A Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10233, 9 May 1911, Page 2

A Daughter of Mystery

OUR SERIAL.

BY F. L. DACRE, Author of "Was He the Man?" "A Phantom of the Past," Sir John's Heiress," "A Loveless Marriage," "The Doctor's Secret," etc.

CHAPTER Hl.—Continued

"And satisfy wu.rself about Miss Tyndall!'' The vicar glanced through the window. "A I.right morning. The mysterious young lady is almost certain to be at chmvh. She always occupies tin sanio seat, third row from the ch-iiicel." Ho turr.ed to his wife, and addol fretfully, for him, "I will oe glad when it is settled, for Edith's s,a!ce. Sirj is a more bundle of *.erves :;::d on.otions, anl I Limply dare not lot Ivr ;o to church this morning." With a sob Mrs Cooper precipitin ely beat a ret-eat, and soon after the. two men left the room together. 'Ranald," Basil said, affectionately "this tragedy in Vi-ur life almost overwhelms me upoa reflection. Why have you beer, so close about it? i mean tint infamous Russian affair. Now crops up this question of your birthright slipping from you, and you are preparing to fight fo.' what may be a bare living. When the novelty of the thing wears c ff, you will detest it i.ll —the placf. the people, every thi.\g. Old ohap do you think it

ied down to- its normal pulsations. It iiad rcallly been pounding his side, and lie ftit a little, disgusted with. himself. There was no one in the forward pews anything like Eln-eth Tyndall.

wise r ''There is no alternative. I am naturally a worker—a man of blood and iron I have been called." "But is it fair to Lady Eva Lorringion? Your engagement " "Was made when wo were boy ajnd girl. I then believed myself heir to a princely fortune ,and I had not met Elneth Tyndall!" Basil Goaper was silenced. CHAPTER IV. "ELNETH—ELNETH!" "You have a fine old church," Heseltine observed, as they entered the house of God 'by way of the vestry. "Yes," Basil answered proudly, 'and a large and wealthy congregation. There's ample work for an energetic curate, only the living is so poor. But for my lay helpers I do not know how I should manage." "Hark!" Ronald said suddenly. "Only the beilbringers. We have a splendid peal of bells, presented to the church by a mam who made a large fortune by rather doubtful methods. They were here when I accepted 'the living. Personally, I would not have favoured the gift from a rascally giver." The organist and the verger came in together,' omd the vicar greeted them kindly. He appeared to be beloved by ail, "Now, w!here" would you like to ait?" he" : asked his friend. "The seats are all free, -but are generally occupied 'by the same people. This is Miss Tyndall's favourite place."

The vicar's voice startled 'him; the service had 'begun, Basil Cooper belonged to no old-fashioned school of drawling monotone. His earnestness was compelling, his argument convincing, and his. delivery musical, soft, or vibrant and ringing. His text was chosen from Isaiah xxx, 21 -—"Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, 'saying: Thus is the way, walk ye in. it." The way was the King's Highway—the Highway of the King of Kings, and the sermon was eloquently picturesque from first to last. "And God promises," he concluded, "'as thy days, so shall- thy strength. Ibe.' He does not say, 'as thy years or thy life,' for we are to live our life one day at a time. I cannot take a supply of grace for the whole journey of life. His grace is sufficient for tflie day. I must step out each day and know not what will 'befall. God knows, and, I trust. C4od gives me to-day, and I hope he will give me to-morrow." Ronald had caught the preacher's eye on several occasions, and wondered at this direct gaze in a crowded church. Ten minutes later he found' himself outside; .the organ was pealing, and the congregation poured from the exits to form into little groups, laughing, talking, enjoying the sunshine, and the intimacy and friendship. Someone touched Ronald on the shoulder. It was the vicar, and he , was bareheaded and almost breathless. "Have you seen her?" he asked, i "I bolted out of the vestry—l was afraid you 'hadn't. She was too late for her usual seat, and was near the door, directly under the gallery. One of the first to leave."

He indicated a seat in the third row from the altar rail. "Somewhere at the .back—near to the doior," Ronald said,' "so that I can see the people as they come in without haying to crane my neck too mudh." "JVlake your own 'choice." "This Ronald unhesitatingly did. The bejls 'began to ring, and the \ old edifice was soon full of whispers i and echoes. The members of the ! ehoir oame in twos and threes, laugh- ; ing and talking in suhdueel .tones; the organist turned over his music with ' a loud rustling of leaves'. A book dropped, and a .hundred vibrations quivered and trembled through the length: and (breadth 5 of iih& diurch. Ronald lay back in his pew and waited. He told himself over and over again tihat it was only the continuance of a fruitless search. This young lady - would be as different from Elketh Tyndall as night was from day. He was merely humouring his friend, and he hoped Basil would preach as good sermon . In the old days he tad been the best debater in his college, ajid ho •was not merely a, ispeaker; he wais- ian orator, fascinating and convincing. The church doors were fiung open, and the congregation assembled in a steady stream. Thebright morning, after a long spell of gloom, had brought folks out in hundreds. Outside the church there was a cheerful hum of voices, and the pattering of many feet. Ronald watched' the entrance of every woman, until his eyes grew tired, dazzled by the moving colour. Then, three or four giggling misses crowded into (his pew, and lie was obliged to move to the farther end. Not until the, church was almost full did the procession along both aisles show any sign of thinning.

j He flashed Ills eyes over the crowd, I while Ronald smiled somewhat indul- ' genfty. "Don'it, old chap. Look here, half these people want to he noticed. How long will you be?" "Don't he silly," whispered Basil. "You know the way to the Rookery. I Hurry along and overtake Miss Tyndall. ' If • he. isn't the lady there is no harm done; but I know that she is. Dinner at two." He darted away and Ronald strode j out of the churchyard into the -lane. Yes, he knew his way to the Rookery, and it wouldn't be much of a run, after all—to oblige Basil. A quick walk into the town, through the Jisumis, where the poorer class of workers lived, and he would be able to see a good half mile ahead across the marshlands. His long, swiaging stride carried him onward at a great pace. He pelted down the lane into the town. Half a score of churches; and chapels were represented here. A bright Sunday was almost a gala day for the shopkeepers, and those* whose occupations kept them indoors for the remainder of the -week. Ronald made his way through the loiterers, and struck off to the night into the labyrinth of squalid houses, beyond which lay the marshy fields and tJlie little, dark wood that sheltered the Rookery from the eyes of the curious.

The way was cleaj- before him now, and not a living soul could he see on. the long stretch of lumpy road which lay between thim and the RookeKy. For the moment he was puzzled, and lie thought perhaps Basil had been mistaken. Then he remembered hia own furious gait, and .lie glanced behind him. There was no one coming behind him, and he went ahead at half his former-speed, until within a hundred yard® of the little- wood.

'A crowded house,-'' Heseltine said to himself. "A sure sign of Basil's popularity." Ifis eyes irere fixed upon the pews in front. A sigh of disappointment, passed his lips, and his heaxfc stead-

The country around was desolate enough; the fields, being half buried under mounds of -shale from the ooal mines. A mile distant two* hug© Mast uwiaees were belching forth fire and smoke. But in the shadow of the wood the young grass was tender and green, buds were bursting forth into leaf and blossom, and thejbinds of spring were all atune. Again Ronald glanced in the direction of the town and saw that the figure of a woman was approaching. She was walking but slowly, and as yet was a long way off. His pulses quickened, his heart 'leaped, and then a -sigh passed his lips, followed V an impatient exclamation. (To be continued.)