Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 393, 6 September 1911, Page 2

Time, The Avenger

(All Rights Reserved.)

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

THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL MYSTERY.

FOURTH INSTALMENT. Standing there in the sunshine, Marcus Dewhirst Hudspith told himself that there was truth in the prophecy. His grandfather had lost his wife within a year or so of going to the Hall, and shortly after he had passed his three'-score years he had been thrown from his horse and killed. Then his uncle, Randolph Hudspith had lost his wife when she was just over thirty, and he had died at the age of fiftj-five. Certainly he had been overshadowed with trouble ; and now his wife told him she was going, and in spite of his desire to think she was mistaken, deep down in his heart he had a great fear that her words would prove true. If there was one being on earth that Marcus Hudspith loved, it was his wife. He had married her for love when he was thirty-eight, and she was twenty, and the better he had known her the more tie had loved her. She had never been a beautiful woman but she had been the one woman in the world for him. And now she was going, and he asked himself if it was a good thing to be the master of Gelder Hall.

Suddenly he remembered what his wife had told him about their son, and, ringing the bell, he told the footman who appeared to tell Mr. Hugh that he wished to speak to aim.

Ten minutes elapsed, then Hugh Hudspith entered the room. He was quite as tall, and broader built than his father, with a certain likeness in features, but his lace lacked the firmness shown in his father's.

" You wanted me, pater," he said, in an easy, off-hand manner.

" Yes. Your mother has been telling me that you are spending a lot of your time with that girl at the Gelder Inn —Hayes they call her." Hugh's face grew dark. " What if I do ? " he said, angrily. " Only this, that I won't have it. You leave the girl alone. I do not wish you to bring trouble on the grandmother, who is a respectable woman, and when there is a difference in rank it generally ends in that sind of thing." " There's no harm in talking to a pretty girl," said Hugh defiantly. " There is harm, and I forbid you to have anything more to do with Mrs. Hayes granddaughter. You had Detter take heed to what I say, or I nay leave the estate and money to rour sister."

Hugh laughed, a trifle uncomfortibly, still there was a slight sneer in it as he said :

" That's rather good, Pater, seeing that the estate is not yours to leave. You are not even tenant for life."

Marcus Hudspith's face grew dark with anger, and he turned almost fiercely on his son as he said :

" Time will show whether it is nine to will or not. At present it ;ooka like being mine for ever. But apart from the estate, I have money, nore than you know of, that I have saved ; but if von marry that girl you will be a pauper."

" Marry her ! " and there was a ine scorn in Hugh's face. " I see that doesn't suit you, but I warn you against getting the girl into trouble. I don't think you'll ind Mrs. Hayes very easy to deal with."

" You seem to be well acquainted with her ; but I'll keep clear of the girl, though it's hard lines a fellow :an't look at a pair of bright eyes without being called to book," said Hugh in a careless tone.

His father looked keenly at him as tie said :

" Don't you think it time you Harried ? What do you say to Mona Dalrymple ? She's a lovely girl and an heiress." " She wouldn't look at me. Unless I'm much mistaken Gar Hatton will win her. And now, if you have said all you wish to say, I'll go," replied his son ; and as he walked through the park towards a little side gate which led into a lane in the direction of the Gelder Inn, he thought : "If he only knew ! But he doesn't. And if there is a kick-up I shall have to face it. But the pater's right ; Mrs. Hayfe® isn't the sort of woman you'd easily get the best of. As for marrying Mona Dalrymple, it would be an angel and a demon. She is a trifle too good for me. I would like a girl with just a dash of ivickedness in her ; and, moreover, Dalrymple would never give, her to me. I can see he thinks me a bad lot, and I don't fancy he thinks the pater much better. And, by Jove, he is right. It's a case of the sheep and the goats. There's mater and Nina on the onqr side, and the male kind on the other. After all, I wish I'd steered clear of Gertie Hayes." If Hugh Hudspith, in his carelessness, coukl have foreseen the future he would have wished it more ardently ; but he did not, and went his . way whistling, unconscious of the bitterness that it contained. CHAPTER 111. MADAME. At the very time that Hugh Hudspith and his father were discussing his friendship or whatever he liked to call it with Gertie Hayes, two ladies got out of a train which stopped in "Wittonbury station, and giving up their tickets passed through the little gate into a shady lane, where a couple vt large waggonettes stood

waiting for passe " Ride in the , nia.'a;n ? It', a miie and a half into the town," said one of the drivers touching' his hat.

The elder of the two ladies shook her head as she said :

" No, thank 5011

" 'Bus, ma'am. Run you flown in a few minutes ; take you near an hour to walk, ma'am, it's up and down hill," said the driver of the second 'bus.

" No, thanks ;"■ and they walked

" Blest if she ain't a furriiior." he said, in a tone of supreme contempt looking over his shoulder to the other driver.

Meanwhile the ladies had walked leisurely along the lane, which so far was a straight , level road overshadowed by trees.

The elder of the two was a woman who might have been fifty or even sixty ; it was impossible to guess her age. Her face was thin and deeply lined, her eyes much sunken, but wonderfully brilliant, and her well-cut features told that in the past she had been a handsome woman and something of it still showed in the lined face. Her most striking characteristic was the look of indomitable will which shone in her eyes and lurked about her thin, Srmly-closed lips ; a woman with a purpose—something she' wanted to achieve before she closed her eyes on the world that had evidently not treated her too well, or there would have been more contentment in the dark eyes She was dressed entirely in black, something thin and clinging, which showed her graceful figure. In her little black bonnet there were clusters of violets, one bunch resting on the iron-grey hair. Looking at her, as she walked with an easy grace, the verdict would have been that she was a woman with a history, and that some of it had yet to be written.

Her companion was a tall graceful girl, with a pretty face ; her eyep were bright and in colour like those of the elder woman, but the expression was totally different. Her features were good, and, like her, she looked a lady but, in the piquant face there was lacking the air of breeding which the other possessed. She wore a creamy white dress, with little touches of vivid scarlet, and her large shadj hat had roses of the same colour twined round it, which contrasted well with her dark hair that was dressed low on her neck.

"It is one funny thing to have the station a mile and a half from the town," said the girl, speaking with a French accent.

" Perhaps the line would have had to diverge too much if they had brought it nearer. Some one told me that Wittonbury was a. very old town, so it would be built long before the railways were thought of," replied her mother, whose voice betrayed that she was a foreigner, but it was less accentuated than in her daughter's case. Presently they reached the end of the lane, and saw that two roads branched from it, and the elder woman turned to the lftft.

" Ma mere, do you know the way ? I see chimneys over there," said the girl, pausing. " That is the little place—too little for Wittonbury. I. have a fine instinct ; so you may trust me to lead you right into the town, Louise." It was a lovely road, up and down hill, as the 'bus driver had said — some so steep that the elder woman had to pause and draw her breath quickly.

" I think it would have 1 been nicer to whirl along in one of those pleasant open cars than to traverse up and down in this white dust. Look at my shoes, ma mere —it is disfiguring." and the girl put out a wellshaped foot, shod in dainty shoes. " Louise, you are for ever thinking of your appearance," said her mother.

" And what better can Louise think of ? I am what they call charming, pretty ; so I try to look my best. Some day the rich lover will come along and I no more have to consider what this cost or that," said the girl with a smile. " But what if you don't love him?" asked her mother.

" I shall take him, and I will spend his money and have a good time."

Her mother sighed. She had little sympathy with this daughter of hers who would make market of her charms,, and they walked on in silence.

Presently they came to the outskirts of the town, and passing a green, they soon found themselves in a street with shops on either side. " The advertisement said in Market street, and here it is," said Madame Dupres, as they turned into a rather narrow street, which, however, had good, substantial, if old-fashioned, shops on each side. " This must be the place," she added, as she paused in front of a small shop with the shutters over the window and on the shutters was a big "To let. Apply to Miss Penman, stationer, High-street."

" Mon Dieu, you would not come to such a poky little place. ! I should be inconsolable ! " exclaimed the girl. " Hush, Louise ! People are looking at you. Yes, I would take the place if I find it suitable. And now we will interview Miss Penman." Market-street was a short though busy cross street connecting two of the principal streets—Main-street and High-street. The market-square was in the latter street and here they saw a quiet, unpretentious stationer's shop, with "Penman " over the window. Entering the shop, a pleasantlooking elderly woman of refined appearance rose from a chair and laid some fine knitting she was doing 011 the counter, then asked what shc could show them.

"I do not require anything. I came about the shop you have to let in Market-street," said Madame Dupres.

The little woman's face brightened

" I will show it with aleasure. Will you wait while T put on rov bonnet and mantle? Jennie, vim will attend to the customers," sho said, turning to a liiile nr-pret i<v who seemed to be having a good rime as she was deeply immersed in a

:>ook. "Do you call this sleepy lit tie place one town? " said Louise in a tone of disgust. " I should think it is a very busy little place on market day." replied her mother.

A few minutes elapsed, then Miss Penman joined them, and with a parting warning to Jennie to altend to the customers they left the shop u: d proceeded to Market-street. Unlocking the door o f the empty-shop, she led the way in, and they found it was larger than it appeared, and there was a nice little sitting-room at the back. " I should use that as a showroom," said madamc. "I want it for a millinery business, and all the dainty little trifles a lady wears. I have been in a shop in Regent-street, London. I was head milliner, but London did not suit my health and I did not care to leave my young daughter too much alone in a big town." " You will do well here. We have not had a decent milliner since Mrs. Terry died six years ago. But what made you think of coming to Wittonbury ? " asked Miss Penman.

" I have not been well, and my doctor said, 'Madame you must leave London, and go to the north of England. You need bracing. I should say Cumberland would suit you.' So [ gave up my post and we came to Carlisle ; then I saw your advertisement in the paper, and I was told this was a quaint little town, with lovely country round."

" That is true. I think it would be tiard to find a prettier place than Wittonbury, and a good place for business, too. There isn't a busier market for miles round," said Miss Penman.

" Then we will see the house," replied Madame. " It did not take long to look over it. There was a small kitchen at the back, and four fairly large rooms up stairs.

" One sitting room, my bed room and yours, Louise ; then one for a maid. We could manage nicely," said madame.

Louise shrugged her shoulders. " I should like some new paint and paper. The colours must be artistic. I would prefer choosing them, and 1 will pay you one quarter in advance, and give you a reference to my late employer." Miss Penman smiled.

" That is unnecessary, and I don't want the rent in advance. We are honest people here, and don't doubt others. I'll do all you want at the place, Madame " —And she paused looking inquiringly at her prospective tenant inquiringly. " Madame Dupres." "Well, madame, I'll do it all and give you a quarter's rent to get a decent milliner. If there's one thins I do like it's a decent bonnet. Now that one you have; on is the daintiest thing I've seen for some time, and there's style about it, too." " I will make you the first that I io in this place," said Madamc with a smile. Miss Penman looked delighted. " Now, as we've a few matters to settle suppose you ladies conic ami dine with me. Then you can go to my brother's shop—it joins mine-

and choose the paint and paper for your house. My brother is a painter and paperhanger, as my father was before him, and he'll do up the place nicely." Madame accepted the invitation gladly. They had intended dining at an hotel, but if Miss Penman was sure they would not inconvenience her—

" Indeed, madamc, it will be a favour. A stranger is something out of the common."

So it happened that in another half lour Madame and Louise were seated in Miss Penman's little back parlour, enjoying that lady's hospitalit>. Madame had quick eyes and she noticed that the tablecloth was spotlessly white and of tine damask and the silver was bright and that it was silver not electro-plate. The food : too, was good—a roast fowl, bread sauce, and asparagus.

" I suppose there are some good iamilies about here ? " said madame, as she cut a dainty piece off a slice of the breast, of which Miss Penman had given her a liberal helping. " Yes, there arc several county families. There are the Dalrvmples, the Hattons, Lord Ovingham. and the Hudspiths, besides a lot of retired tradesmen from Carlisle." " And are the Dalrymples the grandest of them all ? " asked madame. " Well, I don't know that they'd be considered as grand as the Karl of Ovingham. I daresay the Dalrymples are as old a family as the Ovinghams ; but, then. TMr. Dalrytnplr is only a commoner, and 1 don't see that he can be of any family as his father made his fortune out in Australia. But one thing's eortnin- • her ladyship is the leading lady in the district, and both beautiful and good." " How is it she has ;i title if lie is a commoner ? " asked madnme. " She inherited both title and estate from lier father. Lord Dairymple. If there is not a son. they gc to the eldest daughter, and her ladyship is an . only child—at least the only one who Jived to grow up. She had a brother and sister but the> died young of scarlet, fever, both or the same day." To bo Continued.