Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 391, 30 August 1911, Page 2

Time, The Avenger

(All Rights Reserved.)

By HEDLEY RICHARDS, Author of "The Haighs of Hillcrest," "From Mill to Mansion," "Diana's Inheritance," Etc., Etc.

THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL MYSTERY.

SECOND INSTALMENT.

For a moment there was silence. Then the judge began summing up, ind from the first it was evident ;hat he believed the prisoner guilty. "It was absurd," he said, "to think that any one could simulate ;he prisoner's appearance, voice, &c, ;o as to deceive two men who knew lim well by sight, and had frequently tieard him speak. He admitted that the arrangement for borrowing money did away to a great extent with the notive, unless there were other debts or he had acted under a sudden temptation to free himself from his liabilities without having exorbitant interest to pay." Finally he concluded by advising

the jury to sift the evidence care:ully. After this the twelve men filed jut of the box, and the prisoner who had followed the evidence carefully, turned and looked round the court, Sowing courteously to those who had mown him under happier circumstances and felt sorry for his plight ; but lis eyes rested long on a slender dark-haired, dark-eyed girl at the >ack of the court, who tried to smile mcouragingly. Half an hour passed slowly, then the jury re-entered the box, and in inswer to the clerk's question the 'oreman said they had found the prisoner guilty of forging and cashing a :heque, knowing it to be forged, but they strongly recommended him to nercy on the score of his youth. The judge turned to the prisoner, saying :

" Prisoner at the bar, the jury lave found you guilty of forgery and ilso of cashing a forged cheque, and [ fail to see how they could have lone otherwise. I am sorry to see a j oung man in your social position standing where you do to-day. The crime of which you are accused is a very serious one, but I am disposed to consider the recommendation of the jury and remember your youth. Therefore the sentence I pass, is that you go to penal servitude for four years."

That is was a heavier sentence than =ither jury or those assembled in :ourt had expected was quite evident, and the prisoner turned white an leath ; but in a moment he recovered limself, and turning to the judge, asked if he might say a few words. Then, having received permission, he laid :

"My lord, lam absolutely inno:ent both' of forging and uttering the cheque, and some day my innocence will be made plain." Then, bowing, ae turned to the warder, and in anDther moment he had disappeared, ivhile those in court commented on ;he affair, as they made their way to the entrance.

" It's a queer affair. I cannot believe that Lionel is guilty," said a young man.

"Neither can I ; but the evidence was damning," was the reply of anDther.

Meanwhile the dark, foreign-looking *irl had made her way as quickly as she could out of court. A thick veil svas drawn over her face, but it did lot hide her pallor and the twitching of her lips. It was evident it was ill she could do to restrain her tears.

The next afternoon, as Lionel Hudspith sat in his cell, scarcely able to jelieve that he was indeed a prisoner 'or four years condemned to work .vith men who were the outcasts of society, he was roused by the opening of the door, and looking up he saw a slim, girlish figure.

" Julie ! " he said, springing to his feet ; and the foreign-looking girl who ttad been in court the previous day advanced towards him.

" Lionel, this is too cruel," she said, as he put his arms round her and drew her to him. " How dare they sentence you to this ? Oh, it will break my heart ! " she continued in a plaintive voice. "Naj, my darling, you must bear up. I am innocent. You believe that don't you ? " he asked, looking at tier keenly. " You know I do. I could never believe evil of you. You are good and true," she said, clasping her arm round his neck, as he drew her on to the rough bench beside him. " The judge didn't think so. I think he was down on me because I had backed horses. Ah, well, Julie, I have been foolish, but not wicked, and I shall have time to alter before I'm a free man again. Pray God, it mayn't be for the worse." " Lionel, don't let this, or anything else—any other trouble that may come to you—turn you into a wicked man. Promise me," she said, clinging to him. "Julie, I promise you to keep a brave heart, and to try not to grow like those I shall have to mingle with. After all, I can scarcely wonder that I was found guilty ; the evidence was so strong. Once or twice I wondered if I could have done what they said in my sleep. I was asleep that afternoon, and never stirred out of the house," he said.

"No Lionel, you didn't do it, either asleep or awake. You are the victim of a base plot. Some one has tried to ruin you and has succeeded ; but I am going to find out who did it."

" My poor little wife, you'll have to work for your living, so I don't see how you'll have time to do any detective work. I was longing to see you, because I had several things to say, but I wasn't sure they would let

you see me. did you manage it ? " he asked.

" I went to the judge who tried you, and I told him that we had been secretly married, and I prayed him to use his influence for me to see you before you were removed from here. I also told him that he'd made a great mistake if he thought you'd been spending money on any woman, as I was the only one you cared for and you hadn't given me expensive jewellery and that until the last fortnight I'd been in a situation, and only left it because I wanted to be free to come to the trial.

" He asked me if your father knew of the marriage, and I told him he didn't —that we were married in London. I had got a holiday and after a brief honeymoon at the seaside I went back to my situation until yon could find a suitable time to tell your father, who had been very irritable with you lately. I fancy what I told him about you made a good impression, and he promised to get permission for me to see you." "Of course he will write to my father and tell him you are my wife" said her husband, in a vexed tone. "No ; I made him promise not to reveal the fact. He asked me how I should live, and I told him I intended taking pupils." Lionel turned to her, and there was a ring of command in his voice as he said : " Julie, you must not hold any communication with my father. I love you dearly, but I would rather you lived on a crust than were helped by him —a man who could believe his own son a forg«r, and took care the charges were pressed against him."

" He shall never help me : have no fear. I am a good teacher, and I shall be able to earn a comfortable living, and I hope, something to start us in a new country when the four years have passed." At that moment a warder appeared saying the time was up ; and after a fond embrace they parted.

" Look up, No. 649, I've got something for you."

Lionel Hudspith was known now as convict 649, and he raised his head and looked at the warder who had brought his supper. " I've got something for you. A lady met me last night, and she told me she'd make it worth my while if I'd deliver a letter to you, so I promised, and here it is. Now mind jou read it sharp, and then give it to me to burn, or I shall get into trouble if it's found out. You'll let me have it back ? " he said, keeping a firm hold of the letter. " Yes, only give it to me," replied the prisoner ; and in another moment he held it in his hand, while his face grew bright as he saw Julie's writing. Two months of prison life had tried the young man, who had been luxuriously brought up, and he found the prison work heavy ; but he had tried to do his best, and was rather a favourite with the warders. But now, as he broke the seal he forgot everything but his young wife, and, opening his wife's letter he read :

" My dearest Lionel, —I have something to tell you that will nearly break your heart, as it has done mine, and I am afraid you will blame me. But, my dear one, I did not intend to deceive you. I kept you in ignorance of a fact in my past life because I had a feeling that it might make you love me less. Now I know it was very silly. My dear, dear Lionel, before I ever saw you—when I was a girl of sixteen—my father forced me to marry a man I detested. Then my father died suddenly, and my husband spent ail the little fortune he left me ; and when it was spent he disappeared, leaving me to work for my living. I was only

nineteen then, but I got a post in a school, and six months later I heard that he was dead. The proofs were

ample, hut he was buried before I heard of his death, so that I did not journey to the place where he had died. Six months later I obtained the post of governess at Housesteads and by the advice of Madame Dubois, the principal of the pension I put aside my widow's dress, discarded my wedding-ring, and came to England as an unmarried woman. " I was glad to do it. I wanted to put the past behind me. My husband had treated me brutally. When you told me of your love I nearly divulged the past, but I had a silly fear that you might love me less if you knew I had been another man's wife. A week ago I was horrified by the appearance of my former husband at my lodgings, and from what he said I knew he had persuaded a friend of his to send me the information of his death, 'When the real fact was that his cousin, whose Christian and surname were the same, had died. He was tired of me. I was penniless, and he wanted to be rid of me. .

" Two months ago an aunt of mine —who had never noticed me during her life—died, aud left me a large fortune. My husband heard of this, and at once tried to trace me. I have offered him the money if he will leave me in peace, but he says t shall be useful as the mistress of his house aud that he will force me to go with him, Oh, Lionel, I hate the man and I love you ; but what can Ido ? Forgive me, dearest. I have never loved anyone but you, and I shall love you to the end of my life. That it may be a short one, I pray and for you I shall pray night and morning, asking God to make your innocence plain and grant you a happy life. Keep up your heart. Four years will soon pass, then you will be free ; but you must not try to find me. It will only increase my sorrows and to prevent you finding me I shall not tell you the name ol the man who claims me. Heart's dearest, believe me, ever jour loving "Julie."

When the warder came back the tec was unfinished and No. 643 lay on th/ floor of his cell unconscious.

The man picked up the letter, then finding he could not revive the prisoner, he fetched the doctor ; hut a.' the poor fellow remained unconscious he was removed to the infirmary And when lie came out. in a couplo of months, after pulling througV brain fever, he was the wreck of hit former self.

Thirty-eight years elapse i.cl ween Prologue anil the Story proper, which proceeds with Chapter I. CHAPTER I. THE FIRST SHADOW. " He's a line fellow, a very fine fellow," said Mr. Hesketh Dairymple, decidedly. " Yes, I like Lord Ovingham." replied Lady Dalrymple, pleasantly. She was a handsome woman, though she had passed her fortieth year. Her dark-brown hair was not even tinged with grey, and her beautiful grey eyes had not lost their lustre, while her tall elegant figure was as graceful as it had been years ago. Perhaps there was a trille more dignity, hut that was the only difference. A gracious woman, too, was her ladyship. Some people said she would not have been so handsome if her life had gone less smooihly with her, but her friends declared that under any circumstances she would liavt been a lovable woman. " I hope " said her husband then he stopped suddenly. " What do you hope, Richard ? " she asked, looking inquiringly at him.

" I am not sure that it is wise to tell you," he said with a half smile as he crossed from the window at: which he had been standing to the

rug and leaning his elbow on the mantelpiece looked down at his wife who was busy with some fancy work.

A fine man was Richard Hesketh Dalrymple, considerably older than his wife ; in fact he was drawing near to his sixty-first birthday, and he «-as vigorous as a young man. Over

six feet and broad in proportion, he bore himself erect. A grave, rather stern face, with regular features, and a quantity of snow-white hair, cut close. His thick moustache partly hid his mouth, but the lower lip showed that he was a man of firmness and determination. It had been a love match and the love was stronger now than on the marriage day.

Lady Dalrymple laughed. " Never mind the wisdom, but tell me what you hope," she said. " I hope that Lord Ovingham will admire Mona." " Admire Mona ! " she echoed, in a tone of surprise and dismay. " Why not, Mildred ? He is rich and well-born." " But he is so much older."

Her husband laughed a quiet low laugh, which betrayed infinite amusement.

" I didn't expect you to offer that objection. You didn't consider it one in the years gone by. You thought very little of the twenty years between us." " You were the only man 1 ever loved, and the difference in age was, and is, of no importance. I don't think there is a man anywhere to ;ompare with you," she said, looking up at him with loving eyes. He stooped and kissed her. Then tie said :

" And why shouldn't Mona love him ? I thought he seemed taken with her, and the liking may be mutual." "Mona won't, love him, and, Richard. I shouldn't have thought you would turn matchmaker,'' said bin wife, rather gravely. " I feel that I should like to see our child safe in a good man's care, and I heartily like Lord Ovingham." " Richard, dear, put this idea out of your head. Mona has given her heart elsewhere," she said, in a low tone. " Who is the man ? " he asked almost sternly. Lad\ Dalrymple looked a( her husband in surprise as she said : " I thought you would have seen that Gar Hatton loved her." ''What Lord I-latton's grandson;" and there was unmistakable dismay and anger in her husband's voice. " Yes. I hope you don't object to him, because I am sure Mona cares for him."

" I do object to him most strongly," he answered, and bis tone more than confirmed his words. " But Richard, be is a fine young fellow, and in a good position. 1-1 c is his grandfather's heir."

" If he was heir to the throne of England be .should not marry my daughter," said Mr. Dalrymple speaking with so much passion that his wife opened ner eyes in amaze-

ment. For a moment there was silence then she said :

"I thought you liked young T lat - ton. Do you know anything against him ? "

" He is the grandson of Lord Hat ton, and that is enough, for me," re piied her husband angrily. " I didn't know you disliked Lord Hatton ; and even if you do, 1 don't think it fair to let it prejudice you against his grandson. And iiar is a good fellow." "He may be that ; possibly you are right. But 1 shall not give him my daughter," said her husband, in a firm tone, but speaking with less pas sion. " Richard, don't say that. You have allowed (Jar Mai ton to visit here, you never warned me io keej: Mona away from iiim, and now when they love one another —yes, I'm sure they do, and he will speak befon long—you say you will, refuse tu sanction it." " I do ; and 1 shall adhere to my decision." " Richard, is it right to spoil your child's happiness ? " asked Lady Dalrymple. laying her hand on his arm and looking beseechingly at. him "It is right to do what T am doing," he answered, briefly. To be Continued.