Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 397, 20 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.

EIGHTH INSTALMENT. " It would just suit you, Mona. I think we must have it," said her mother ; and madame was beginning to make out the bill, when they heard footsteps in the shop, and a man's voice, said : " Not chosen that hat yet, Mona?" "We have chosen more than a hat," said her ladyship, with a smile, " Then suppose we go. Ovingham's outside ; he's going back to luncheon. Come, my dear," said Mr. Dalrymple. " Wait a moment ; I have to pay the bill. Is it made out, madame ? " asked her ladyship, thinking that madame was not as clever in arithmetic as she was in millinery. Without a word madame passed the bill to her daughter, and Louise, with a look of surprise, handed it to her ladyship, and received payment, while madame remained half-hidden by the curtain, apparently busy replacing boxes. " You will send them to Housesteads. Good morning madame ;

and with a good morning to Louise Lady Dalrymple and her daughter departed, followed by Mr. Dalrymple. At the door they found Lord Ovingham waiting. " Your husband says there is room in the carriage, Lady Dalrymple, 1 ' he said, after greeting them. "Of course there is. I'm afraid we have tried your patience as well as my husband's," she said, as she took her place in the carriage. " Not in the least. I had a peep into the shop, and it struck mo as something out of the common," said Lord Ovingham. " It is a very dainty little place, and madame is a gentlewoman, I should say. Her health has compelled her to settle in a country town." " Her daughter is a handsome girl in a certain style, if that girl was her daughter," remarked Mr. Dalrymple.

" Yes, she is her daughter ; but I do not care particularly for her," replied his wife.

When Lady Dalrymple left the show room madame continued moving the boxes about, but after a minute or two she came forward, saying : " I will attend " But she did not get any further as Louise exclaimed : " Ma mere, you are white—you are shocked ! " "Nonsense ; lam a little faint — the heat has made me ill," said her mother sharply.

" You look as though you had seen a ghost, not ill, but struck with surprise, dismay—what they :all shock. Does she not, madame ?" asked the girl, turning to the customer, who was still waiting ; but something in her face caused the [juick-witted girl to exclaim, " You, too, madame, have had one shock." The old lady roused herself, and said :

" You are a sharp girl. I have had a shock but it won't kill me, and t shall need my bonnet." " To be sure, and I will make it. I ;an make charming bonnets for old ladies ; that you wear is dowdy. I ivould make it of lace and feathers, md the lace will come so to soften the face," said Louise, who for some reason she could not explain had taken a fancy to the stranger. " You may think my face needs softening. At any rate, you are candid." " You are handsome, madame, but I would soften and beautify." " Listen to the child," said the old lady laughing. " Well, make it your own way and see if it is fit for a staid, respectable old body. I forgot, with the Dalrymples coming, to tell you that I am Miss Holmes, Penman's aunt. I live at a house called The Hollies, on the way to Gelder Hall. I shall be glad to see you and your daughter any time. I don't care to see many people. I used to be housekeeper at Gelder Hall in the late Mr. Hudspith's time and after I left there I settled down to a quiet life. But I've taken to you and your daughter. Will you come and have tea with me on Sundav? "

" Thank you ; we shall be very pleased," said raadame. " I suppose this young lady could not walk a little way with me ?" asked Miss Holmes.

" Yes ; the walk will do you good, Louise." Five minutes later Miss Holmes and Louise left the shop and madame watched them go slowly down the street. The Hollies was about a mile from Gelder Hall and Louise accompanied the old lady to her own gate ; then very willingly she went in and was regaled with strawberries and cream, after which she said good-bye and set off at a brisk pace towards the town. She had not gone far when she met a young man and at once recognised him as the gentleman whom she had seen with the girl from the Gelder Inn the afternoon her mother and she visited the woods. His big handsome eyes rested on her with bold admiration, and Louise gave him a bewitching smile ; then she glanced over her shoulder, and saw he was gazing after her, and another smile dimpled her face as she adroitly dropped her glove. A second more and he had overtaken her. " Did you lose this ? " he said, holding the pale grey glove towards her. ;f|;

'' TtuinKs, monsieur, i must liavi dropped it. I do not like to weni them this hot day," she said, showing the fellow to it, which she car ried in her hand. " You are a stranger in Wittonbury," he remarked, walking; by hei side. " Yes, I am madame, the milliner's daughter. Ma mere, she degrade herself to make hats and bonnets foi one living, but we are of noble family in our own country ; but my father was what you call a very bad man—a devil. Oh, yes, he was very bad,"' she said, with such appareni relish that he laughed heartily. " Which of your parents do you take after ? " he asked, with a smile. " How can you ask ? " she said in a deeply grieved tone ; then her whole manner changed as she said "I am like my mother, who is one angel —not that I am an angel yet, but just one proper mees. I just remember you should not be walkine with me," she said, gravely, but there was a gleam of mischief in her eyes. " Why not. mademoiselle ? I am s good, proper young man," he said, with a smile. " Now, really, I did not think it ; but I do not know monsieur's name.' " Allow me to introduce myself as Hugh Hudspith. Now tell me your name." " I am Louise Dupres," she said, with another bewitching smile. " Then, Mademoiselle Dupres, will you allow me to walk with you ? " Ma mere would say no ; but then I am something like my father—] have a spice of the devil in me, so I let you walk on." " You think I'm related to him ? " said Hugh .Hudspith with a laugh. " Oui, monsieur ; and ma mere only approves of walking with gentlemac she knows of."

"I am afraid ma mere is too strict. Shall you tell her about me ? "

" Not for the world. I should have one lecture, and it would be the cat watching the mouse. Oh, no, monsieur, I shall not tell." " That's right ; I shall hope to see you often." " Does monsieur want to make me weep, like he did the girl from the Gelder Inn ? "

Hugh Hudspith started, and a look of surprise and annoyance came into his face.

'* What do you mean ? " he said rather curtly.

" Ah, monsieur, I know your little secret. Did we not hear the petite Gertie weep because you could not go to see her ? "

" She's a silly little thing," he said, scornfully. " But monsieur thought her very charming once. And now I say goodbye ; the town is near, and some good woman would tell ma mere that her daughter had been walking with the gentleman from Geb'-r Hall," she said stopping, and holding out her hand.

" But you will meet me again ? " he said, pleadingly. " That jou may make me cry like you did petite Gertie ? " she said, a spice of malice in her tone. " I should never be tired of seeing you. So promise to meet me," he urged. " Monsieur never could make me cry. Monsieur might weep, but never Louise," she said. " You will meet me ? " he repeated.

" I not meet gentlemen. But there is a noee old woman at. The Hollies; she has lovely strawberries and cream. I go to see her." " Miss Holmes ? You mustn't tell her about me." She smiled.

" Monsieur will find Louise does her own way. But I will not tell her or ma mere will stop me going to the Hollies. Then no more strawberries and cream. Adieu, monsieur ; " and with a ravishing smile she drew her hand from his grasp and went gracefully forward, while Hugh Hudspith stood watching her until she was out of sight. "By Jove ! she is a charming girl," he thought. Then he lighted a cigar and turned homewards. When Louise entered the shopthere happened not to be any customers in—her mother asked her where she had been all the time.

"In Paradise, ma mere. The old lady has a lovely garden, and heaps of strawberries and cream ; and I'm going to Paradise again," she said, with a smile. All that day Louise was charming,

and madame reflected that, after all, she was easily pleased, if a lovely garden and strawberries and cream made her so bright and happy, and she resolved that she should go whenever Miss Holmes asked her. CHAPTER VIII. FROM OUT OF THE PAST. Luncheon was over, and Lady Dalrymple and Mona, with Lord Ovingham, had seated themselves under a shady beech a little way from the house. Mr. Dalrymple was writing letters in the library, so the ladies had to entertain the guest, and Lady Dalrymple found it a task very much to her liking, as she had a friendly feeling for his lordship, but Mona was unusually silent. " This is a grand tree. I see you appreciate it," lie said, glancing at the grass which was well trodden just there. " Yes, it is our favourite spot for afternoon tea. You see, Housesteads Park is not well wooded like your estate. What is it, James ? " she asked a footman who approached. " If you please, my lady, Mrs. Watson wishes to see >ou," he said, apologetically, as though he thought it was scarcely fitting that the curate's wife should disturb her ladyship. • " Very well, I'll come. Which room is she in ?" " The Green room, my lady." Lady Dalrymple turned to Lord Ovingham with a smile.-, " Mrs. Watson is our curate's wife. [ don't suppose you will know her as you attend Ovingham Church ; but

she is an indefatigable worker. .1 ; think she knows all about the pool , folks in Wittonbury, and she some t times comes to me for help when she j has a destitute case on hand : so I j am sure you will excuse me." i " Certainly. 1 knew you were a ; Lady Bountiful," he answered, with a j smile. | Lady Dalrymple shook hw head she rose and went towards the house. ; and Lord Ovingham moved his rhaii i nearer to Mona 'p. " I have been longing to have ;i I chance of speaking to you alone." ho ; said, as he looked at the fair face. j which appeared sadder than it had j done when he first knew her. She | was quite as beautiful—perhaps ever j more beautiful-but the sadness w.i; : there. j It may have been his words—-pos- j sibly it was his earnest gaze-hut j something caused Mona's face ti j flush rosy red. and she bent her head \ over the fancy work she was doing. ; " Mona. I have admired you froir the first time I saw you and 1 want you for my wife. I will do all ihal : lies in my power to make you happy.

If you will give yourself to me. i shall consider myself one of Ihe most fortunate men in the world.'' Now Mona was not so clever a.* Lord Ovingham. But she had beer wooed b> Gar Hatton, and she knew what it was to love with her whole heart ; and in spite of his evident earnestness she felt assured that Lord Ovingham did not love her as Gar Hatton did, so she raised her eyes shyly to his, as she said : " I am sorry you have said this." " Why ? Cannot you love me. Mona ? "

" No, Lord Ovingham. I like and admire you very much—l hope you will always be my friend —but I don't love you, and —and " " And what ? " he asked.

" I don't know whether I ought to say it, but I don't think you love me as you could love the woman you wil) some day marry. I know you likf me, but not as you either have loved or will love some other woman." For a moment Lord Ovingham was silent, astonished that this inexperienced girl had read him so correctly, then he said very gentle and gravely :

" You are right. I do not love you as I loved once years ago." Then he paused for a minute, but continued : " The woman I loved has been dead many years, and until I saw you I thought I should never marry again. You are so sweet and lovable, it seemed to me that if I could win you I should be happier than I had ever hoped to be again ; but I did not think of the wrong I was doing you in offering the little I had to give. Mona, how did you find out the truth ? " he asked, looking intentis at her. She blushed, and her face grew bright with the love light as she said :

" Gar Hatton loves me and I love him."

The last words were spoken almost in a whisper. " i see ; and this love made yo quick to detect the false ring in mine. But why do you not make the engagement public ? " "It is not an engagement. My father won't sanction it," she answered, in a quiet tone, but be wae conscious of the pain in it. " Not sanction your engagement to Gar Hatton ! " he repeated in surprise.

" No ; and he won't give any reason. It is very hard," she added and there was a quaver in her voice. " What does Lady Dalrymple cay ? "

" She is troubled because she like: Gar, and she cannot understand, it any better than we can."

" It will come right in time, Miss Dalrymple. Gar is a tine fellow, and whatever your father's objection is it will pass away. Don't trouble about it," he said, sympathetically, then he smiled. "It's a strange sequel to a proposal to advocate my rival's cause hut if I had known the circumstances I should not have spoken. Once «>t twice it had struck me that you and Hatton had a mutual liking, hut as I have never met him here of late. I thought I had made a mistake." " My father will not allow him to come except on special occasions, when we have other friends." "Do you know I thin!; I'm a very inhospitable man. I shall have to ask my friends to visit me oftener. I suppose Miss Dalrymple there is not an interdict preventing you meeting at other people's houses? " he said with a smile.

" No." and Mona laughed. "I must stir my aunt up. butthc difficulty now is to manage a dinner party even. The Hndspiths are not ■visiting, and our circle is very innuod. Of course, there is the vicar, his. wife, and daughter. We might include Dr. Bowers and his wife, then it could be managed."

Mona laughed merrily. She was thinking that Lord Ovingham had not taken her refusal much to heart. He was quick to read her though!. " You are thinking 1 have ver\ soon forgotten what 1 asked yon. hut that is not so. I rememher and re gret that I ventured to offer you second best, when yon are wortliy ■• (he l)est a man can give. ' shall always admire you and feel thankful I am your friend, tint i am gh'.d yr.n love Gar Haiton. It is rhrht that you should be the first love of the man who marries you," he said, earnestly. " Lord Ovinghnm. T don't believe your heart is dead. Some day you will love again. as Gar loves, and you will be happy," she said, in a tone of deep fecli :;,<;. " I think not," he said, gravely. " You will ; 1 am sure of it. l>u( I am not the sort of woman vain will love." " What will she he like ? " he askei" with a smile. " I don't know, but she will havesullered. 1 can imagine her a ■-drom woman —a. woman who will understand you better than I ever could.' To be i.'o))\ iuued.