A Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10240, 17 May 1911, Page 2

A Daughter of Mystery

OUR SERIAL.

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

! will bo best to avoid possible unpleasantness." ' gushing, and flying from tears to 3 laughter, and from laughter to tears. I, don't mind them as acquaintances, " but when it comes to kissing and slop--1 ping, and saying things which have " no depth nor bottom to them, well, 5 my nature revo'tr. jV i "I see your if - 1 ■ a:;'. :-U> ? ]v. "What an ass 1. iiav'o been. Of course. the Coopers are almost strangers to >ou.' Wo won't go to tea — ' I'll rim in and make an excuse. I'll S say .wo arc taking train to Birming- > ham to hear that big {run —what's his ■ name —speak at "BH».'i. :,, y "Oil. but ivv. ;P - •" ' implore;!. "They ; ■ "Tiiey aro noi s "■ "";' •: parison with iV rrir! v!:-* V :>sy • wife. 0n > i.-.h'vfc." Ho •! « -.iy. bui v.- ■ ; y; her sick> a'-.eirt. '>rcntl>i»;r ban;. "It's .:■■>! ,■ Ba vii'V- Van:--. You out ol it'g day ;jie> ' :<> , any caM'. »'r' ••- tor than to hir: !•:. •' "Oh, T fc<-> -.i.- . . hateful!" Elncih ilf d. "If you rro on like this, f shall bug yo'.!. ♦•hatico being seen. These | country ankle deep in mnd, have their ■; , o:ui). , usations. Klnefch gasped, 1 and gave a quivering little f.'ph. They went, to Birmingham, but not r to the lecture".' The fashionable streets ' were more attractive, and a nice little [ tea in a big restaurant, to the dreamy m\isic of a strinr But for tb::' ' "ift concerning . tho Coofv-rs. ifc woi.k! have r»r» } of tho,lrippiest .-by;-. '"nc.'-'i '"y:idnll's lit'e. "'lt was nenrly da>i, Ukv jroi ! back to C'astlc ('iaydon. rnd I Ivy r walked in in silence until rj>t-y came to the natb that led to the i?'>okerv. "Darling," 'Konab.i .'aid, ' !b . is nearly done."' , She nestled closer in lib, l . "I have been happy —oh, hap;;-:-.'' I "I am glad." bo said. "Wi { knew how glad." 1 I "You v-ill not think' me wilful or ' [selfish? I mean about the Coopers?" | ( "I only blame myself for being so j dull witted. !" might have Known :! would be distasteful to you (o be pHroniscd. Don't think of it' a::aii, n. >• i dear one. You are my worid. my all. I was jusfc wondering how I should • get through the next few days without Rpeir>T you'. T in;iv not be back until ' 'Monday or Tuesday.- Five v.vnrv | tlpiys. You must write melon,-; letters to Warden Hall." "Yes —I promise." She shivered. "Five weary d.iy*. Tt soenss like an age." They stop; • '• •''> the • hr.rbnv -,jf (hp ■ wood, and biiked as true !•>-.•••«••. do. , ! ''ltey IooJ; no corn s >•; . f »ji ;^> ii;i> j Stab'e ('leek stvuc'x ten. j "I must go in," Elneth said. j Morosovi as at home. He was due a; eight o'clock." They walked together to the gate, and Ronald rang the bell as before. Then the lovers passionately embraced. "Good-night, my love," Ronald breathed. The gate opened, anl Roff ,-eared, a scowling .smile on his face Elnetfi looked back once at her lover, and then tlio gate close- 1 with a vic-' J' {iour, snap. I

CHAPTER X.—Continued. Ho heard her soft reply; he caught tho flash oi her eyes, and then the slight form vanished through tho gate us tho wall. iionald walked back to tho vicarfig'j slowly, meditatively. He was in excellent spirits, tho outlook was exhilarating, because his hands and his head were «o / i'ull of work. Business and love, love and business. How one would help tho other! Uusil Cooper was waiting up i:: »' him; Mrs Cooler had gone I • her .i„ iu. Basil was reclining in a folding ca>y chair, hi.", slippered feet on the Luu'tv, and a well seasoned pipo bei\i- Hps. "bit ho said, "and jc:n me in ;i *mnUc. '('here's the tobacco jar. Tin-, i~. in.,- hour of rest and luxury." Ronald gladly accepted the invitation. "I saw Miss TyndaJJ home." Basil m rewed. up one oye, and looted at ihe clock over the mantel. ' It's il'ter ten." "Yom i-.can that I kept her oui> quite 1 nI:■ enough. Well, what do ynu think of her?" "Don't o.peH- me to sativv an exacting love: ! Mi .sTyndall strikes me as be-'.tig u-niarkablv hones:, srincd. am' igiial. She is no weal-ding, ithcr." "Remember what she has endured,'" Ronald said softly. "Throughout that terrible (ideal in the Schlnessclburg fortress her courage never faltered." "She is very good-looking," Basil said. "I like lier eyes particularly. Edith is charmed." To Ronald this was tame. Tie preferred silenco for a little while. At last ho spoke again. "I am going to London on Wednesday. and must run down home, and tell my mother tlio news. I shall buy G-olding out by hook or by crook. As a partner ho wolild be a stumbling block —there are, busy times before lis, Basil. I shall want you to help me go house hunting soon. You know the neighbourhood." ■ The vicar smiled indulgently.

,- "You aro determined no Ito lose , much time." "No." Ronald's eyes shone with happiness, "Why should I. Miss ; Tvndall h beginning to see through M<<» (tv'iv's fishnf«s. It: will be nice I to by iv.'igiiboury, Basil." j "Yes, in one sense." Basil glanced doubtfully at his friend. "But this sulphurous air. after the breezy downs of Sussex, and the business venture in problematical. Suppose it doesn't succeed? You are not a mechanic." "To anticipate failure is to court it. 1 am not afraid. I have ample capital—a little cash, and a stupendous amount of Jove!" Tho next day Ronald wa-. on bis way to the Rookery a full hour before tho timo agreed on. When within a hundred jards of tho place, Elnefch emerged from the postern, and laughed aloud. "I expected that you would be here before the time appointed, and I have been watching. What an impatient man you are I Mrs Morosov is looking after the children to-day." "It's time she got her hand in." "Oh, you are hurting! Roff will seei us through the spy hole." "We are going to have a good time , —sis hours! And after to-night I shan't see you for two or three days, as I will be in London to-morrow — Warden Hall the day after, I will write to you every day, Elneth, and you must write to me." ■

"I think I had better lay in a fresh stock of stationery! I'll promise you one long letter, anyhow. It isn't easy for me to get to the post oiiice, and Mr Morosov will be back to-morrow." "Does he control your movements?" Ronald asked, his lips tightening. "Through his wife—yes. She is a timid soul, and stands in dreadful awe of him. I hare borne many of her burdena for I don't know how long." v He drew a long breath. "Well, it will soon be over. I wired to my private detective to hold himself in readiness for immediate business. I shall see him to-morrow. Oh. he's an old Scotland Yard man, and has agents all over the world. Do jyou like Mrs Cooper?" "Why should I not?" "That's an evasion." "I can't form an opinion in a moment. Mr Cooper is a strong, earnest man, and I like him because of his devotion to you. Mrs Cooper, is " She hesitated. "What?" "Well, hi>, ovi tithesis. I am not yet quite sure of her. Women require a lot of understanding, , even by women, who are erroneously credited with having a sixth sense in such matters." Ronald was both surprised and disappointed. "I am sorry. I thought you would liko a woman friend. A little human sympathy isn't to be despised. I've told the Coopers everything." "Perhaps I am foolishly sensitive. Ronald,-tut I wish you hadn't told the Coopers so much about me. 1 hate to Ijo pitied." They were in tlio vicarage Jane now, and lie seized both her hands in a passion of love and regret. "Please don't squeeze so hard. Oh. Ronald, I feel like crying. Forget all that I said. I am the most stupidly capricious girl in the world." 'Tf you don't like the Coopers, wo ' won't go there," lie said gloomily. j "I didn't say that, quite.'' " "You are .so terribly honost that it 1

CHAPTER vr. BASIL COOPER SURPRISED. | Paul Morosov was alono in the dining room when Elneth r:lrv:r=.! (lie front door after hor.' 1!;> juirpr.l i;;> forr.i I his chair. and *lmrp!y in u-i .*d li.-r I name. Sii.' psmvd .in iiir doorway, i and immediately saw that he was working himself into a violent passion. "Do you know the time, young woman? Is it. not-disgraceful that you should be wandering about the lanes with a strange man so late at night? I have been waiting for you since nine o'clock, worn out with lack of rest, as I am and worry—worry —worry! Do you forget that- I am 'answerable for your welfare? And you, a mere child, defy' me in this scandalous way! If your father could know of it, he would rise up in his grave to reproach me." He was trembling from head to foot, and at every word he uttered almost, his hands"flew up. "I am old enough to take care-of myself," Elneth said stonily. "And you bring this strange man to my house against my express commands! Don't dare to answer me! Impudence! Impudence! He has taught you to be dishonest and ungrateful. He is loitering outside now, I doubt not, and you are brave enough to defy me " He thrust his face close to hers. "Girl, you ai'e courting ruin, absohite ruin! Have I not told you how impossible it is—this iove nonsense. Bah! I am sick." "'I don t believe one word of your trumped up story," Elneth id, .with fierce scorn. "I repeated what you said to Mr Heseltine, and he has undertaken to find out the truth for me.' Morosovi face became livid, and moist with perspiration. "So," he said, in a hoarse whisper, it has come to that! Ah! it seems that I have nursed a viper." I (To be continued.) |