A Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10244, 22 May 1911, Page 2

A Daughter of Mystery

OUR SERIAL.

BY F. L. DAGRE, Author of "Was Ho th* Man?" "A Phantom of tho Past," Sir John's Heiress," "A Loveless Marriage," "Tho Doctor's Secret," etc.

CHAPTER Xm.—Continued. | "Deliberately. I came down to tell ! you something—it doesn't matter now what it was. I heard my name being spoken, and other things, and I was transfixed. I do not blame you, Mr Cooper, but I shall never like you «- gain. You did me justice when —wiv?n at tho door for support. Basil's eyes were dark with pain'. His lips moved, but ho did not speak. A blank horror held him fast. "Do not fear for your friend," Elneth said, "I love Ronald too well to bring hurt upon him. Our romantic nonsense h now hideously groto-sque " "Yo« ara judging me hardly," the vicar faltered. "I am thanking you for doing your duty. I was poor and shameful, Low poor amd shameful I do mot yeit realise. My senses are numbed. I have a small favour to ask; you will let ino stay here until morning. I shall then go away quietly, and begin a new b.fe where I am unknown. I have plenty of money—nearly fifty pounds." Tho vicar raised a shaking hand. "Miss Ty-ilall, I would give twenty years of my life io be out r.f this," he said tremulously. "My help is at your service. Only tell me what I can do." "Nothing. I will go to London tomorrow. I will disappear —utterly. I want to write a letter to Ronald—if I may use the study—and mail it tonight." He made a dumb motion of assent. Mrs Cooper was crying softly. "Thank you," Elneth said. She drew herself up suddenly, and left the room. The study table was littered with Ronald Heseltine's papers. A pipe and a box of matches lay beside the inkstand. In a krul of half stupor Elneth began her letter, which read: "Dear Ronald: I have run away from the Rookery and by the time you get this I shall be gone altogether. I have discovered that Paul Morosov is a. bad man, and that I am no fit wife for you. I love you too well to stand in the way of your advancement, and to drag you down to my degrading level. This is aletter of farewell, and I beg of you to make no effort .to follow me. Since I am what I am nothing will induce me to alter my mind. Please forget me. Elneth Tyndall."

Before going out to mail the letter the unhappy girl laid it before Basil Cooper. < "Read it. please," she said, in a strained, harsh voice. "I don't want you to think that I have written one word that is likely to cause trouble between you and Ronald Heseltine."

CHAPTER XIV. PLIGHT. Matters at the vicarage were decidedly uncomfortable. Everything was topsy-turvy, everything was out of tune. But while feeling acutely for Elneth Tyndall, Basil Cooper could not find it in his heart to reproach himself, except it was, perhaps, for lack of tact. His faith in Providence was unlimited, and he believed every trouble in the world was born with wings. The next morning he was up with the sun, because Miss Tyndall had definitely told him that she should be leaving Castle Claydon for London by an early train. With his own hands he prepared a light breakfast, and as soon as he heard the opening of Elneth 's door he went upstairs to bring donw her bag. Although it was only six o'clock, she was already dressed for the journey. Mrs Cooper appeared on the landing at the same time, and kissed the girl a tearful good-by. She was too much overcome by emotion to speak one word. Elneth hastily drank a cup of tea, and in silence Basil Cooper put on his hat, and, taking up the bag, opened the front door.

We needn't hurry," he isaid, "the train doesn't leave until a quarter to seven. I must have ia few words wMh you, Miss, Tyndall," ho added. "Yoxi are very young (bo be practically thrown upon the world. I want you to tell me your plans, and to remember always that you hiave a sincere (friend in ane—if—Sf you at any time ishould be in a difficulty. I promise to keep all knowledge of you to myself, and I am a. man of my iword."

Elnet ihifcumed: upon him a stony glance,! ibut her pale lips quivered. "Thank you," ishe .answered! frigidly. "I .shall be better without any friends who know anything of my past."

1 "Is this final ?" I "Absolutely." "I shall never forgave myself if you come to any Unarm." She laughed a little scornfully. They arrived at the station about twenty minutes before th© train was timed to leave. The vicar glanced afraid itihiait the giid's movements were being spied upon at the instance of Paul Mora,so v. With a sigh he placed "her hag on, the end of a wooden bench. There were only a few men on ithe platform, and lie knew them all by sight. They were clerks and mechanics going to their employment. "I will get your ticket," he said to (his companion. "You can't," was the oalim rejoinder ; ' 'the ticket office is not yet open. I shall be sorry to detain you any longer, Mr Cooper." . "Look here, Miss Tyndall," he said angrily. ''l am going to see you safely away. It's half in my mind to (accompany you to London. It is a duty I owe to you acrid myself." "I wouldn't allow you to do so." The vicar began pacing the platform, Ms eyes constantly on the alert. Once he darted to the gate, positive that he had seen the face of Roff, tihe Jew. When, he rejoined ElnetJi she was juiat leaving the office with her ticket, and at the same moment the tram came puffing into the station. Basil secured a corner seat in on© of .ithe oars, and placed the bag in the rack. "You ought to have a rug or flometihimg," he said, shivering. "The weather is changing. It is positively cold." "I .shall be quit© comfortable, thank you." Then she held out her , hand impulsively, her natural g|ood nature overcoming all other feelings. "I am ,so sorry that I should be the i cause of any trouble to you," she . said. "You believe that you. are act- ' ing in the best interests of all concerned." "I did believe so, God help me, but I don't know. I ought to have let tilings right themselves in tiheir own. wiay. If I could only persuade you— —" he added wistfully, despairingly. "Promise me one thing. Wilih you send me a telegram from London, (saying that you are safe?" 'Yes, I will do that," she answered, thoughtfully and slowly. " I have no fear for myself; my plans are sim- 1 pie. My first step will be to find out who and what I am. I have enough ,money for my needs to last several months. Thousands of young women ore not so well provided. I shall soon, find something to do. If my heart is dead within mo my spirit is unbroken." "You are a. brave girl," Ms voice! shook with emotion. "What shall I Say to Ranald?" "Don.'ik—don't," she half sobbed. "Good-by, Mi- Cooper." v She put her hand through the open window, and he gripped it bard. The train started, and he walked with it to the end of the platform, his heart too full for words. , . Left to herself, Elneth tried to think, but her thoughts occupied a j very tiny circle. The past was dark with despair, a.nd the future—the fu--ture? A dreary waste without water or 'leaf—endless-—illimitable. The first' isftop was at Birmingham, where j a hustling crowd was waiting for the train. The doors were flung open, and anen and women thronged the en- * trances, laughing and talking the while. Every available seat was taken in Ehieth's car. "What a nuisance, these railway people are," grumbled one of two young fellows who had annexed seats directly opposite to Ellneth's. One would ithink that experience would teach theon something. Half ai dozen more smokers are wanted, and the train is made- up just the same as on ordinary days." "Woodleigih races to-day," his, friend yawned. "No use gruimibling, Marebamt; we shall be in London in | a couple of hours. Half the people j will get out at Woodleigh, and then j we can light up." ! f "An hour's run, Lorington. You' are an easy going duffer!" "* "That's' all the thanks I get for humouring Dick Marrchant! I have already endured a severe wigging from Evia, and hut for yiou, you ungrateful brute, I should ha.ve been between, the sheets at Lorington Park now, instead of enduring tortures in a stuffy railway,car!" Marchartt's face turned a dusky red, and he ispoke with real vexa--tion. "I didn't know yoxi were motoring with Lady Eva. I thought you were loafing about Birmingham on your own account, or I wouldn't have asked you to look at those hunters."

I I (To be continued.)