Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 429, 10 January 1912, Page 2

Time, The Avenger

(All Rights Beservefl.)

THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL MYSTERY.

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

THIRTY-NINTH INSTALMENT. At last darkness gathered ovei the park, the lamps in the tents were extinguished, and the crowd stood watching the great display oJ fireworks. On the lawn close to the drawingroom window stood Mona wrapped in a fleecy white shawl. She was leaning on her lover's arm and they both looked radiantly happy. " Gar, isn't it wonderful how all this has come about ? But the best of it all is our happiness. Oh, dear, how selfish that sounds ! " she said, with a sigh.

"It isn't selfish because you rejoice in your father's joy. I tell you dearest, it's no ise saying which is the best,, because it's all mixed up, but one thing is certain, and that is that we are the happiest people on the face of the earth, not excepting your father and mother, though they look very happy." "Do you know, Gar, I've had a funny fancy ? Once or twice to-day I thought I saw a sad look on my father's face. I could have fancied he missed some one."

" I expect he wishes his father was here to see his innocence made plain." " I think he will see ; but he must have. been a harsh man. I am glad he repented. I had a letter from Nina to-day. She says that Lord Ovingham has persuaded her to be married early in the New Year. 1 shall be so glad to have her among us again," said Mona. "So shall I. She deserves her happiness, poor girl. Have you heard anything of Hugh lately ? " " Only that they are travelling about. He has bought Bryde Hall, and they will settle there in a few months. His wife went away without bidding her mother good-bye." " I cannot imagine how madame, who is evidently a gentlewoman, came to have such a daughter," said Gar.

' For a few moments they were silent, then Gar stole his arm round Mona's waist, saying : "My own darling, mine through life, and the eternity beyond ! " And Mona settled closer to her lover, feeling that she had indeed found her resting-place. It was the end of October and madame was sinfctng fast. The doctor was puzzled. She had no actual disease —simply weakness. She was always bright and cheerful but her buoyant energy had gone ; she was like a watch with the spring broken. Mrs. Hayes nursed her most devotedly, leaving the inn in .Sally's :are, the girl's mother having come to keep her company. Between madame and Mrs. Hayes there was a bond that existed with no other persons. Mrs. Hayes knew that madame had once believed she was Lionel Hudspith's wife, and sometimes at night, when she was 3ure there would be no interruptions madame would speak of the time when she was governess at Housesteads*. Miss Penman came each day to see madame, and very often Miss Holmes would also spend an hour or two with her. Lady Dalrymple frequently came, and after each visit she was :ess hopelul of madame's recovery. Louise had written once, and her mother had replied, but when Lady Dalrymple asked her if she would like her daughter to be sent for, madame shook her head, saying she "would not spoil Louise's .honeymoon."

On this October afternoon madame lay in bed, evidently deep in thought. 3he had been so quiet that Mrs. Hayes did not like to disturb her by speaking, but presently madame broke the silence by saying : " I should like to see Miss Holmes. [ have something to say to her. Will you send a note asking her to :ome in the morning ? " Mrs. Hayes promised, with the result that about eleven o'clock the next morning Miss Holmes appeared and Mrs. Hayes left th'e room. Then madame turned to her friend saying, In a low tone :

" I have a secret to tell you. I hope you will not be vexed, but will think, as I do, that the motive justified the deed." " I don't think I could feel verj vexed with you, whatever you have done. You nursed Mr. Lionel so well that I really believe he owes his complete restoration of health to you," said Miss Holmes.

A look of wonderful brightness lighted madame's face as she said : "Your words are very precious to me ; but I stole the paper that the late Mr. Hudspith left in your care, and I sent it to Viscount Gelder, when he was known as Mr. Dalrymple." Miss Holmes's face was a study in jxpressions—surprise, anger, curiosity and a desire not to show her feelings were all plainly to be read. At last she said :

'•' Why did you do that ? " Madame laid hep wasted hand on that of Miss Holmes, as she said : '•' My secret is only half told. Do you remembet that in the old days it was whispered that Lionel Hudspith admired the French governess at Housesteads ? " A look of quick intelligence came into the aged face and she gazed keenly at the invalid.

'•Are you- ana sne pa':sect " I am she. Do you remember bo v.Mr. Dalrymple in his illness ravee"; about Julie ? I am Julie. But give me a drink and I will tell you my story." Miss Holmes reached the glass containing some weak brandy and water. Then in a faint voice with many a pause, madame told the history of her life. When she ceased speaking, Miss Holmes clasped her hand firmly, saying : " Heaven bless you, madame ! I think that but for you it is doubtful whether Lord Gelder would ever have come into his own. Your kindness to Mrs. Hayes softened her heart. I don't believe it was all revenge that made her confess, and if you had not sent that paper to Mr. Dalrymple, the detective would not have been at the inn that night, and Jane Hayes would have been murdered, and the secret died with her."

" I am glad you are not vexed with me, because I want you to do me a favour. I wouldn't ask it if I did not know my days are numbered." "I'll do anything in the world for you," said Miss Holmes, impulsively. Madame laid her hand on her friend's as she said : " Will you go to Gelder Hall and ask' to see Lord Gelder ? Tell him who I am and that I am dying, and would like to see him before the end. I don't think I • shall be here many days, and it wouldn't wrong' Lady v Gelder. Still, I would rather she did not know the truth about me till I am dead."

"I. will go at once, and I am sure Lord Gelder will come to see you very soon. Lady Gelder is in London with Lady Mona, so there will be no difficulty in keeping the matter from her," said Miss Holmes as she rose, and, going downstairs, told Mrs. Hayes that madame seemed very tired and would do with a little beef tea ; then she left the house, and hiring a trap at the nearest inn, she was driven to Gelder Hall where she found the viscount at home. As Miss Holmes told her tale he listened with mingled emotions, and for once so paramount was the thought of the woman he had loved with a young man's passion, he felt glad that his wife was not at home.

" I shall see * her this afternoon. What time will be best ? " he asked, after a time.

" I think she had better rest first. Suppose you get there about four o'clock," said Miss Holmes. " Very • well. Good-bye, Miss Holmes ; you have been a true friend," he said, as he clasped her Hand.

"I alwajs loved and trusted you, Mr. Lionel. I knew your mother's son could not be a thief ; but no one tias trusted you as she did;" she said in a broken voice as she turned and left the room. Meanwhile madame had told Mrs. Hayes that ' she thought it likely Lord Gelder would come to see her, and Mrs. Hayes felt glad that the two lovers should be united at last ; so she was not surprised when Mary told her that his lordship was in the parlour and that he wanted to see madame.

With some fear and trembling Mrs. Hayes entered the room. But Lord Gelder seemed to forget that she had any connection with the past ; all his thoughts were of the woman he had come to see. " Can I see,—madame ? "he said, bringing out the last word with an effort. " Yes, my lord, she is expecting you;" and Mrs. Hayes led the way from the sitting room up another flight of stairs, to the bed room above, where madame lay in bed, with a pink flush on her worn face, and a look of expectancy in her eyes as she listened to the footsteps of the man who had been the dearest in life to her—the man whom not even mother-love had displaced, because the children she had borne were another man's. As he entered the room Mrs. Hayes gently closed the door after him and went down stairs, knowing that they would not want a third person present, and tears ran down her cheeks as she thought of this meeting after so many years. For one moment Lord Gelder stood looking at the worn face with the delicate flush, and the eyes with the lovelight in them, as he had seen them long ago. Years had changed the beautiful face, leaving but a likeness to what had been. Time had worked its will on her, as on all of us, but the eyes were the same, less brilliant, yet even in the shadow of death they were the eyes that he had admired so long ago. " Julie —Julie ! " he said, sinking on his knees beside the bed, and taking her thin hands between his big ones ; and there was misery in his tone.

" Lionel " and she smiled faintlj " I didn't think it was wrong to see you just once before I go. I'm very near the border land and I wanted to hear your voice and touch your hand before I crossed." " Julie, jou must stay. We can be dear friends. It was no fancy, then, that you were with me in my sickness, and you sent that paper to me. Julie, you have been the guardian angel of my life. Why did cruel fate part us ? " he said, in a bitter tone.

" Hush, Lionel ! Such words wrong your wife. If wrong there was, it was mine in not telling you of my previous marriage ; but I thought you might not love me so much if you knew that I had been another man's wife. But I have been punished and now it is all over, and nothing remains but peace and joy. It is so easy to go knowing that I have helped you to clear your name and get back your inheritance," she said, her voice growing faint and weak. "You are tired;" and he reached

His nana towards a glass which stood on a table. "Is this what you take ? " Then, as she bowivl her head he put the glass to her lips, and as he gazed at the refined face, he thought how strange it was that, she should have lived so near and lie not know. " If I had only known you were my Julie ! " he said, clasping her hand, firmly. " I did not wish you to know, and 1 kept out of your way. There was your wife, Lionel. She is a good woman—a sweet woman." " She is, and I have loved her, jet not as I loved you, Julie." The dying woman had not yet put off the flesh, and she would have been more than mortal if the words had not pleased her. " I am glad to know I have been first. Perhaps it is sinful, but I have so loved you, Lionel. That love has been my one abiding joy through life. I owed no duty to the man who had tricked and deceived me, so I nursed my love for you and it kept me from growing hard and cold."

" Julie, my Julie ! " and he kissed her fervently. Then, seeing it excited her he remained kneeling by the bedside holding her hand. Presently she spoke.

" Lionel, when I am gone, you must tell your wife all about me. I know she grieved when you' spoke of Julie during your illness. Tell her all —say that you came to me on my death-bed—she will understand, and in her sweet womanly nature sympathize. Tell her that I thank her for her kindness to me ; that in spite of the love I have borne you, and shall bear you till the curtain is drawn aside and I pass into the next world, still my love has never wronged her. I have wanted nothing from you ; all I desired was to be of use and hear of your welfare. You will tell her this ? " " I will tell her all, Julie, and I will say that God gave you an angel's spirit even here. But Julie, there is your daughter. Can I help her in any way ? " A look of sadness came into Julie's face as she said : " Louise is like her father—she will go her own way. If the day ever comes when she needs help, you will give it I know ; but as you value your wife's happiness never let Louise' know of the tie between us. Miss Holmes and Jane Hayes will never tell."

"My poor Julie, your life has been hard. Even your child has not been a comfort," he said, lifting her hand to his lips. She smiled faintly. " It's nearly over. And now, Lionel, you must say good-bye. I am tired."

" Good-bye, Julie—my Julie. I shall come in the morning. Thank God that I have seen you again. Good-bye;" and he kissed her a long, lingering kiss. " Good-bye, Lionel. I shall wait for you beyond the veil. We shall know each other there. I believe in the communion of saints," she said, reverently. " You will not leave me yet. I have much to say, but you are tired. Good-bye, Julie, the love of my S'outh," he said, kissing her forehead; then he left the room followed by the gaze of her dark eyes. " The rest will have to be said on the other side," she murmured ; then she lay still exhausted, but happy, and so Mrs. Hayes found her when she came into the room. To be Continued.