Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 395, 13 September 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.

SIXTH INSTALMENT. CHAPTER V. A STRANGE WILL. It was the evening of the dinner party at Ovingham Castle, the first that had been given since the new lord took possession. He was abroad when his great-uncle, the last earl, died, and some time elapsed before he settled at the home of his forefathers. Then he had sent for his aunt to take the place of mistress of the grand old castle. She was a genial old lady, and laughingly told him her reign would be short—he would be bringing a young wife to take her place. But Lord Ovingham had vowed he was a confirmed old bachelor.

Perhaps her words suggested the idea to him, or he thought it was time to marry and settle down, and he often found himself thinking of Mona Dairy mple. He wasn't in love with her, but he thought her a charming girl, who would make an admirable mistress for the castle, so he had made up his mind to see more of her.

During dinner it occurred to him that she was looking a little sad, though very beautiful, and he had been sorry when his aunt had given the signal and the ladies returned to the drawing room. In his heart he felt impatient with Lord Hatton who was leisurely sipping his wine, and he fancied that Gar Hatton had the same feeling. Mr. Hesketh Dalrymple struck him as being rather absentminded.

" It's a great pity that Mrs. Hudspith is not likely to recover," said Lord Hatton, putting his glass down and looking at his host. " Yes ; I liked her. It's been a very sudden change. I knew she had been suffering from a cold, and Mr. Hudspith said he was afraid she would not be well enough to come out to-night. Then this afternoon a groom brought a note saying they would none of them be able to come as she was very seriously ill with influenza," said Lord Ovingham. " I'm very sorry for Hudspith. He's not made many friends, and that will cause him to miss his wife even more. His position is a very trying one. You see, he doesn't snow whether he is owner of the estate or not," said Lord Hatton. " How is that ? " inquired his host.

" Have you never heard what happened long ago ? " asked his lordship. " No. Is it a family skeleton ? " " Well, it is a skeleton ; but it's aot kept in the cupboard. It was a matter of much talk between thirty ai-d forty years ago. I suppose you have heard of it, Dalrymple ? " asked Lord Hatton turning to him. " I have heard something of it, but C cannot say any one has given me a ietailed account. Of course it happened long before I married Lady Dalrymple." " Yes. Let me see. It was thirtysight years ago this summer. Randolph Hudspith was master of Gelder rlall then. He was a widower, with One son, Lionel, and the present Mr. Dewhirst Hudspith (Randolph's lephew, his sister's son —lie was callid Marcus Dewhirst in those days) .ived with them.

" One day Mr. Hudspith discovered :hat his son had forged his name to a cheque for three thousand pounds, ind he not only forged it but presented it himself. Of course, most nen would have hushed the affair up, Dut Mr. Hudspith forced the bank to act in the matter, and the poor fellow was sentenced to four years' pelal servitude."

"Do you think he was guiltj ? " isked Mr. Dalrymple.

"I'm SjUre he was. I tried the case and there wasn't a shadow of doubt. The bank clerks knew him well, and swore he had cashed the cheque. The jvidence was overwhelming, or I should have believed his plea of not guilty. He was a fine young fellow, ind much better liked than his cou-

" Some one told me that he could nave got the money for his debts elsewhere, and that there was absolutely no motive for the crime," ;aid Mr. Dalrymple. " Yes, that's a point that puzzled ,-ne ; and in face of his cashing the cheque and using the money it was impossible to believe him innocent. The poor fellow had married a French girl. She was a governess to four wife's elder sister and brother, Mr. Dalrymple, and she confided in me in order to obtain permission to see him. A few months later, when I was in London, she came to see me, and explained that before she married young Hudspith she had been married to a Frenchman, who had deserted her and caused news of his ieath to be sent to her. Then she came into some money and he reappeared ; so she wanted to know i! the first husband could claim her. She was in dreadful trouble when I told her that he could. But she controlled herself and said that she had thought it would be so, and the reason she had sought me was to ask me if anything ever came to my knowledge to cause me to believe that Lionel Hudspith had been unjustly condemned, to bring the matter forward. " Her last words'to me were these: As sure as you and I live, his innocence will be proved, and when that Jay comes, we shall meet agaiu.'

Poor girl, she did love I.iLi Lord Hatton.

" I'm inclined to think a mistake was made, and that an innocent mar was convicted. I've heard people talk about it," said Gar Hatton. " What became of him ? " asked Lord Ovingham.

" When his sentence had expired h< left the prison, and not a trace oi him has ever been found. Six years after that his father died, and I suppose during that time he must have begun to doubt his son's guilt At any rate, he left a most peculiar will, and a portion of it has to be published in every paper in the United Kingdom seven times each winter, and seven times each summer, for forty years from the date of Randolph Hudspith's death. Thirtyeight of the years have passed, and so far nothing has come of it," said Lord Hatton.

" What was the will ? " asked the earl who seemed interested in tin

bygone history. " That if at any time during forty years from the testator's death the innocence of his son, Lionel Hudspith is proved, he is to inherit the Gelder estate, the ccral-pit, and all money which is invested or shall have accumulated until such innocence is proved, save the sum of fifty thousand pounds which is left absolutely to Marcus Dewhirst ; also that the said Marcus Dewhirst was to reside at the Hall and have the use of half the revenue arising from the estate and pit until Lionel Richard Hudspith's innocence is proved. "If that innocence is not proved during the lifetime of Lionel Richard Hudspith, but after his death, his heirs are to inherit the estate, coalpit, money, &c, and in the event of the death of Marcus Dewhirst before his cousin's innocence has been proved or the forty years have expired, then his son will receive the revenue that he was to have enjoyed, and reside at Gelder Hall. At the expiration of the forty years if Lionel Hudspith's innocence has not been proved the estate, coal-pit, and all the invested money are to become the property of Marcus Dewhirst or his heirs for ever."

" What a singular will ! " remarked Lord Ovingham. " Yes ; and there were certain conditions by which his executors were at any time to supply Lionel —if he asked for it—with money to assist in any expense connected with proving that he was not guilty." " And you say the son has never been heard of ? " said the earl. " Never ; and I think the present Mr. Hudspith must have felt pretty sure he wouldn't, as he at once fulfilled the last clause in his uncle's will—which was that in the event o) him inheriting the estate he was tc take the name of Dewhirst Hudspith" said Lord Hatton.

"Of course, he didn't make Mr. Hudspith his executor ? " sai,d the earl.

"No ; he left two capable young lawyers —they were neither of them thirty years of age when he died—and in case of their death they had power to appoint other executors ; but both of them are yet living. 1 know Cairns well. He always believed that Lionel was innocent, and he declares it will be proved before the forty years have expired," replied Lord Hatton. "It .almost looks as though Mr. Hudspith had come to believe in his son's innocence, but wanted it proved before all the world," said Mr. Dalrymple. " Anyway he left a very uncomfortable will behind him. If he had wished to make his nephew's life unhappy he couldn't have done better. It's no joke being master of a place like Gelder Hall, and feeling that it might slip through your fingers any. day," returned Gar Hatton.

" It's a queer story altogether, and I shouldn't care to stand in Mr. Hudspith's shoes," said the earl, and very soon the gentlemen went into the drawing-room. Gar Hatton seated himself beside Mona Dalrymple, who had been talking to Mrs. Carruthers, Lord Ovingham's aunt, but that lady had suddenly remembered she wished to speak to Mrs. Cairns, Lord Hatton's sister, who was twenty years his junior and a bright active little woman.

" Mona, do come on to the balcony ? " urged Gar. For a moment the girl hesitated, remembering her mother's warning, then she felt that she must have just one more talk with Gar. She knew what he wished to say, and she decided that it would be better to tell him of her father's objection, and at the same time she would assure him of her faithfulness. So she rose, and the two passed out of a glass door on to a quaint old balcony which ran along that side of the castle. The dusk of the summer's night was gathering, and the pale moon was just seen ' over the tops of the trees of the great wood that lay beneath them. Ovingharn Woods were almost as lovely as the Gelder Woods but not so extensive, and the old castle stood on a hill which was sc steep at the side where the wood lay as to he unclimbable. At one part a path had been made which led to one side of the wood, and just there a rustic bridge spanned the stream. "Isn't it lovely ?" said Mona. Gar Hatton was looking at her. He had forgotten everything but the beautiful girl beside, him, who looked so queenly jet gracious in her robe of soft white silk, trimmed with priceless lace, and a rose of deepest crimson in the bosom of her dress. Round her neck she wore a string of pearls. Very simple, yet very costly was her attire, and looking at her Gai felt that he was not worthy to win such a queen among women. But he loved her, therefore he must speak. " Mona, I love you. Oh, my darling I cannot tell you how much. You are the light of my eyes. 1 know you are too good for me. Car you love me, dear one ? " he asked, clasping her hand in his, knowing

they were too far away rrom t li<irawing room to be seen by those

within. Mona's face was Hushed and a look of joy had come into hei beautiful eyes which died away quick ly as she said : " Gar, I do love yon, but "

" I'm not going to listen to any huts;" and he drew her nearer to him, But Mona exclaimed : " You must listen, Gar. It seems my father suspected you loved me, and he told mother he would never allow me to marry you." " Why not? Of course, 1 know I'm not good enough for a girl like you—there isn't a man in the world good 2nough—-but I love you with nil my heart, and you love me. Then why should he object. 1 shall inherit my grandfather's title and the estate as well as what he has saved. 1 hope he'll live many years and keep as hale and hearty as now, but when lie goes I am his heir. Of couse, lie will allow me a good income when 1 marry. He told me so the other day. I expect your father wishes you to marry a man of older family. You see, my grandfather rose from the mosses. Still, dearest, lie should not part us on that account."

Mona shook her head. " I don't believe that can be the reason. You know my father is not a man of rank. His father's money was made sheep-farming." " All the same he may wish his daughter to marry into her owr rank, and the Hattons cannot rank with the Dalryraples where pedigree comes in." " I am just a Hesketh Dalrymple and my father is too just to pnrt ui because your grandfather has beer clever enough to make his po.sit.ifMi. instead of being born in it," said Mona.

" I will know what, his objections are, and it will go hard with me if I cannot get him to consent to our engagement. I shall see him in the morning. Until then I shall not say anything to my grandfather. I think we shall have a friend in your mother."

" Yes. I know she likes you. But, Gar, I must go in ; father will be vexed."

" Oh, my darling, you will be true to me," he said as they turned round and walked slowly to the glass door.

As they entered the room, Mona j was conscious that her father looked j annoyed and that Lord Ovingham's face brightened as he saw her. and in ' a moment or two he made some ex- J mse for leaving Miss Weston, the vi- ; car's daughter, and joining Mona. " Are the vicar and Mrs. Weston I away ?" she inquired as Mary Weston began to sing. j " Yes. It has been a disappoint- j ment that both they and the Hud- j spiths are away." " Poor Nina ! " and Mona sighed. ; An hour later, TS'lien Lord Ovine:- ! ham put Mona. in the carriage, he told her that he should be riding over to Housesteads in a day or twe she felt compelled to say they would be glad to see him. ' When his guests had departed, the ' earl paced up and down the balcony j in the moonlight thinking of Monti ; Dalrymple. I " She's a lovely girl and would , make a wife any man might be proud of ;" but he had to admit to himscli ■ that he didn't love her. "Pshaw. I ' shall never love again. My heart is buried in poor Lottie's grave," he thought, and his mind went back tc: ' the day when he had loved piquant > merry little Lottie, who had rested many a day 7 in her grave. It had j been the love of his youth. Since j then he had been indifferent to wo- |

men, but now lie was the last of his race, and it would be well to marry. But was it fair to woo Mona Dalrymple when he had only friendship and a tender reverence to offer ? was the question he asked himself.

CHAPTER VI. A REFUSAL. Mr, Heskcth Dalrymple was reading the paper in the library whet a. footman announced Mr. Hatton. It was not. a ve-ry opportune moment, as Mr. Dalrymple had beer reading of some British reverses in South Africa, and it had raised his ire. He didn't like the British armj to be beaten, any more than ho liked to be triumphed over personally ; and as it was at the beginning of the campaign, he hadn't got accustomed to reading of Boers rushing out ol ambush and shooting the English down like rats caught in a trap. Sc it was not in a very cheery tone that he said :

" Good morning, Gar." "Good morning, Mr Dalrymple." Then Gar hesitated ; he felt a little difficulty in beginning. When lie had thought about it, nothing had scorned easier than to ask Mona's fat hoi if he would consent to their engage ment, but seated opposite that gentleman, who looked unusually grim it wore a different aspect. "Bad news from South Africa," said Mr. Dalrymple touching tin newspaper.

The words gave Gar courage as h< reflected it was that caused the grimness, not any objection to seeing him ; so he, answered : " Yes. it's very unfortunate ; 3ut " " I wonder you don't, go and hoi] them. A young fellow like you would have a fine, career, and I think wc shall need all the help we, can get,' said Mr. Dalrymple. Gar's face flushed as he said : "I have no intention of going H Africa. I could not. leave my grandfather nt. his age. I think my plan is at home, and I'm thinking of getting married-thai, is if I can get the wife I want and that depends on you Will you give mo 3dona ? " he asked. The frown "ii Mr. Dalrymple'.'face deepened. Gar had never seer him look so tluu'oughh displeased. "I am very sorry you have asked must say no."