A Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10245, 23 May 1911, Page 2

A Daughter of Mystery

OUR SERIAL.

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

CHAPTER XHl.—Continued. "I am an excellent judge of horseflesh," Charlie Lorington said calmly. "You ought to give me eome commission." "You haven't played the game," tfhe .other ansiweredi, with heat. "It wasn't fair to let a metre girl make the journey back alone." Lorington laughed. silyly. "It isn't a 'bit of use, Mardhant," You wanted to see Eva, and you are disappointed. Look here, old man, you can't hang your hat up there. The fancied raft between her and Heseitine exists no longer. She is madly in love with, the chap, and there wall he a wedding within three or four months. Eva's got a will of her own, and. there'© an end of it. I know how you feel about it, and. the trtitft. won't do you any harm:" Silence fell between the two men, for a full minurbe; then Marchant rose unsteadily. "I must have a smoke, Charlie," he said unsteadily. "I am going into the dining car." "All right. I'll come along when breakfast is ready." Charl;:- Lorington looked after his friend, ocimmiccration in hip. eyes; thoui his, returning glance rrsted u.p-----v EJ/icii'iVpalp f '"0. and he wondered at the suddenly aroused interest thiat seemed to send a thrdll into his very bnadn. Perhaps it was the curious liglult he caught in itihe glow of her sombre eyes. And what glorious eyes tliey were! Where had. he seen them before? Ah, he remembered. It was in the pictured face of a Madonna.

E&neth turned her hiead and watched tin© flying country. She felt tlhat lier heart was surging up into her throat. Lorington,'s innocent words had stabbed her like a knife. So thiß handsome fellow was Lady Eva's brother? If she were like him no wonder that tho vicar of Castel Claydon had called her n, splendid wompn. After ;v: I cur's run the train stopped at Wo'jdioigh, and deposited nearly half its passengers. They were a loud-voiced, cxardressed lot of men, and when they were gone things were comparatively silent. Elneth and Lorington now had the compartment to themselves, and he furtively made a critical inspection of his vis-a-vis, All desire for a smoke had evaporated, and when their eyes met ho broke the ice b" asking Elneth if she would like to look at the morning papers. Conscious that she was talking to the brother of Lady Eva Lorington, the woman who was to be the wife of Ronald, her lip trembled. "No, thank you, I am not interested in the papers this morning." "Neither am I,',' said Charlie, ''the sporting men get on my nerves. To hear one's voice you have to speak at concert pitch. I wonder where my friend has gone to?" i He rose and walked into the corridor, but was soon back again. "They are getting the breakfast," he said. "Shall I have a seat reserved for you in the dining car?" He - reddened a little. "You don't mind, do you?" People can be friendly in j railway trains and aboard ships, without a lot of formal humbug. Of course can have some tea or coffee taken in here, but " \ "Oh, I think I'll go into the dining car, thanks. The change will be a little diversion." She looked at him frankly. Was he not a neighbour and a friend of Ronald Heseltine's? His companionship appealed to her in her loneliness, and the expression in her soft, brown eyes almost turned Charlie Lorington>'s I brain. He walked into the dining j car, with Elneth close behind him, chose a comfortable seat, and took the one; opposite for himself, knowing all the while that Marchant was watching him, and smiling amusedly. The breakfast began, and Elneth was surprised to find that she rather enjoyed it after her long fast. Moreover, that terrible feeling of desolation was fast losing its acuteness. Charlie Lorington did riot say much, but j he watched her a great deal, his eyes shining with respectful .admiration, j and a certain amount of natural curi- I osity. ]

■lt will really oblige me. My name is 1 Lorington —Charlie Lorington, and my father is Lord Lorington." Elneth was dismayed and perplexed, but his eagerness impressed her. "Oh, you can call me what you like to satisfy y<>ur friend, but my real name is Elneth Tyndall. Do not mention it to a soul, please." She spoke with increasing agitation. "And in justice to myself," she added with swift impetuosity, "I should never have dreamed of being so friendly with you, Mr Lorington, only that I know some people whom you know." "RoallvF" His eyes were searching her face." "Miss Tyndall, I am delighted! Iww just dreading that I might never see you again!" "You must not breathe my name to a living soul," she repeated. "Of course not, if it is your wish; but I am terribly puzzled, You said you knew friends of mine?" The vicar of Castle Clay don." "Yes—ves," his eyes brightened. "Good old Basil!" "And Mr Ronald Heseltirie," she breathed. "Good heavens!" cried Charlie. CHAPTER XV. ON THE TRAIL. It seemed to Charlie Lorington that all this held a peculiar significance for him. He had never beheld Elnjeth Tyndall until that morning, but he felt sure within himself that his heart was gone—irrevocably. And now that she had said so much, the girl was trembling all over. Weariness and excitement had made her weak, and weakness meant loss of self-control Charlie looked at his watch, hastily thrusting it back into his pocket. "Euston in ten minutes, Miss Tyndall. Will some one meet you?" "No." She altered the poise of her hat. "Then I suppose I may get you a | j cab ? There will be a tremendous rush J at Euston." j Elneth began to realise the enormr ity of her undertaking, and she wish'ed that she could only rest for a few | hours.

"We may as well sit out the journey where we are," he suggested. "It is far pleasanter. W(& are due at Euston in forty minutes." Elneth became suddenly aware that Marchant, who was seated some halfdozen tables ahead, was openly laughing, and making grimaces at Lorington. Her face flamed for a moment, and then became very pale.

"No," she said. "I am going to the station hotel —the Euston, I think it is called. I stayed there once with my guardian and his wife. I have no friends in London." "Then you are going back to Castle Claydon—soon?" he asked. '/' There's some confounded trouble here," lie thought. "You are very inquisitive." "I beg your pardon. If I am rude, it is only because I feel deeply interested in you. I can tell that you are in some sort of trouble, you look so white and worried. You are acquainted with some of my oldest and dearest friends, and that alone gives me a right to help you if you will allow me. You can trust Charlie Loringten." "I am sure of that," she stammered. "Don't speak so kindly, or I shall break down!" Her weariness was over-' powering. After a few minutes' contemplation, she continued; "I have quarrelled with my guardian, Mr Lorington, and have come to London on business—to consult a lawyer." "Oh, who is he?" i "I don't know. I mean I must find one. I have really run away from ! Castle Claydon." Charlie Lorington looked up alert-1 ly. He believed that the mists were j clearing, and he felt relieved. Hisheart gave a great throb. "I'll introduce you to a man that I know —wonderfully shrewd, and as dumb as an oyster where his clients' interests are concerned, "I'll write his name and address on the back of my card —Arthur Lawrence, Cleveland Chambers, Chancery Lane. Do you know Chancery Lane, Miss Tyndall? One of the turnings off Fleet Street. I think you had better go in a taxicab, when you are ready for the interview. Will you go to-day, or to-morrow?" He asked the question carelessly, and made a mental note of her ansrwer. To-morrow would be best, of course. It would allow of an appointment being made by letter, and other, things. This girl filled the immediate horizon of Charlie Lorington. The train was slowing into Euston Station now, and there was a swift commotion among the passengers. "I'll get your luggage," Charlie said, jumping up. "Wait for me on the platform." ' >

_ "I am afraid I have been rather indiscreet," she said, in her discreet way. "We are strangers—we have never met before in our lives, and are making amusement for your friend over there. Now, don't fly into a temper with him." Charlie had half risen, and his brows were knitted into a dark line. "Would you make a scene, and further humiliate me?" Ho frowned wrathfiilly. , "Can't a man and a girl meet in a train and be sociable without- "He paused, and added. "Tell me your name, and I will say that we are old acquaintances. The cad! I'll introduce him to you—just in a formal way, or goodness knows how his tongue will run when he gets at large.

He hurried away to the car where Elneth's bag and some of his own things had been loft, his friend Marchant being already there, collecting j his belongings. j "Hello!" he grinned. "What have you picked up? Damsel in distress?" "Don't be a d cad, Marchant. I don't thank you for any poisoned suggestions. The lady is a friend of some people I know." "Why didn't you introduce me?" Marchant said, half angrily "Because the lady desired me not to do so. She saw that idiotic smirk on your face, and very properly resented it." "I'm sorry, Lorington, and I apologise. I thought you were merely doing the amiable to a stranger, and that she was taking advantage of your good-heartedness. I am not going to quarrel with you. Are you going to the club now?" (To be continued.)