemctl to tear ilia old woman say. "Little one. I corn this, and never forget it : and I'rsula sai«l. in a dear. di;<tin r t lone, a* she lia«l done so long ««<•. " Hod"* providence is my inhcriintK'e."

Hut now it was the voice of n woman who s|H»ke —a woman who hn<J proved the words to lie true, who knew that an overruling I'rovidencr hail led her from loneliness am' poverty to a grent joy. IfiUl THK F.NIV