Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 398, 23 September 1911, Page 2

Time, The Avenger

(All Rights Reserved.)

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

THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL MYSTERY. ■ ■ • ©

NINTH INSTALMENT. " You underrate yourself. And now, Miss Dalrymple, I think I will go before your mother returns. I will trust you to make some excuse for me," he said, as he rose. " Lord Ovingham, you will not tell my father that you have asked me to be your wife ? " she said. "No ; but. I think he suspected I intended doing so, and your mother aiay question you." " Then I will tell her the truth ; " and with a firm hand-clasp they part2d, Lord Ovingham crossing the park and going along the lane in the direction of the Knowle. " I wonder if Dalrymple wants her to be a countess, and that is the reason he won't let her have Hatton ? " he thought as he walked on. " Poor girl, she seems to be having a rough time of it. Will her prophecy come true ? Shall I love again ? No ; she's wrong. I cared for her as much as I shall ever care for any woman." " Good afternoon, Lord Ovingtiam ; " and at the words he raised bis head, just as Nina Hudspith sprang off her bicycle and extended her hand.

" Good afternoon, Miss Hudspith. I didn't see you," he replied, as he clasped her hand, noting with regret that she looked worn and pale. " I thought I should like to tell you how sorry I was we were out the day you called," she said, quietly- " And I was sorry not to see you. How is Mr. Hudspith ? " "He is not very well. My mother's death has been a great blow to lim," said Nina ; and her voice was sad. " I am sure it must have been. Are you going to Housesteads? " " Yes ; I came round this way because I wanted a good long ride. A.re you going to cross the fifilds ? " " Yes, I like to stretch my legs a bit. I walked into the town this morning and met Mr. Dalrymple, who asked me to luncheon, and now I'm of! home." "You ought to have stayed for ifternoon tea, but I suppose you have a masculine contempt for it." " No, I rather like it ; but I want to get home in good time, and I don't think Miss Dalrymple asked me to stay," he said, with a smile. " Then Mona is very remiss." " You'll find Miss Dalrymple under the beech tree at the front of the tiouse. Good afternoon, Miss Hudspith." As he spoke a gruff laugh sounded, and looking round tliej saw leaning against a gate, a big, burly-looking man whose face wore a broad grin. It was a coarse face, but the leer on it made it still more disagreeable.

" What a horrid man ! " said Nina in a low tone.

" Yes, I would strongly advise you to return the other way. It is too lonely."

" I think I shall. I shouldn't care to meet that man on a lonely road. Good afternoon, Lord Ovingham ; " and mounting her bicycle she rode away and his lordship after giving one stern glance at the man opened a gate that led on to a field-path and ivent quickly forward, but not too quickly to hear a brutal iaugh from the stranger. " So that's Miss Hudspith, and she is going to Housesteads. Ha, ha !" and laughing coarsely he went forward and stood looking at the house. Meanwhile Nina Hudspith had reached the gate, and opening it she rode across the grass, straight to the beech tree where she found Mona, who had just been joined by her mother. Lady Dalrymple embraced Nina affectionately and Mona's greeting showed how pleased she was to see her friend.

" I was beginning to think you were never coming again," she said.

A shadow crossed Nina's face as she replied : " You don't know how I have longed to come ; but father has been very depressed, and Hugh and he don't seem to be getting on. I cannot tell how it is, but I have a strange, indefinable feeling that more trouble is in store, and I believe my father has the same feeling though he has never said so. I don't understand Hugh. Oh, I do miss mother," she added, .with a sigh. . , , "My dear, you are nervous and low-spirited—it couldn't be otherwise —but surely God will not send you more trouble, my child," said Lady Dalrymple, gently. Just then James appeared with tea and Mr. Dalrymple joined them, and after greeting Nina, he said : " Where is Lord Ovingham ? " "He has gone home," replied his tvife.

" Reallj, Mildred, you will lose your character for hospitality," he said in such a displeased tone that Nina looked at him in surprise, and Mona felt herself grow red. Somehow it seemed to every one that the master of the house was out of humour, and after a while Nina rose, saying she must go home. " I shall return by way of the town. I saw a very unpleasant party near here. He was laughing and chuckling as though he was a madman.".

" I wonder your father allows you to ride alone," said Mr. Dalrymple. "Oil, my father knows I can take very good care of myself," she said, as she shook hands with him and Ladv Dalrvmpie. and said she

would walk wit& Sier as far as the gate. Mr. Dalrymple and his wife watched the two girls cross the grass, Nina wheeling: her bicycle and Mona walking beside her. Then the former said: '* Mildred. has Lord Ovingham made Mona au offer of marriage ? " " I don't know. I hope not." " Nonsense ; it would be a most suitable match." " Mona loves (2-ar Gatton," said his wife. Mr. Dalrymple turned on his heel and walked quickly towards the house. " Why does he oppose the marriage ? If he knew anything against Gar lie would surely tell me," she thought. In the hall the butler met Mr, Dalrymple and gave him a note that lay on a silver salver. It was directed to "Hesketh Dalrymple, Esquire, Housesteads, Willonbury ; " and had evidently been posted in the town as that was the only postmark. The writing was very bad and as Mr. Dalrymple took it in his hand he vaguely wondered who was his correspondent. Going to the library he seated himself and opened the letter rather gingerly, as the envelope was none too clean. Then he read the few brief lines and a straage change passed over his face, which became white and rigid, and he sat staring at the letter as though it fascinated him. " My God, after all these years ! " he muttered. How long he sat there he never knew, but he was disturbed by the opening of the door, and he quickly thrust the letter into his pocket as his wife advanced. Then she uttered an exclamation of dismay. " Richard, what is the matter ? " she cried. " The heat has upset me a little." " Are you sure it is only that, dear ? You look very ill." " What else could it be ? You forget, Mildred, I'm not so young as I was." She looked only half satisfied as she said : " I came to tell you that Mona has refused Lord Ovingham." " Refused Lord Ovingham ! Then she will have to withdraw her refusal," he said, in angry determined tones. " Richard, she will not withdraw it, and I was going to beg you reconsider your decision and consent to her engagement to Gar Hatton." Mr. Dalrymple sprang to his feet. " She shall never marry Gar Hatton. Understand I mean it, and never mention the matter again," he said, his eyes blazing with anger. " Then, Richard, you will spoil your only child's happiness," she said ; and with these words she withdrew. As the door closed her husband sank back in his chair sighing heavily. A moment later lie struck a vesta, and burned the letter and envelope to pieces, then, crumbling the ashes in his hand, lie opened the window and scattered them out for the four winds of heaven to carry them whither they would.

CHAPTER IX, WHAT MAD AMR HEARS. Madame and her daughter had just finished their supper—it had been salmon and green peas, with the addition of a few new potatoes, and a nice little custard to follow, Louise was fond of dainties, and madame could not eat much in the middle of the day, so they had tasty suppers, and as they left the table and seated themselves in easy chairs near the window, the former felt more inclined to view their residence in Wittonburv in a favourable light. Her mother was making money and that was a very important factor in Louise's estimate of anything. She had made the acquaintance of a rich man and that pleased her ; then she

enjoyed the creature comforts which just now fell to Mr lot. Once or twice she glanced at her mother, who seemed buried in thought, and then she gave her head a toss, and congratulated herself that her thoughts were not of the sort to make her look so serious. No, she would never be like that. She intended to take life easily, and have as many good things as she could get., whether by fair means or foul.

Just then the bell at the private entrance that joined the shop rang, and in another minute they heard steps on the stairs, and the moid announced, " Miss Penman." " You'll think I'm a late visitor," she said, as she shook hands with madame and Louise, " but I've come to ask a favour."

" I think I can promise to grant it," said madame, pleasantly. " I hope so. Ttes fact is my servant has gone home —her mother is ill —and I don't cere to spend the night alone in the house. My brother wanted me to go and sleep at his house, but I like my own bed, and I thought I would ask you if Miss Louise could spend the night with me. The spare room joins mine, so you wouldn't feel lonely or timid, my dear," she said, turning to the girl.

" Timid ! " and Louise laughed, scornfully. " I never feel that." The little middle-aged woman looked admiringly at the girl in the first flush of her womanhood. " I wish I had your courage, my dear. And now, madame, what do you say ? " " Of course Louise must go. Will your maid be back to-morrow ? " " Not for two or three days, so if you can spare " —■ " Indeed, I can spare her," replied madame before Miss Penman had time to finish her speech. " Thank j ou very much. And now, Miss Louise, if you will get your hat on we will go. I have been getting some pretty things for the.shop and I thought you would like to see them." Ten minutes later Mass Penman and Louise left the house, and, after seeing them out, madam*; returned to sitting room. Mary had removed

the supper thn.".;s. nml nn sir- seated herself she? lookci at. her watch. "Half-past nine, I must, hast.er Mary to bed. How strange thai Miss Penman should want Louise tonight, when T was so anxious tc go there ! I should have been nfrai<" to go with her in the house, she is sr quick at finding things out, and j dare not let her suspect anything oi there would be trouble. She takes after her father la everything." Rising madame went to the kitchen and told Mary it was nearly ten. and she must get the supper things washed and go to bed. Then she went back to the sitting room where she sat in the dusk, busy with her thoughts. " What is it makes me so an?;ious to go there to-night ? Is it because I heard his voice again after all these years ? 1 cannot understand it yet I feel compelled to go." she muttered. Presently Mary came to the dooT and wished her " Good night," and after waiting a little while madame wrapped herself in a long black cloak put on a thick veil and stole dowr stairs just as the clock struck the half-hour after ten. The streets were very quiet. Wittonbury people kept early hours and as madame stood at the door after quietly closing it, not a creature was to be seen. Slipping the latch-key ir her pocket, she set of! at a quick pace through the town. After walking £ little distance she came to a road which led from the town into the country, and without hesitation she turned along it. For a little way there were houses standing back in gardens, then here and there farms,

with a wide stretch of fields between. Once she paused where a lane branched ofi to Wittonbury old church, which was now only used for reading the burial service over those who were interred in the churchyard. It | was too far out. of the town, the j Wittonbury folks had declared, and j so they had built, a church in the I heart of the place. It was but a j moment's pause, then madame went j forward. Even in the darkness she ! seemed to know the way. j It was a dark night, but there j was no hesitation, and it was not. until she reached the white sale that ! led into Housesteads Park that she j stood still. ! The outline of the bis: bouse could j be dimly seen, as most of the rooms j were lighted, and, standing there, | madame gazed at it. while her | thoughts went, back over the past, j Presently she roused herself, and, opening the gate, she crossed the soft grass, on which not a footfall :ould be heard. When she got close to the house, she saw that one of j the windows was open, though the j blind was drawn over it. Madame stood still and gazed j through the chinks in the Venetian blind. It was a lovely room, and the scent of flowers reached her. Sealed s in an easy chair was Lady Dairymphwho looked fairer now than when she . had visited madnme's shop. She was dressed in a pale blue robe of some thin transparent material. It was «

slightly low at the neck, revealing a lovely, white throat. A beaut ifu woman : but to-night there was a shadow on her face as she talked to her daughter, who was sitting on a low chair at a little distance, and madame's countenance expressed the admiration she felt for the beautifu girl, with her sweet pure face. Lady Dalrymple she admired in spite o herself—the admiration was somewhat grudgingly given, but in Mona's beauty she rejoiced, and there was tenderness in her face as she looked at the girl. " I cannot understand your father. I am sure he was ill this afternoon, but he would not admit it, and tonight he is restless and quite unlike himself," said Lady Dalrymple. " I thought he was very quiet during dinner," replied Mona. " Yes. 1 know he is annoyed because you refused Lord Ovingham. ] am afraid lie would be still more angry if he knew you had told him about Gar Hatton," said her mother. " It was better to tell him." said Mona as she rose. "Do you object to me closing the window ? I feel a little draught," she said.

" Then shut it, my dear," and as the girl advanced madame drew back. Standing there she thought, of the time when she had been an inmate of that house. It had been a long time ago when the present mistress was a child, just beginning to toddle ; and in her mind's eye she could see herself, a dark-haired, dark-eyed, graceful girl, wandering with her two little pupils in the park, or sitting under a tree while they chased butterHies and she dreamed beautiful dreams of a happy life with the man she loved. But that was long ago.

and the children had lain for many ;t year in the churchyard, while she had lived to see the man she loved.

disgraced—unjustly, she knew. Still, he had suffered, and, worse than all, circumstances had separated her from him. and she had passed out of his life for ever. Another woman was his wife, a woman still beautiful ; and madnmr asked herself if. in his present happiness, he ever remembered the girl to whom he had given his first love. But he should remember her ; she would accomplish the task which years ago she had sworn to accomplish, and in the hour of his triumph he should know that he was indebted to her.

Suddenly there fell on her ear tho sound of footsteps crunching tin gravel path at the end of the house Then she saw the tigure of a man cross the grass in a slanting direction. Something in the height and build told her it was Mr. Dalrymple, and she felt a keen desire to follow him, to stand for a few minutes near him, even though he was not aware of her presence. To In' Coiil inu.'d,