A Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10238, 15 May 1911, Page 2

A Daughter of Mystery

OUR SERIAL.

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

CHAPTER Vlll—Continued

Roff glided past, and for an instant his glittering eyes rested upon her. Pah! She shivered with disgust. She

was half surprised at herself for* not feeling horrified by the suggestions of Paul Morosov. He had inferred that there was some shameful episode in tbo life of her father or her mother. He had clearljy conveyed the impression that it was something horrible, lici a n nrti<m and pity f..sr Morosov had been shattered by the blow he him.-elf had struck. There should be an end of the tnysi,-. • She was no lona.?r a child. Whj should he wi"hhold the namos of tbo lawyers, from whom ho received the money that was rightfully hers? Paul Morosov must tell her the truth. She would wait until ho came back from London —not an hour longer. In the meanwhile, she would attach no importance to what he had said, and Ronald Heseltine should inquire' into .then istory of the Tyndalls. The doings and misdoings of great people were easily traced and Morosov had said that the Tyn-

, dalls were an ancient race. j Paul Mcrosov went to the railway station *ery early next morning. Roff took him in the pony carriage. Elneth went about her duties as ucual, but sho was very quiet. Mrs Morosov shut herself up in the bedroom, and complained of a severe headache She was a timid little woman, and was always sick with fear when her husband was away. Elneth prepared the children's tea an hour before the usual time, and Roff watched her suspiciously. : "You throw my work out of line, miss," ho grumbled.' "See, it is not yet four o'clock. This is a large hou.se, and nobody to help me." i "I am going out," the girl ans- | wered briefly. i "But that's unusual when the mas- '' ter is away." "It is no business of yours," Elneth : retorted angrily. The colour had mounted te her neek and face, and her eyes flashed. Per a moment the Jew was taken aback. He had long sine* discovered that Miss Tyndall was not without spirit, but this was in di--1 rect opposition to Paul Morosev's wishes and commands. "Very well," he said, disagreeably, "If trouble comes of it we shall know who is responsible.' Elneth disdained to answer him, and some twenty minutes later let herself out at the gate in the wall.

1 tho first ladv m M -hom I have spoken 1 on terms of friendship for years and yeais." 'My poor child! But, 1 quite understand. Oh,w hat dreadful people these Russians me. Always political upheavals and murders. I think our own British Government is at fault in permitting anarchists and such people to havet heir headquarters here." "Mr Morosov is nothing of that kind," Elneth said quickly. "He is an idealist—a disciple of Tolstoi. He has lost almost everything in the cause of freedom. I consider it very foolish. It is one man against the combined forces of a nation. It is sinful to rnin the lives of women and children in a hopeless cause. He fears the vengeance of the czar, and sees one of i the autocrat's agents in every stran- | ger." Basil Cooper popped his head into the room, adn announced that tea was waiting. "Ronald and I have laid the table," he explained to Elneth. "Our female navvy, called by courtesy a maid, had got half a day off to go to a wedding." "Dear —dear—l quite forgot," his wifo exclaimed in dismay. "Basii, why didn't you remind me?" in a utter of expectation she ran into the jarlour, and found that her worst fetrs were realized. The teakettle was reposing in the centre of the table, and the profusion of china was only equalled by its higgledypiggledy confusion."There are lots of things we did not quite know what to do with," Basil grinned, "and Ronald is responsible for the kettle."

"We had plenty of experience years ago," Ronald explained. "I mean at Oxford. Do you soe anything wrong, Mrs Cooper?" And so, amid expostulations, insincere regrets, and shouts of laughter, the tea began. Then followed 'inconsequential small talk, enlivened by smart salves of wit, wherein Miss Tyndall repeatedly scored. "As your pastor, my dear joung lady, Basil said, with mock gravity, "I am shocked by so much levity. From your demeanour at divine service I should never have dreamed " "But there is a difference when one is happy, and when one is unhappy." "And so you are unhappy under my ministrations?"

I CHAPTER IX. t | LOVE AND REASON, j For the life of him Ronald Heseltine could never understand the mysteries of a woman's dress. He saw Elneth turn into the lane leading from the, town, and she appeared to be a perfect j human emblem of spring. A simple, j vale gray coat and skirt, and a black j lace hat, with primroses inserted among the folds! But no lady of high, degre kas ever half as beautiful! He ran to meet her, his face aglow, his voice vibrant with pleasure. He , took her in his arms, forgetful of the ' eyes of the world, j "Oh, it was good of you to come, ' dear one," he said. 1 "Don't—don't," she whispered, redl dening. "There are windows."

"What does it matter? We are quite old lovers now. Why, Elneth, j you are positively serious!" '< "Release my hand, Ronald, please. Yes, I am a little bit serious to-day, and I wish that I hadn't to meet your friends. I am bothered, and do not feel equal to it." "But wo are here now, and Mrs Cocper is at the window. It will soon be over. She is ust a simple, loving little butterfly, and her husband—you know his imputation; and we must not forget how much they have done in brirging us together again." Tho introduction to the vicar and his wife was an occasion for mirth. "We have known each other for a long timo, Miss Tyndall," Basil laughed. "We don't want any of your formalities, Ronald.' Mrs Cooper fussed, about, half j laughing and half crying. She kissed [ Elneth two or three times in an exoess of emotion, relieved her of her hat and gloves, and then took one of her hands and stroked it gently, and said that .it was like a romanco from a fairy book. "Andy ot I am one of the most practical young women imaginable," Elneth ass'ired her. "I am very glad |to know you, Mrs Cooper. You are

"1 never paid much attention to your sermons, Mr Cooper. Tho church provided a change of scene, but the future seemed so gray that I had little belief in your promised land." "Misa Tyndall! Confess that you;: burden is now gone " Elneth shivered, and her eyes contracted with sudden fear. She looked across at Ronald's smiling, happy' face, and murmured: 'lndeed, I hope so." Soon nfter this, 'he vicar jumped up. "Now, Edith, you and "I will carry; o the tea 'things. These sweethearts want to be left to themselves. We will allow them an hour and not a moment longer. What timo must you be back at the Rookery, Miss Tyndall?" "My time is my own," was the rather sharp rejoinder. "I beg your pardon," Basil said, flushing. "Youthink that I am a sort of superior servant, perhaps?" "I had visions of tho wicked-looking old man." He felt that he had put his foot into it, quite unwittingly, and stammered. Within himself he murmured. "She has got a temper." "We will go into the steely, Basil," Ronald put in quietly. "All my papers are there, and I want to show Elneth some photographs and press clippings.' This was not exactly a'fib, but photographs and the liko were of very smart importance. There were pictures of Ronald's mother and his home, with a scrap book full of newspeper clippings and advertisements which coicerned Elneth and himself. | The moment they were alone Ronald took the girl's face in both hamis and gazed h radii v into her brown eye-. "What's *he tr.-bh'-" he asked "Trouble. Ronald? Was I a bit curt with the vicar. He*and his wifo are very nice, but so much gush gets j on my nerves." | (To be continued.)