The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERSOUS WEDDING RING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 336, 11 February 1911, Page 7

The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERSOUS WEDDING RING.

(All "Uights Reserved.;

tt,y Uie Author of "Slclla," "Two Keys." Etc.. Etc.

! PART 2!). "Listen. my good friend," said tin loimj' 11 in ii. leaning nearer and spea\ing' impressively. "Jamie —niv 'Jamie. whom you assure me is at. this moment safe with your wile and ward, is Sir Julien Leiglnon's ymmifist son and —heir." The lawyer started to his feet, and for a few moments stood a picture of petrified amazement-. "Zounds ! Carrol. you cannot mean it !" he said at last. " \ oil are crazy ! You don't 1-now what \on are talking about ! And vet." — '"Yet, and yet you begin to see a little da\light. when you remember how this so-called Sir Walter. this spurious baronet, has kidnapped a. little ch'ld and kept him for more than three weeks a prisoner in a secret vault. You begin to comprehend Ihat there must have been a strong motive for such devilry. do viih not ?" interposed Mr. Carrol, | ,'.\cit ecily. | "Well. yes. it. does seem a little ! more ra'ioiial when T come to think ;of it. and I have been puzzled to i know what. his object could have i heeii." Mr. Sea ver assented. ' lbit } lor llca\en's sake, explain ht>w you hnM' sohed the problem. '1 his suspense is maddening'." "Well, 1 can explain it. although [ lia\e not known that .Jamie is the I son of Sir .lulien l.eighton until | this very hour"

•■This hour !" repeated the lawyer, ul itn.lv ly. •■•Ves. you saw those women who i:ame hero ;l while ago Hut wait^ I will explain that in good, time." said Carrol, motioning his friend to be seated again. "Vou know," lie -ontinued. "how 1 found the poor :hild, all but dead, in yonder chemist's shop, and how he was restored. Of course, as he : grew strong and well, 1 began to speculate regarding his identity, ami. following up one ~lue after another. 1 learned that when he was about two years old, he and his nurse were saved from a burning hotel by a brave fireman, who is still living. The nurse was injured by a falling brick, and ior vears afterwards could not tell her ;>wn name. The child, after recovering from his burns, was sent from the hospital, where both were taken, to the workhouse, where, as l>e grew ;uder. he was so persecuted that he linallv ran away and allied' himself with' some street. gamins. with whom he lived until lie nearly starved to death, when r found him. 1 afterwards tried to have the nurse put under mental for the restoration ol her memory. The hospital authorities dally refused to allow it ; but shortly after she became disaffected, and ran away from Ihe institution, and no one knew what had become of her until a few weeks ago 1 came across her in, the street.

"She was still a menial wreck, but 1 immediately put her under mental treatment, and she began to improve at once. While 1 was a way at the seaside with .Jamie, however, -he again disappeared. This very hour she has returned, bringing' with her another woman, who was once a Housekeeper nt. Worthing 'Powers luring Sir Julien l.eighton's life. It seems that this woman was in London while 1 was away, and changed to meet, the nurse in the street. Shi' recognised her instantly, per~uud( d her to go home with her. and the result is'that both came here to-day to tell me that my .Jamie is Arthur Vincent I.eighlon, only surviving child of Sir Julien and Lady I.aura Leigh; on. and—heir to his father's title and estate."

CHAPTKU XXXIX. A DPriiLt: tiIMIPUI.SK,. "Hold on ! 1 say Carrol, you arc nterally taking my breath away !" Mr. Seavcr interposed. -This is real I v the most wonderful story that 1 ever heard. .Jove, and to think that, the votingster is at this very moment down there at the Towers hiding in his own house from his •nemy. and at the same time is the lord of all he surveys !" Mr. Carrot moved restlessly in his hair, and an expression of anxiety ■iwept over his face. ••1 wish 1 had him hen'." he said. •I shall not rest, easy until I gel my innds upon him." "Now. you just have a little "aith." returned his companion, "for I assuic ,v mi that my wife and the 4-irls wiil keep a sharp ev «• upon liesides. 1 am sure thai • lixeil things last night so that the iov escaped through his own caroessness." And Mr. Seaver Went on to explain tow he arranged the panel and uoocked the Krench window before he retired the night previous. "Well. 1 will try to trust and be patient," Mr. Carrol replied : " hut I shall go down to Worthing with cou and tatio immediale possession D\ the boy." "All right ; that is just what I wanted you to do. But now go on, :.lease. ' 1 want lo hear more about these women—the nurse anil the Housekeeper." said Seaver, settling back in his chair. "Well, there is not much more to tell. only that when the housekeeper I ouneed upon the long-miss-ing nurse —whose name, by the way. is not Mary, but .Jane—the shock of the meeting seemed to complete the go,,d work' that I>r. Kield had been doing, and >h<- came- nt once to her<r\t. The housekeeper, as I said, look her home with her. and began to question her about herself and I he • hilcP .lane could recall ever.vthing up to i he moment that she reached ill" grouud after descending the ladder with the brave fireman who hml troue to her ! n, ai all was a bhmk imt il quile tv - i ;-,.,i tl.\ . when glimpse.s of memory have reiurned lo her. onl.v sin: could ]u ,i think connectedly long at. a ■ t, n ,r 1' seems that they ha ve Iv-on here two or three times to ,-eek ir"> during th" last few days ; but | ha\« f | u -.en ' out of town, only veturning | this morning- 1 had questioned or J*M, * S rcat dual > firsJ

and last, asking h r ''' s be could icniiMii!) ]• auvih n-- about having the <•;,,-,. ~r ~ child before she losl, her mjiid. Sonii'i i iin s she thought she could remember a baby, then her memory would fail her. and all would I.e a blank again. It seems she told the old housekeeper of this, and the woman became inspired with the idea that L must know somet.liin-- about the boy. so insisted upon coming to me. ft strikes me as a .somewhat, remarkable coincidence that they should appear upon the scene right iu the midst of these explanations. 1 have kept them—they are in the neNt room—for I want, them to go with us to meet Wellington and Hayes. Moth were almost, paralysed with joy when J assured them that Sir .lulim's buy was alive, and would .vet come into Id's inheritance. R seems that the present butler visits the old housekeeper, whom he. has privately informed that he does not favour the reigning baronet. He claims that 'he isn't a born gentleman : he 'aven't .rood blood in 'is veins." " "The butler has the right of' it ; 1 agree, with him," said Mr. Seaver, with a laugh. ••Now." Mr. Carrol resumed. " T can account for Leighton's sudden appearance before me during my holiday. .Jamie and I were down on the beach one afternoon, when he stumbled upon us. and I wondered to see him there, for I believed him to be in America. Now I can also understand why he was so strangely agitated when he observed and questioned me about -Jamie's scarred legs and feet, for he was barelooted and bare-legged, and I told him the boy's story. He had heard of the mysterious disappearance of the child and his nurse in all provability, and putting this and that together, realising the a gc of the hoy and that the dates which T mentioned coincided with what he know, he doubtless came to the conclusion that he was the lost heir, and that if that fact should become known he would be hurled from the proud position and lose the magnificent fortune which he had so recently acquired. All. what ;l fiend he is ! He must men then have conceived the plan of kidnapping .Jamie, for 1 remember now hearing him tell him where he could find all the starfish ihe wanted. lie directed him to a cert am group of rocks, where, on the next afieii;oon 1 found his hat and basket, and believed he had met with a n accident and been drowned, lint he will ha\e a long account to settle with me now : he has reached the end of his rope at last. Heavens ! It makes my blood boil when I think that he dared aspire to the hand of Miss Richardson," he concluded, with blazing eyes and sternly-compressed lips. .Mr. Seaver colou-n d slightly at this last remark, and wondered what lie would think if he knew that Walter l.eighton even dared to claim Florence as his wife, and had threatened her with a public scandal and the law. . J!ut he refrained from mentioning these facts, hoping that through some good luck th.-y might bo concealed. l

Florence was his ward, he was very fond of her. and it was his duty as well as his desire to shield her in every way possible. ■'He'certainly is., very crafty, unprincipled fellow. ; ,ni t heartily wish thai 1 had never accepted his invitation to visit at the Towers." he observed, with a somewhat dejected air.

•■Ch. prav (!o not say that, when your visil. has resulted in f-'o Timch '•rood: hut. for it, .Jamie might never ha\e been released," exclaimed Mr. Carrol, earnestly. " Well. I am rather irritated to ho under'obligations to such : , vnill a in; to Jiive partaken () f the hospitality of a man against whom 1 must give evident-- whU h will doubtless doom him to a ro'iviel's fate." the lawyer gravely replied. •'Tdo not. think you should experience the slightest twinge wlv.nyoii take into consideration the good you have achieve d by going to Worthing Towers." the yoing man returned, with considerable, spirit.

"Now. you will come with me to see Wellington a'id "ayrs ?" •'Yes. with a'l my heart." responded Mr. Seaver, "and there will be just about time to tell them this story. 1 think, before o'tr train leaves."' 'I hey went out immediately, .Mr. Carnl first. summoning the old house'repel - and trirsc. falling' a four-wheeler. 1 hey wore driven directly to Lincoln's Inn. where t hey were fortunate enough to ind both members of the firm in their oilice. They concisely slated their busings, and the staid old lawyers could hardly have been more startled and amazed if a bombshell had exploded at their iVet. '1 h.'.v sat literally speechless and spellbound wliild the usurer's i lot was unfolded to them. Ihit thev found their tongues at last, and I he' four men talked and compared notes until it was too late for Mr. Seaver to catch the team he had intended to take, a iid then it was decided that, it would be impossible to take anv action again;!. Sir Walter that ir'g'ht. as the law required certain formalities which could not be complied with at so late an hour in the duv. Messrs. 'Wellington and Hayes strongly advised Mr. Seaver to return to the Towers alone, and conduct himself throughout the evening as if nothing unusual had occurred to disturb his equanimity. It would be very unwise, they declared, for Mr. Carrol to accompany him, as ihcv had planned, for his presence would certainly cause the pretended baronet to scent danger, and he would be very likely to give them the slip and escape the justice which he. merited. He was advised to wait, and go down the next day, together with the proper officials and the old housekeeper and nurse. "he plan was somewhat disappointing to the \nung- man. who was \erv impatient to see .Jamie ; but he 'plainlv s a w the wisdom of it. and submitted to it with a readiness that proved his desire to have full iu.-tice meted out to the criminal who had at last overreached himself. He. hnwever. went on! and bought, .1 ami" the nicest book for boys that lie eould tind. and slipping between the leaves an alTee.t io„at e note, assuring |,mi that he "would come wiilemt fail tomorrow, when he w<>u!d have meat, news for him," gave it. to Mr. Sea\er to take to him. I RS -- So the lawyer returned alone ; but upon his arrival he found his wife

and two wards in a stale of eour sidei'able excitement over a. somewhat thrilling incident that had occurred earlier in the day. It will be remembered that both. Florence and Monica went down to him h Mrs. Seaver remaining on guard with .Jamie—and lingered \ov a while afterwards in the drawingroom. Here Monica was solicited to play an accompaniment for one of the guests, who had that morning rocehitl a new song, and she obligingly sat down at the piano to comply with the request. A few moments afterwards Florence stole quietly out, intending to slip upstairs to her room and Jamie. As she crossed the hall, and had almost gained the stairway, she heard a coarse voice in the vestibule inquire of the butler if Miss Monica King was a guest in the house. •'Yes :" the butler replied ; " the lady is there, and will you please step into the drawing-room and send your card to her ?" " It isn't necessary to send my card." the voice returned, as I lie stranger stepped inside the door ; '•.you can tell her that some one wishes to see her at once in the drawing-room."' Florence had paused at the foot of the stairs —something familiar in the man's tones attracting her—and glanced hack at him. He saw her. started, then, with an evil, gleam in his eyes, he strode rapidly towards her. "Oho." he said, with triumphant vibrating in his tones. "So here you ai'e. right close at hand ! Come. now. we don't want any scene. so you just [tut on your things and go with me, without any leave-tak-ings." Florence for an instant shrank involuntarily from him, for she recognised him at once as the man who had t-o rudely accosted her in London the previous autumn. She knew also that he must be Carl King, and had doubtless come with '.he intention to compel Monica to go away with him. The next moment she straightened herself haughtily and looked him steadily in the eye. "1 do not understand you. sir," sho icily returned. " You have evidently made a mistake, and do not know whom you are addressing-" •'Don't I'. now—really?" the intruder sneered. "You can't, play that little game on me. You've tried once or twice before with Inez, but it won't go down with the old man. March. now. and get on your things," lie continued, fiercely, "or there'll be a devil of a row ; for, by Heaven, you shall not give the slip a second time !" "I tell you, sir, you have made a mistake. You do not know the lady you are addressing," Florence persisted.

The. man swore, and grow very red in the face. "Know you ! Of course I know you, Monica King !" "L am not. -Monica King. I am .Miss Richardson. But I now recognise you as the man who once before insisted that I was some one you knew—who, in fact, insulted me in Regent-street, in .London, nearly a year ago," Florence undauntedly returned. "Aha. and who was that puppy who presumed to meddle with what was none of his business ? J owe him one for that !" the man retorted, flushing angrily. Florence deigned no reply : but turning with an air of proud dignity to the wide-eyed, wondering butler, observed : •'Burns, I think you had letter call \ our master and let him deal with this man." ■"Don't trouble yourself to do anything of the sort, my good fellow." said Carl King, and giving him an ugl\- look. "L don't want anything of that baronet. 1 have simply come to take away this young lady, whose guardian I am, and if she won't go with me peaceably I shall use forcible measures." Even as he spoke a perplexed look began to gleam in his eyes, for the girl surely did not act like Monica. •'You are not my guardian," said Florence. "I. reiterate 1 am Miss Richardson, and the ward of Mr. Robert Sea.ver. of Xcw York City, United States of America." •■Bo.-h!" coarsely retorted Mr. King. "You can't fool me with any such trumped-up story. This man"—pointing at Burns—"has just told me that Monica King is in this house. Mow is it ?" he questioned, turning angrily to the butler. "Isn't this young woman Miss King?" ••No, sir ; this is Miss Richardson, sir." responded Burns, with grave precision. lie had learned to distinguish the voting ladies by their dress. ••Then where is Miss King o " demanded the man. ''You told me that she was here." "I—sir—excuse me, sir," stammered the butler, who began to fear he had made some serious mistake. But even as he spoke the drawingroom door oiwiied again, and Monica herself appeared upon the scene. One swift glance was sufficient to show her who was there, and a startled cry escaped her ; then with the speed of lightning she darted towards the stairs. But the man intercepted her before she could reach them. "By the powers," he exclaimed, as he glanced from her to Florence, "so there are two of you ! Well, this is the biggest surprise I ever had in my life ! Great Scott, and you are as alike as two peas ! it is no wonder Inez was fooled." Florence stepped forward and confronted him. ".It you will step into that room." she said, indicating the apartment with an imperious gesture, "1 will explain this riddle to you. Monica. go upstairs if you like, 1 will come presently," she added, turning to her cousin.

'•-No, she don't,'' .said Carl King', menacingly . " NO." ileal-. I will remain with you,'' >*,uiiicii caliuly observed, as she slipped one arm round Florence's waist and herself led the way to the room. "Burns, will yuu please remain in Uie hall '. , '' Klorenee commanded, as she closed the door, hut wondering in herself what could' have made .Monica so fearless of her enemy all at once. Then she turned again to confront him. and shivered slightly as she caught the ma.lignant look with which he. was regarding her cousin. (.To be Continued.X