The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 329, 18 January 1911, Page 7

The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

(All Ilighis KeserveQ.}

By (.lie Author of "Sleiln," "Twe K t\\ Etc., Etc.

I'AIIT -2'2. "J havr not the slightest iil-.-n. 1 have adroitly questioned liiiu about her i-ewr.i) l imes, and lie always asserted that she is a Miss Florence Richard: on, a ward of i lie Shavers. who were old friends i>i his in Anieriea ; aril. although his personal acquaintance wiili her is not >f very long standing-, yet, he fays ho has known of Ikm- nearly all hi:life.'' ''lt is ; i cursed lie !" thundered Mr King. "it is all a. cunning plot, tny girl. and 1. can see through it from le"iiu]ing to e;>d. 'Jin* hussy, after o-Taping" from Or. Flint, probably ian across tlieso Seavers. told her story, ond wormed herself into their confidence and Sir Walters. Ih '> are probably <ill in league to make a hold fight to get her moivy l:vk. and this" nne young baronet has doubt loss fluttered around you all this time with the' hope of getling points out of you to help her ,-ause along. II is all as clear as ;!;» light ;o me. She was probably i.nder tin. protection of these people when I s.-.v her in Kegent-st reel. in I.end. ll Cad ! but Fcl like to gel my c\e on that fellow who knocked me down that day I I'd soon fix hint !" the man maliciously conclud.•d. "If vital ; on say of Sir Walter is li-ne— and it' is what -1 have suspected myself—J believe I could kill him !" lt:ez hissed between her teeth. 'And they have all played their parts very cleverly." she added, jnly I have wondered why ihey did not pounce upon liie. ill Koine, especially after the attempt to abduct Monica ; but 1 imagine they were waiting' for you to join me. \et there are some very mysterious features about the whole ai'fair—some things J fail to understand." "It is all a—plot." Slv. King again assorted, with a sullen air. "Ihit we know where the girl is now, and. by Heaven. I'll nip their schemes in tiic bud. Can't you see thai this baronet is playing 1 a deep game '? Monica has told him that she is the real heiress, and he is going 1 to do fiis utmost to reinstate her, when lie will marry her. But, failing to jet her money back, he will pro■jablv do \ou the honour to offer to make \ ou' l.ady I.eigliton. and so jr C t i'os• cs>ion of your millions. He's trying to keep two string's to his bow."

A dangerous light blazed in his laughter's eyes at these suggestions, then a low." wicked laugh broke from iier lips. "We will beat him rat both games, dad." she said, mockingly. " W'e -nare Monica, in the first place : .hen, if he wants to make me l.ady Leigl" on, w'e will let him. 1 confess I should like' to queen it over that nagnificent estate up yonder : but \s for the millions, he will find that ie will only shine by reflected light, 'or they shall be settled upon me ,o that he cannot handle so much is a p-';.nv of them. You perceive, lad', that my instincts governed me iright in insisting upon coming to Brighton just at this time. We shall law a (in 1 chan" • to watch the :,ro.ceding* at Worthing Towers. L ,vish, though, ihui we con (i have seen them without their seeing us. 'or now they will be somewhat, tpon their guard." Mr. King* ami his daughter had ,een in llrighton only two or three he, s. he having' joined her some ,veeks previously, when Inez lutd inupon coming", for the sole iiii"j)c>' of being near the Towers \nd Sir Waller, who. she knew, was ;oing to be at home most of the uimmi r.

! : She ha I not. however. dreamed of i .lis having Hi - Seaver j>nr* \ thmv as ' j :;uests, anil this unexpected ineetinu; j j a ilh t hem had been a terrible shock i ! (O her. for it plainly indicated that j 11 lu-r eSorls to win him she would ; ! have far more to contend with than ; i -he had anticipated. : j ' # « * * * * ! ' liea\e!is, Monica. you loo!> as il : | von had m' n a phost !" Florence j j welniniril. as soon as their carriage • i had passed ill • one containing ' ail } King' and his dauirhier. And tlio-e people liio'uci.' she added. as il ' i hey would lilt- to blot > ou oil the lac'- of the earth. l"o joti know who i t hey \v< re i "Y<s. my cousins—lnez and her father." Mi nica gasped, a :-liivcr j i U';' h''i" from head lo foat . ! "What ! not those di'eadful Kind's ! „ | U) | la > i o!il.ed .voli of ,\ our in- ■ lieri i a nee " cried her co'u.dn. egnasl. ''\e-; ; ami oit. I am Ut i litem ! I i.l \ ou see how full of hate I ' their faces were ?" faltered the still j , trembling girl. ' : " 1 i,d ed 1 did. Tiny made me i t thin'-, of a couple of (lends." l-'ior-j ' ,-nee !'• Ilil'iied. Tie 11 she ailded S ! -a >i it 'n ; i : "Hut <ii> |iot lie troubj . ted. dear : I lie!. Kplier'. will 1 • ( ha i i'!> ):a ■'in 1 .i ia''s } oi:. : ••(>!' roar.- e I win." said Vi r. Sea- ! . ,I . : '' a a d . v. h a ; i - I iet i e r '• i j i I ! a a i ■: id I o I lao w 1 11 a I 1 lie ! j|„, e aiv t <••• 1 "•■.» aeeoaipla-hed roi.- • !,••!> v It" !)a»" do ne \ ou oat oi ;> oar : Ye' i . |l;iii 1 i ! v I hey will I , v ! .1 -e;,- ■ !. \ ~U .'UI . and t ha ' will , i at.a - v. I.': a I !i:iv e 1.0 n loading' "ji ~|- S i! e e I i;; I 11' d ill I . o a li o 11. Sir WuH'T hail ! i e i' 11 gi a i ici a g fro m . ,■;; i 11 auoi lnT d u r i a y tiie : ' 11,. | ,ee ; i, i in ha \ e a lilt I «.* IllKlillsof how mat i"i> stood, and of iaau.\ t i hat had hit liert o perple\ei| ; ; him regard ing .Monica. ami her ! ' j- i range reseia! >! aueo to her Cousin. , j lh- began to tinder>tiiml. too, thai j : ~! ranee ncctirivnce '.: i t he grounds «.f i : Ilie palace o. j the uighl of t hi.' b M I j ; 11, n s 1111 e. and lie) mo; i Vet hill laid { : proini led the all empled abduction ! of Kl'oren- • i : So tie: ' Is. in_ and !va- lather v I'f 1 . I usurper.-, -h t ee- girl S fortune. and j wen.' hunting hei down ; that wat j j Why l hey had been so agitated, a no j Jia< 1 cried mil to them to stop, j 'jrlo was interrupted iii these l'ej llection? by Florence, who turned U

liini. and >aid : "You bowed to those people. Sir Walter. I'o you 1-now them "1 met Miss King recently ill Home. .1 have tvver seen her lather h.M'orl," In' rejilied. but, Hushing slightly beneath her clear glance. "Oh,' if August were only 'here, he would'be such a help!" sighed Monica. "1 cannot understand why he does not reply to my letters. ' They were just turning into the crounds of Worthing" lowers as she sPoke. and the words were scarcely uttered when a two-wheeled dogcart, containing two men. dashed by them, almost, with the speed of the wind.

Epidently the occupants were anxious either to overtake some one in advance of ihem, or else on their belated way to catch a train, for neither glanced up at the carriage as they passed. Monica shot one startled glance at the face and figure nearest her in that (lying vehicle, threw out. .a gesture of agonising appeal, then lell against Mrs. Seaver in a dead- faint CFTAT'TKII XXYIT. The moment Sir Walter comprehended Monica's condition, he ordered the coachman to get home with all possible speed, and in less; than ten minutes the carriage drew up before the Towers, when the still unconscious girl was taken directly to her room and vigorous measures were employed to restore her. Meantime, the flying dogcart went on its way. overtaking the Kings shortly a.fter. when "the pace wa? moderated, and they all drove leisurely 1 o ltrighion and alighted before the Albion, one of the finest hotels of the place. "Well. August." IVll'. King observed, as the .voting man approached him, while he eyed him keenly, "we began to think that you had taken the wrong road, for we lost sight of you entirely. What detained \ou?" "One of the traces broke, and we were obliged lo stop and mend it," August explained. "It. is a very fine drive over the Downs, eh continued his employer. "Of course, you noticed Worthing Towers as you passed ?" "Yes, the driver pointed out to me the mansion a"d grounds as one of the finest estates in the country."' "I suppose, then, he told you that the estate belongs to Sir Walter Leighfon—t lie young baronet whom you met ill Hume "Xo. sir," August replied. with some show of interest. "Is that so ?" "Ves : and we pas.scd him on our way. You must have met him also," Mr. King observed, and still earnestly searching the face of his private secretary. lie and Inez were both suspicious of the love of the young man for Monica, and J'o It thai, if lie knew she was in the vicinity, he might be tempted to take up arms in her behalf, and I hey realised that he would be a formidable antagonist. "We saw a carriage with several people in ii just turning into the grounds, but. we were driving so rapidly to overtake you 1 did not observe them particularly. I certainly did not see Sir Walter Leighton." the young man responded, but without manifesting any especial interest.

Inez, who hud been wailing; almost breathlessly for his reply, here uttered a sigh of relief. il was evident thai lie had tiol seen .Monica. ".lie was riding' on tin.- right of t he carriage." sir 1 obsetwed. "*'l"lii* Seavers ami their ward were in ilr' carriagc." • Indeed !" said Alienist, somewhat indifferently. ''Jiut, as I said, the i-arriage was just. turning into the .pounds of Worthing Towers, and 1 was somewhat immersed in my own I bought s. Il has occurred to me," he added, tinning' gravely to ?.Ir. King. "that since you are hei'e to •.• ;) :e for the s'-noriia. I am no loner n ,• 1 would like lo retm-n to .Mexico." ",\h ! i ■ el I n;.,' I r, d of travelling, August'. 1 " tpustiond -Mr. King, light ly. but with a suspicious i'lance. "Well, it is not altogether that, sir : but I am beginning - 'o feel that 1 would like to strike out in business for hp. self," the young man returned. " oho ! C! rowing avaracious, I mv," good-nat uredly laughed the "nillii-naire. ".If your salary is-n t, large enough, why didn't you say so isefore ? You've" looked out lor my laughter in line shape, and you are i tip-top (iuan i'-r. while I don't ,'otlon much lo bookkeeping; so il you will stay on with us I'll not mind doubling- your salary. "Thank ;,o:i, sir." said Angus! , over this reckless disbursement of .Monica's money : "but T think I will go I ack to America, and it will be an easy matter t' OJ " \ O'.i to t'nd a trustworthy secretary i n view o' thi.' generous you are willing to pay for his services. '■Let. him go. dad." wh'spered Inez, who had edged elo-e up behind her father's | oi i ly pum, "cilice wo are going to stay tm this side ol tile pond. it. will I.e better to have a. -lerk who does no' I now too muf h ol' our past. "Well." said Mr. King, w hj,. during this whispered ad . ice hoi appeared to be considering tie- subject, il will have to I"' a'- you say. 1 supno.- e : |,i;i I'd like Hi go t hrough some accounts thai I ha\e brought over with me before you go. It will ; i( Ue a week or so. i reekon. to get every tiling into :-ha|e us 1 waul i I." • - \ i r\ well, sir," August returiteti .-eel-el l v delighted, ,1,. he rea'i.sed thai this [injiiirt unity would gi\e him ;'>n insight into tiie man's affairs and pusln- ss that might be a great help in ri eh I ing Monica it he could but iind her. Later Mr. King brought him a liug-e pile of tlu , '!l|i!"tll a;id together t bev I ejM'.i to look tlieiii over j i n d thus for tiie n : 'X l few (lay > August was kept ury busy. .Meantime Sir Walter Leighlou Was doing his utmost lo entertain Jiis guesis at Worthing 'Lowers:. ile Jiad invited u number of 11(0 meiiiry m' the iieig'illxturhuud to meet (hem, and lhey lormed ;i very g a .v parly. A charming little floating palace hail been c-bartered for the season, an'.' men ■ of the bright, per,'net June tho s wu-e dc-otcci i 0 \ achUng. Other days w eve given to driving about the country . while their evenings were most delightfully spent at the Towers with music, dancing, or gome entertainment- provided !:>>'

their own talent. Monica had recovered almost inimcd:a!>'ly from her faint after reaching' the Towers, ar.d upon being quiMioned as lo the cause had confe: s d that one of the occupants oi the dogcart which had passed t hem ,!<s.-1, a' the out ranee to Sir Walter's grounds was August Castaldt. who alone, she believed, had the power to prove her identity and h"lp her to regain her fortune. XeUh'T Mr. Seaver nor Fioivnn: had eeii hiin distinctly, consequent I,\ they did not recognise hnn as the young man who had rescued llorence on the night of the bal masque in Koine. .Mr. Seaver said he would institute immediate inquiries in Worthing and learn anything about the young mar. but Sir Walter crowded every day sc full that he could find no time to devote to this purpose until nearly two weeks had expired, and then Ihe information he wa.s seeking came to him in a very- unexpected manner. The entire Seaver party met wit): a signal surprise upon their arrival at the Towers, for almost the first person they .saw of the household was Anna Folsom, Florence's former maid. The girl expressed herself as overjoyed to see her young mistress aagain : laughed and cried in one breath, and declared that it was "just lovely of Sir Walter to lot her come there to act as her maid while she was a visitor there." "Hut. how did it happen '? How came you to be in England questioned Florence, who, to tell the truth, did not share the apparent pleasure of the girl ; for Anna knew too much of a constantly regretted episode of her iife to be an agreeable companion. "Oh. my father was an Englishman and ' took a notion to come ovei and visit an uncle and some cousins, and as luck would have it i met Sir Walter in London one day, when he told me you were coming here to visit him. and 1 begged that he'd let me come to, and serve you while you were here," the girl glibly explained. "It seetns almost like home. Miss Florence, to see you and Mr. an<l Mr. and Mrs. Seaver again, and I'll do my best to make you comfortable." sh-» concluded, with a stealthy glance into the fair. gra\e face before her.

Florence thanked her. and accepted the situation with as good grace as she could, since she could not help herself. Nevertheless, she did notlike it at all. Another circumstance which annoyed was the fact that. Sir Walter never made a move for the entertainment of his guests without first consulting her in a confidential way that implied a great deal. It was almost as if she were the lady of the Towers, and no plan could be allowed to stand without her sanction. In vain she protested that Sir Walter must l.e governed 7:>y his own judgment. She was only a guest herself, and did not feel capable of deciding such import-ant questions where the pleasure of so many was involved. But this always called forth a ii indulgent and significant laugh from the other members of the party, aif the situation was well unilerstoo' by them, and that it was eviden that before very long she would b exercising the right to govern aii those matters. Then Florence's cheeks would burn in the most exasperating manner, and a feeling of resentment and indignation arise within her while she told herself that she would be very glad when this visit was ended, and they were all back, in London, where she was eagerly looking forward to meeting Mr. Carrol. One evening, after a day of yachting, dinner being over, she slipped out of doors, to be alone for a little while. The day had been excessively warm and she felt unusually weary, and somewhat impatient and disgusted with the ceaseless round of gaiety in which slu 1 had become immersed.

She sped round to one end of ihe Towers, and began to slowly pace the glass walk which has previously been describedShe might have keen there five minutes when she became conscious that some one was coming to meet her. Another moment and Sir Walter was beside her. " 1 missed yon Florence," he began, with a tender intonation upon her name that made her exceedingly uncomfortable, while he readied down for her hand and drew it within his arm. "1 hope vou are not feeling ill." "No ; it was so warm that I longed to get outside for a breath of the evening air," she explained. "Ibit 1 am ready to go in now," she hurriedly added, "so do not, lot me keep you from your guests," "I am willing to be kept, dear," returned the young man. fondly. "I have come to make one last appeal to you for my happiness. Florence, give yourself to me. anil lie mistress of Worthing Towers. IH> not repulse me." he continued, passioiia'ely as she at tempted to withdraw her hand from his arm ; "yon are ;t ll the world to me. my darling. 1 cannot, will not li\e without you. The one aim and d'.-dre of j.je, life has |'.-en in win you. Sou have seen what 1 haw IO offer \ oil—all this grand estate. a handsome baaking account. a position which i> worthy of almost any wo man's acceptance, to say nothing of a title, and a heart thai loves y. oil most devoutly. Florence, tell nil' that \ou will be my wife." lie had thrown so much ardour and passion into his tones: the girl really pitiid him, for she believed for the moment that he was terribly ;n earnest and endless W-eeichedness would follow a refusal. At the same time, she was indignant that he should renew his suit after all that had passed, between them I'n the snbiecl, "1 kjiow , Walter, that- I am honoured | IV your proposals, but I thought that I had made it clear to ytiii that 1 cap never become your wife." s|i" responded, coldly, ami with unmistakable firmness. She could feel the mighty heartthrob that shook his whole frame at her answer. She beli"\ed it, was caused by a feeling of despair, but in reality it was only a \io|eut and almost ttuconq'/craMe nph" tt '. a! of rage at bci.n_g' defied what ho had set his heart upon possessing. (To be Continued.)