VIOLET LISLE; OR, A PEARL BEYOND PRICE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 451, 27 March 1912, Page 2

VIOLET LISLE; OR, A PEARL BEYOND PRICE.

All Rights Ressrrod.

By the Author of "All or Nothiag," "Two Keys," etc., ete. PART 17. Violet said nothing ; but the story curtly as it was told, aSected her deeply, and tears of sympathy stood in her eyes. Lady Westall smiled again, and stroked her head. " No harm came of it, except that it hardened me, I am afraid," she went on. " At first I refused to remain ; but, after that, it was that or death. My former employer at bhe instigation of her eldest son, who had been the cause of the trouble, had taken care that I should not obtain any respectable employment ; bo I became a chorus girl. Then my beauty became a curse to me again. I was beset sy every old roue and young rake, and at last I should have fallen into a skilfully-prepared trap, but for the warning of the same George Simpson that brought you to me. Twice or thrice I was saved by him. But that is the end of the story. I married Lord Westall, an old nobleman whom I respected but did not love." She had retained a sort of cynical composure up to this moment ; but as she concluded she got up from her ihair and paced the room several times before she could gain self-con-trol. Violet, who had been watching her, went to her side, and regained possession of the hand she had held. "It was very noble of you to tell me your story," she said softly. " Dear little soul !" said Lady Westall, taking the fair young face almost passionately between her palm?, " it seemed the only way to persuade you to let me help you." Then, with a sudden return to her first gay humour, she added, " For I could see that underneath all this ravishing beauty and sweetness there was a terrible obstinacy. Ah, no !" she cried, earnestly " I won't say that. What I saw was courage and constancy. You will let me help you, will you not." " I shall be very grateful for your help," answered Violet, " and I would like to tell you what I can of my story. I cannot tell you my name—Mabel Marsden is not my true name—but I will tell 5011 everything else." "As much or as little as you choose, dear," said Lady Westall.

CHAPTER XXIII. SEEKING FOR VIOLET. Mrs. Jenkins was too easy a body to give herself any concern over the absence of Violet, particularly as it did not seem to her that the latter was remaining away an unusual length of time. If she gave it any thought at all it was to tell herself that a walk would be the best thing for Violet. But Martin's first question was : " How is Miss Violet this morning? And where is she ?" " She seemed quite bright, Martin. Will you have a cup of tea ? She's gone for a walk." " For a walk !" repeated Martin, uneasily. " Where did she go to ? How long has she been gone ?" " I don't know where she went. I suppose she's been gone for an hour or two. Now, sit down, Martin, and look as if you felt at home." " Yes, mother, yes," said Martin ; " but I wish that Miss Violet had not gone so far." " Far ! Tut ! don't fret about that; she'll be home in a few minutes, I don't doubt." So Martin seated himself in the little parlour, and to jplease his mother, tried to read the morning paper ; but when a quarter of on hour passed without Violet's return he became too uneasy to sit still any longer, and begged of his mother to go up to Violet's room, to see if by any chance she had returned without being noticed. His mother laughed at him good-naturedly, and went. "No Martin," she said when she camo downstairs again ; " she's not at home ; but here is a letter I found in her room for you. However it came there I can't say ;but there it is." Martin took it with a trembling hand and glanced at the superscription. He glanced at her handwriting and his heart misgave him at once. He tore open the envelope, asd read the letter through to the end. " Oh, mother !" he groaned, " she's gone away—left us !" Mrs. Jenkins was incredulous until he showed her the letter, and theD she was inclined to say something unkind of Violet ; but Martin stopped her. " Don't, mother, you don't snow her as I do. She would not have left us unless she thought it would be best for us. Oh, why did she not trust one who loves her so dearly?" Suddenly he bethought himseif tc go to her room and see if he could find there any clue to where she had gone ;but there was nothing there tc guide him, and he put. on his hat and hurried away to the station to question a porter there. The man had aot seen her. But what would it have mattered if he had ? It was quite certain that she had gone to London. Should he follow her or not ? Yes, he would. Chance might help him. So he hastened back to the cottage to tell his mother that he was going to London. At the gate he was met by an man whose grej ha'r and whiskers looked familiar although he could not recall wh<\re he had seen them.

" l "beg your pardon," said tne :;cntleman courteously ; " but have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Jenkins ?" " Yes, sir," answered Martin, lookn: impatiently towards the house. " Fa-don me for detaining you," 'iaid the gentleman ; " but my business is importannt. I have come, in .'act, on behalf of the friends of a young lady—" " M\ss Violet LMe ?" cried Martin eagerly. " Miss Lisle, indeed," said the stranger, suavely. " r lh n she is in safety ?" said Martin anxiously. " Why, I must suppose so," answered the other, with a look of surprise. " Is she not with you ?" " I thought you knew where she was," groaned Martin. " She left this house this morning during my absence. I was just going to London to seek her." A frown wrinkled the brow of the dranger. " Why do you think she has gone there ?" " Where else could she go ? She has no friends. Who are you ?" he jxclaimcd suddenly. " Ah, I remember. You are Lord Coldenham, who has been visiting at the castle. Why should you seek her ?" " My good sir," answered Lord Coldenham in a tone that was full of melancholy, " I am anxious to be'riend her. I heard the cruel stories that were in circulation in Penarth about you and —and Miss Lisle, and [ was determined to probe them to the bottom for her sake. I did not inow you ; but I did know her, and I needed nothing to assure me that she was innocent. Besides I knew something of the sad true story and that in itself was a refutation of the calumny. But alas ! I could not reveal that, and that is why I sought you, believing I should find her with you." The miserable truth was, as may readily be guessed, that after Guy's departare to seek Violet at her father's, Lord Coldenham had cursed himself for his folly in putting himself into the power of Guy, should the latter ever come to an understanding with Violet. His base lie would be discovered and be would be a ruined man. He had gone so far that he saw he must go further if he would make himself secure against detection. His intention at first had been to brave it out with bis word and Violet's signature against Violet's word; but when he learned that Guy had not found her, and that she had gone to London with Martin Jenkins, he set out to find her, feeling confident that he would be able so to work upon her that she would trust him in which case he had o. diabolical scheme for ever separating her from Guy, even should he return from his expatriation, which was unlikely for some years, at all events. Martin Jenkins was too guileless to suspect the truth, but he was too straightforward himself not to feel some repulsion for the unscrupulous nobleman. But there was nothing that be could say or do under the circumstances and so he let himself be guided by him. " She was here this morning ; but, as I tell you, she is not here now, and I am going to London to seek her," " Did she leave no word—nothing to guide you ?" " She left a letter, but it was merely a letter of farewell," said Martin. " May I see the letter ?" Martin hesitated. " No, my lord. I can assure you however, that it contains not a word as to where she has gone." " And there is nothing in her room that will give you a clue ?" " Not a thing." " May I examine her room. 1 have had more experience in the world than you, my young friend and I may see a significance where you see none." Martin could see no objection to this, and moreover, he was willing to do anything to get Violet back. He led the way to Violet's room, explaining to bis mother why he had brought a stranger into the cottage. It was without any definite purpose that Lord Coldenham asked to see the room. He merely felt that he was not safe as long as Violet was out of his ken, and he trusted to b.is astuteness to discover a clue if any was there. He looked round the room carefully but, like Martin, came to the conclusion that there was nothing there to help him. He turned to go, when his eyes fell on the " Times lying on the table, and an idea flashed into bis mind. He took up the paper and glanced over it. Martin, not comprehending what was in the other's thoughts, stood impatiently waiting. Suddenly Lord Coldenham gave an imperceptible start,, looked intently at the paper, and then wit! a sigh put it down. " I am afraid I must give it up I am sorry too. If you hear any thing of the young lady will vot communicate with me? — Lord Coldenham, Coronet Club. Dear me!" taking out his watch —" is it sc late ? I shall have no more thai time to catch the train. Don't forget, please, if you hear from the unfortunate young lady. Good-bye, Mr. Jenkins and he rushed off tc catch the train, which he had causec Martin to miss. " Ah," he said to himself, &s hj( settled himself back in bis railway carriage, "it is an odd thing thai she should think of being a chorus girl, too. This was an unfortunatf pencil mark, Miss Lisle. But whal a chorus girl she will make ! 1 think I need not. fear you Lord Darlington, even if you do return home.' CHAPTER XXIV. AN ECHO OUT OF THE PAST. It was quite plain from the direr way that Lord Coldenham went t<

the stage uoor of (ho theatre, t.un he was well informed of ilr> cu:4onn of the profession. The same doorkeeper of whom Violet had inquire;: her way was on duty, and Lord Coldenham accosted him in a familiar, easy fashion of a man of the world who knew the, ground on which he was stepping. " I say, my good fellow " slipping a half-crown into his hand " who has the chorus in hand now?" " George, my lord." The man had made an estimate of the stranger in a. rapid glance over nim. " Gone out, my lord." " Confound it ! When will he be hack ?" " Don't know, my lord. Anything I could do for you ?" Lord Coldenham rubbed his chin reflectively. " Perhaps," he said, and pulled out another half-crown from his pocket, and gave it to the man. " I want to inquire about a —a young woman who came here this morning to apply for a place in the chorus." A quick flash of intelligence lighted up the man's face. He had thought of Violet instantly. " Against the rules to talk of the Ladies," he said. "Oh, I know that," laughed Lord Coldenham, knowingly. " I have served my apprenticeship ; but I am past that sort of thing now. lam a friend of the young woman's family. You will be safe to answer mc. It's worth a sovereign to you if I find the person I am after." " What is she like ?" demanded the man willing to believe in the virtue of the nobleman, for the sake of the sovereign. " Medium height, blue eyes, golden hair." " A lady?" *' Yes." "Very shy, and with a nice voice ?" " Precisely. What do' you know about her ? Is she inside. Has she been engaged ?" " Well, now I don't know anything about that, your lordship. All I know is she came here and stayed some time inside. After the other ladies were gone, she came out with George, and went off in a fourwheeler with him ; but where she went I don't know. And I oughtn't to have said that. Much as my place 'ud be worth if I was found out. Here's George, now, however. Quick ! Thank you, my lord. Do not let on I said a word. Oh, George, here's a gentleman as wants to know something about one of the chorus. I told 'im I couldn't say nothin' about it." Lord Coldenham turned and looked at George. The latter started and looked inquiringly at the nobleman, then collected himself quickly and Lord Coldenham studied him for a moment; but it was with the glance of a man who is making an estimate for use in his dealings. " A word with you, if you please, sir," said Lord Coldenham politely and gravely. George bowed, and allowed himself to be led aside. " I am looking for a young lady who has left her home," said Lord Coldenham in a paternal tone of voice. There was a little pressure of George's lips together, and he answered : " Yes." " Her friends are greatly distressed. There is reason to believe she would apply for a place in your chorus, and I have come here to discover if it is so." " What does she look like ?" asked George, quietly. " She is young, very beautiful, has blue eyes and golden hair, and is of medium height. Her voice is exquisite. Has she been here ?" " What is her name ?" "She wpuld naturally use some other name than her own," answered Lord Coldenham, too shrewd to betray the name unless it was necessary. " Can you not identify her by that description ?" "Perhaps you don't know, sir, thai it is against the rules to give any information about the ladies connected with the theatre ?" "Yes, I do, but I think in such £ case the rules should be inoperative. I am willing to pay for the information, and I will reward handsomely anyone who will let me have a word with the young lady I am searching for"; and the wily nobleman looked keenly at George. " I ought to know your name," said George. " Certainly. Sir Henry Brown. But of course it would not do to let the young lady know who is seeking her. I ought to be taken to her without any announcement." " Perhaps the young lady I have in my mind is not the one you arc looking for," said George doubtfully. " I'll risk that. Will you take me to her now ?" " Suppose it should he a mistake?" " I'll make a good excuse. Where is she ?" "Do you know Ladv Wcstall ?" inquired George, eyeing the other neenly. " Can't say I do. Don't remember anyway. What of her ?" " The young lady is with h:r—the one I mean." " What is she doing with Lady Wcstall ?" "If it should be the young lady you are looking for you will tind that out from her. I'm willing, however, to take you there." Lord Coldenham hesitated, in some doubt about what to do, but linally decided to accept the chorus ma? ter's ofier ; for until he had some certainty of what Violet would do in the future, he could not feel easy ; and he really had no reason to suppose that Miss Lisle would regard him in any unfriendly light. " Let us go at once, then," he said. (To be continued.)