The Unknown Bridegroom

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 318, 7 December 1910, Page 7

The Unknown Bridegroom

(All Rights Reserved.)

_—,—*. Dy the Autlior of "Stella," "Twp Keys," Etc., Etc.

OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

PART 11. " Ha," he exclaimed, ''this walk is Wade of heavy blocks of glass, while they give back a hollow sound with every "step ! Strange that. I never observed it before ! The vaults uiu.il be just benealh me, and '-ho old baronet probably used glass paving, to give light to thai madman and his keeper in their prison.

'■Hum !'"—smilingly—"l wondci how it was ventilated ? Doubtless bv means of one of those chimneys."

he concluded, as he glanced up at them.

•'I declare." he added, a, moment latei - . "1 begin to feel a revival of my curiosity regarding the place. If there were a key, I believe T should be t enipted to investigate, in spite of that gruesome tale about the sealed vault." Rut other matters now claimed his attention, and the uncanny secret oi Worthy Towers was forgotten for time, and a week later found him en route for Paris.

lie spent nearly three months in the gay city, dipping deep into all tlie amusements and intoxicating pleasures for which lie had so long yenned.

It wa,s during his sojourn here that he met. Miss Inez King, a beautiful Californian— a dark voluptuous beauty, of perhaps twenty-live years, who was travelling with an eminently respectable chaperon, and a Span-ish-looking young man, who acted as her private secretary.

She was reported to lie immensely wealthy—the daughter of a " silver king'' —and this, combined with li'r beauty, won her hosts of admirers : tut she had been indifferent, to them all until she was introduced to Sir Walter Lcighlon,, for whom she at once conceived great admiration, if not deep affection. The attraction appeared to be mutual, for the young baronet at once became more attentive to her, the result being that one was rarely seen without the other. But the time that Sir Walter allotted himself in the French metropolis was drawing- to n close, and one evening, while calling upon his gay comrade, he observed that the first of the following week he should leave for Koine where he expected to join some friends. His companion .started slightly i at this information, gave him a quick, penetrating look, and grew suddenly white about the mouth.

Then, quickly recovering herself, she remarked, with one of her brilliant smiles i

"Well, that is rather a. singular coincidence, Sir Walter, for we also are Looked for the last of January."

The .young man was not rcmarkably well pleased by this announcement. "Ah, that is news, truly," he said. I did not suppose that anything could tempt you to leave Paris. You appear to lie in your native element here, and 1 warn you that you will not find Koine nearly so congenial."

"How about yourself, my nay cavalier ? Ah, Sir Walter, you dearly like a. good time yourself, and how will you be able to endure the dulness of Koine?" questioned the girl, as she lifted a laughing, witchinglook to his eyes.

"Yes, I have hnd a good time here," .said Sir Walter, with a nigh and a smile. "1 shall not soon forget it ; 1 .:ut 1 am obliged to go to meet niv friends." "Who arc your friends ?" abruptly demanded Miss King-, her face suddenly clouding.

"A Mr. and Mrs. Soavcr and their ward"

."Their \v a rd ! Who is she?" curtly interposed the California beauty, a dangerous gleam leaping into her eves.

'"Her name is Miss Florence Richardson." he remarked, in what he tried to make a matter-of-fact tone. "What is she' like?" Miss King questioned, with averted eyes and rising colour. "Is she a beauty ?" "Well, yes, I must confess that she is—of a certain type : but you will see for yourself what she is like when you conic to Home." "W'i'l you introduce me to her?" and the girl held her breath while she awaited his reply, while she reyarded him suspiciously. "Certainiy. if you wish." "I shall wish." said his companion with an imperious uplifting of her head. "Is she rich ?" she queried, with her next breath. "Well, she has a nice little fortune." A sneer curled Miss Kind's scarlet lips. "A nice little fortune ! And .1. have three million iollars. besides a line orange plantation in Santa Monica," she said, flushing, but leaning forward and looking straight into Sic Walter's eyes: "and." she added, with sudden passion, "J hate blonde beauties." Three million dollars besides au extensive orange plantation in farfamed Southern California! Surely that w a s a fortune io tempt any man. and Sir Walter .1 .eight on now knew that, he might have it and the brilliant beauty beside him for the asking. Hut Sir Walter shrank wiili repugnance from such a. union. Six months ago the temptation would have keen irresistible, but. now circumstances had changed and he banished the thought. After chatting sociably for a few moments longer, lie excused himself, pleading that he had some business that must be attended to without delay, as he would leave I'aris so soon. The moment he was gone, the girl sprang excitedly to her feet, her face all aflame, her' eyes gleaming with an angry, jealous light, and began rapidly pacing the room. "lias he simply been playing with me?" she cried, her white teeth set fiercely over her scarlet 'under-lip. "Have all these weeks spent-with me meant nothir.g to him ? I had set my heart upon becoming his wife and Lady that I will achieve a position, among the English aristocracy, and no one,

no obstacle, shall stand in my .mj to thwart me. Ha. ha ! Inez, my girl, how ambitions we are ! What would Hiose coarse, ill-bred. uncouth miners Ihink 1o see yon now'.' -vim who. bareheaded and barefoot -

ed. used t.o makie mud-pies with '.lie raggedest. little urchin that fan about the streets of lhat mining camp? And what, a struggle it has been since!" she continued. with a weary sigh. "How 1 yearned for better things to lift nie up. and battled my own way. little by liltle. Until Monica's father look rue tinder his wing and let me share with her. The race after knowledge with her wasn't an easy one. all d while I was bending - cvciy energy to outstrip her. my father was cunningly following close upon the heels of his rich cousin, watching his every act. until he finally fathomed his secret, and sprang the trap that sent him to—well, to his ruin, and gave his vast treasure to us. Ha. ha ! If he could Knowwhere his pelted darling is now. what would he. say ? lb' lilt le thought. thai the downtrodden daughter of his good-for-nothing : v ousin—would one day flourish upon the millions which he fonrlb- hoped she would have, while she would be dragging out a. miserable existence behind locks and bolts. T always hated her. poor little ./001. with her white skin, her yellow hail - , and those smirks and smiles that always stole everybody's heart awa.\ from me."

At flit's moment a door a! t Ii" further end of the apartment, opened and a. portly, rafher distinguished looking woman entered.

She was Mrs. Clairemont . who acted as chaperon to "Miss King-. "Well. Inez, what is if now ?" she questioned, as she observed 'he girl's lowering brow and flaming eyes. "Sir Waller Keighton goes to Rome on Monday." was the: curt response.

"And has he said nothing definite to you yet - ?" "No." "Possible he may. even yet."

"lie will not." Hie girl Hashed out. passionately. "lie goes torejoin an old (lame. I might ha\e known that he was an English aristocrat, and must, perforce, have an aristocrat for a wife. lie has simply been amusing himseli' at my expense : but I have never yet. been baulked in am thing that, i have underl ak'll. and I will not be in this. Mrs. Clairemont. we also leave for Rome next week. 1 am going now to have August telegraph iov the finest, suite of apartments that cau be obtained in the Eternal City."

CHARTER MY. AN AMIUTIOFS VOI'XC WOMAN"

Miss King kit the room without waiting for her companion to reply, and was absent for nearly half an hourShe looked somewhat brighter when she returned, although there was still a ntalig-nant. gleam in her dark eves.

"When Sir Walter calls again. as lie doubtless will, to make his I'mal adieus, you can contrive to mention incidentally that we have rooms engaged at the Cost a.nv.i. I was very fortunate,"she added, "the Courtrneys intended to leave for Koine, next week, hut Mrs. Courtcney is ill. and cannot, go at present, so T have secured their rooms." "Yevy well : T will do as you wish, lint how you do rush things, hie/. !" Mrs. C'lairenionc observed, with a shrug of her shoulders.

"'Well, hustling is essential if one is hound to win success in I iff." returned tlii' girl, with a dogged look, as slip Ihre\v herself into a luxurious chair, took up a hook, and began to road.

Miss Inez King had been in l'aris for many months, and had created something; of a sensation there with her brilliant beauty, her vivacious manner, and her apparently unlimited wealth, which she scattered with a lavish hand.

She had had many ardent; admirers, but not one of them made any impression upon her until Sir Walter Leig-hton appeared upon the scene. when from the hour of their introduction to each other she had managed to chain him to her side. After learning all there was to know about him —that is. regarding Ilis position in Kitgiand her private secretary Inning been instructed to "look him up"—she had secretly resolved that J-lv would Income 1 udy Leighton : that her wealth and beauty should become the steppingstones to secure her a husband and a position in Knglish society. She had fondly hoped to achieve her object long ere this. but for some reason the young iaronei. although he was the very udii.si ( ,f

companion'-, and / apparent i.v de\ o' ed to her heart and soul. ne\er allowed himself to go hey ond a ce|-\ ;l i:t limit. Several times she had I hot-gin him just ,m the point of a forma! declaration. when she, having 1 eck-

lessly lavi.-'ned the passion.it" alVection of her lier.v heart upon him. would have instant !y accepted 1., m. lint he alwa.vs ma n:i:; v 'l lo evade Ihe climax and adroit l.v change 'he subject . St iii. she had "out in'ied i o liope that she would win the coveted prize eniil tn-ilay, when he had si ait led her and applied her by tailing her of his intended visit to Homo and its object . Shi' was keen enough to understand the moment he began to talk o( Florence Richardson that his recent attentions to her had been merely pastime: that he had simpl.v sought: her as a companion with whom to enjoy his holiday. and. having found her congenial. had made ih ■ most of his opportunity for pleasure. The conviction aroused all Ihe demon in the girl's nature, and she had at once resolved that site. too. woubi go to Home, meet this palefaced beauty. a nd measure lances with her.

I'iil who is lii'x King, whence did she spring, and how did sin- come to lie the possessor of such vast wealth. 'J'lu- answer lo (hose quo.siions invohrs another romance, and other ]>i\ si '.*ri<.'S. which urns', he unravelled ere our story is cymplele. Fiflcen years previous 1 lie girl had been n swarl.li>-. barefooted. halfclad.' mglected yet beautiful child, placing in I he streets of a minine town on the Mexican bolder will) other children of the same kind. ]!er father. who was known aC.'arl King. W;,s ~ coarse, uneducated adventurer, who had deified fruit: one mining district to another, until chance had sent him into the emplov of his own cousin, William

King, who. through 50,:,. . ..e;',l< of luck, had become the owner of a valuable mine. The. two had known each other as boys, but they had never been upon friendly terms, for the parents o\ Carl had been pool - and thriftless. content. i 0 live from hand to mouth. and having no ambition to rise in the world or to educate their children. The other family, however, were just the reverse, having a pleasant home, cultivating refined society. a iid ambitious for learning and to make a name and ;l place in the world.

Consequently Carl always harboured a feeling of jealousy towards his cousin William. n nt] they drifted further and further apart, both leaving home when they readied man's estate, and ne\er meeting- again until Carl, in his wanderings, stumbled upon liis cousin and sought employment in his min..'. Meant ime bot h had married. William King had won a lo\eiy. refined girl. who. in spite <>f her gentle breeding and love foi - cultivated society, bad not demurred when it was found necessary to make their home ill the far South-West, where 1 hey could have \rv: so'ial ad van* ages. Here one child was born to them, a beaut ilul little girl. whom t hey named Monica. and in whom all their hopes were centred. Carl King had also married a handsome girl, who was half-Span-ish, half American, and the..-, too. had one child, a daughter. whom they named Inez. The mother. in spite of her ignorance and low anleredants. was far more ambitious than her \ aci I kit i tig. unprincipled husband, and had made a n effort to better their condition by the ng washing and ironing, and putting b\ the money she earned to educate her dbld when she should heroine older. Hut when Ine;.- was li\e \i';irs of age her mother was suddenly stricken with a fatal disease. ~nd when she

'was told that her hours were numbered, sin' made luT husband swear thai, In.'/, should be <'d'!< nled—that. e\ entually he would lake her away ((> a. more civilised place, and give her a chain' l ' to become somethingbet ler i ban a coarse, unlet icn'il girl, such as she must be ii" doomed I o live all her days in a mining' town. The man really meant to li\e up to his promise, but lie was hampered by his environments. lie lacked energy- a nd stability, and there seemed no possibility of his ever being able to redeem it. Tint i i he ran across his cousin, who. simply because "blood is thicker than water." gave, him employment . There was a school in the town, nnd Carl King sent his child there ; but the woman he hired 1.0 Keep his house was a 'i\-'y slattein. and the little -liie/. was sadly neglected. a nd lived a wretched life until she. was ion years old. One day William Kiue;. while calling- at the house of <' a rl on a matter of business, saw the neglected child, and his heart was touched with deepest., pity for her : for in spile of her circumstances, she was very beau I ifnl. "How old is she. Carl '.'" he inriliired. as he studied the brilliant face, with its Hashing black eyes and perfect features. "Twelve." relurned the man. with a frnw'n of annoy a.nee that his rich. cousin should see his child so racked and dirty: for the little Monica, his cousin's daughter, even though her mother had died about a vvr previous, was always tastefully dressed and in the (lain) iest fabric. "Ah. then sli' 1 is a couple of years older than my own girl, lines she. go to school ?" question Mr. K ing. "Some of the time. The woman in there" —with a backward nod d his head towards the kitchen don't. Keep her half decent, and I'm ashamed io let her go. so she runs about the streets a tfood deal. "That is ;i. pity. Carl. She seems too bright, a child to be Kepi- from getting some 1 Knowledge into her head." said his employer. Tin n. alter thinking a moment, he continued : "1 am going to have a -i'overness for .Monica, for the next- few vears. 'What do you say to lettingIn.'/, com.' to us and be taught wit h Iter ?" I'arl scowled. lie loved his child belter than he had ever loved any thing in the world, and he had long been uneasy because he had neM'i' taken any steps towards the fulfilment, of his pledge to his wife; hut now that the opportunity was offered him. he disliked to part, with her.

■'(.'overuesses cos! ~ heap of money I can't al'i'onl it." he muttered, sul leidy.

"It shall not cost you a dollar. Carl." "Mr. Kine observed, in a kindl.v tone. "My lit tie girl has been very lonely since her motive died, antl 1 would like nothing better than to have a companion for her. Inez shall share with her in everything, and be taught just as carefully', and you shall come to sec her vv henev er y on like. "Thank ye. Will. I'll think of it for a day or 1 wo. and let you know." the man replied. ;l s he drev* the girl towards him and looked searrhingly into Ihe earnest face, for Inez had listened intently to the conversation, and suddenly she experienced u wild longing to escape from Hie wretched life site was leading. The result was that she went, to the great, beautiful house down in the \ aliey to live, and became a soil of second daughter to William King, the fortunate mine-owner, who. growing richer and richer every day, bade fair In become ere long a financial king. Here (lie child shared equally with her fair-haired and gentle companion. Monica, a dainty refined little girl a veritable lily of the valley —who generously divided her toys with the less fortunate stranger, and included her in all her pleasures. She was also dressed as richly and becomingly as the child of the. rich man. and soon, gi'ew to regard herself as the daughter of 1 lie house, and to conduct herself accordingly. Inez was very quick to learn. very observant, and. despite her lamentable ignorance on leaving her own home, if was not long before she caught up with Hie careful ly-t aught Monica, both in her studies and accomplishments. (To be Continued.)