A Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10251, 30 May 1911, Page 2

A Daughter of Mystery

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.

OUR SERIAL.

CHAPTER XlX.—Continued

Meanwhile Lady Eva had jumped down frmo the carriage, and was freeing the pony of its shackles. "I am sorry 1' whipped you, desir old Vixen," she cooed. "And now you shall have two long, delightful hours in the paddock. Don't send any servants to fuss about me, mamma," sinadded, to Mrs Heseltine, who had just emerged from a French window. "T never allow plebeian hands to touch Vixen."

In a very short time the pony was in clover, and Eva, her hat discarded, had abandoned herself to the ease of a canvas deck chair m the lawn. "It's the unexpected that happens, mama," she said, rather short of breath, "and hero I am. "Won't it be delightful to have tea out here, unless some other nuisances turn up. I was fortunate to escape that odious Mr Smith by a few minutes, and I hare to thank Vixen for his laziness for it."

"I consider him quite a--msa votingman," Mrs Heseltine said, "and he is now pretending to lie very clever, but I can't, quite believe that." She was watching the girl with curious, quizzical eyes. "This is a surprise, but you are always good at surprises, Eva, my dear."

'"I hate Mr ■ Smith—l beg his pardon—Mr Aubry-Smith. nis father is plain John Smith, a retired clergyman, with a brood of young Smiths. Oh, pray, do not champion the cause of this rotund young mm, mamma! Would you believe that he had the effrontery to once declare his love for me on his bended knees f"" Mrs Heseltine merely her eyebrows.

"That was a year since, anß I treated him as if he were a very small child. I bade him go out into the world, and grow in statute and knowledge. I commanded 'liin to make a name for himself, and asked him bowhe hoped to keep a wife on,two hundred pounds a year. That was tbo magnificent income ho had inherited jffrom somjewhere! He promised to obey me, and with due solemnity departed. He would now have me, believe that he lias invented something wonderful, and is a creature vi importance. Poor little man!" "Perhaps he thought you were serious, and dreams of his rewnH," smiled Mrs Heseltine". " "He is Ronald's friend, and I know that Ruiiald thii ks a great deal of him. He cannot know that you are an en'gaged young woman."

Tears of anger and mortifica c v ,m sprang into Lady Eva's eves. "That is just the bother of it. and I shall be pestered with suitors wlun we get to town. I had half a dozen proposals last season —two callow youths, two fortune hunters, an operatic star, and a duke in his dotage ! Goodness only knows what I would j ' have,to endure if I gave the ninnies 'an atom of encouragement. It isn't a question of screwing up their courage. To ask a girl for-her hand and ■fortune nowadays seems to be as easy as falling off a log." "What's the matter, Eva ? I never saw you like this before." "Well, I have had words with pf.pa about Ronald. The bank manager j told him about the money. I thjught ] these'people were sworn to secret y rwl • yet' they gossip like footmen. You know pap's cutting tongue. It would not matter if the engagement were formally Announced. And just see how he is. treating me! I beiieve it's two years and more since I behold a y j future-, husband!" j "But you missed him by t.ho merest chance," Mrs Heseltine said gently. "These cut-and-dried engagem 'r-ts are j a mistake, my dear. A man likes to fight for the thing he prizes most." "You mean that I am throwing myself at his head?" ' "Not that exactly. You have alwavs pretended that love has no leality." m i "I speak from experience," Eva answered bitterly. "Threo little letters from Ronald, and about as much sentiment in thom as he would send to his tailor. His head is full of his work. Ho was sorry I had my visit ' to Castle Claydon for nothing! He wanted to see me so badly, and he makes no effort to do so. I was a fool to go motoring after him. Then he flew back again to that precious foundrv, know: lg full well that I was at hor^o."" 'Ho received a very important better." "Then I am.of no importance.'' "I am sorry, Eva —more than sorry, dear. I know he wanted to have a talk with you " "Oh, don't, mamma! Please don't! A talk with me! I know it is my own fault; I'vo been a fool. I a in only a very ordinary woman, after all, and Ronald's indifference cuts mo to the heart." "Or your pride—which?" "My pride counts as nothing. If it were pride merely I could end it; T have at last awakened to the know- I ledee of the deeper things of life." ! Her face was white, and her voice { | vibrant. Mrs Heseltine went over j land caressed the girl's hair. [ "I am glad of this. Eva—glad for both of you," she said gcntlv. CHAPTER XX. HESELTINE-S DILEMMA. May merged into June, and one '

j fuio morning Ronald Hoseltine came [to town. Ho presented himself at Lord Lorington's house in Park Lane, j and the smiling old butler grabbed I eagerly at his hat and cane. He had ; known Ronald from boyhood. "Everybody's in, sir. His lordship and Mr Charles are in the library, and Lady Eva was in the conservatory ten minutes since. You don't mind me saying how pleased I am to see you? Why, it must be more than two years since you went away." "Yes, it is." "And you've changed, sir, a good deal." "Indeed," Ronald said smilingly. "You look older, bigger and more resolute." Ronald smiled again. "Now, if you'll wait a few minutes I will announce you to his lordship, or -" "No need," Ronald interrupted. "Ladv Eva has seen me, and is coming."' They were standing in..the doorway of a reception room, and Ronald was looking over the butler's shoulder into thebig square hall. Lady Eva had heard his voice and/\yas running down stairs. The butler discreetly vanished. Ronald made a step forward, and warmly clasped Eva's trembling fingers. Her eyes were searching his face, half critically, half reproachfully. "I had nearly forgotten what yon were like," she said, in a tone of banter. "And yet you recognised me at once." "I deserve" your reproof, Eva, but I have tried to explain it in my letters. Holidays have been simply out of the question; I cannot afford to be an idler now. You are looking well, and as charming as ever." He was still holding her hand, and his face was very near hers, but his limit was reached. "How remarkably demonstrative you are, Ronald, after years have parted us!" she said caustically: He closed the reception room door I hastily, and cast a swift glance at I Lady Eva. He had never before seen | her face so flushed. | "I hope I haven't offended you. | Wherein have I been remiss?" "Oh, Ronald—Ronald, you are hopeless. I'm sick of this Platonic ! nonsense! It is dangerous and un- ! satisfying. Take me in your arms and kiss me. Let me see passion in your eyes—hear it in your voice! I am an ordinary sort of woman now, not the tranquil cynic of the old days." For a few moments he wondered if he had heard aright. His brows were puckered with bewilderment. He tried to avoid her passionate, appealing gaze, arid a guilty colour dyed his face—his neck, even his hands. He felt hot all over. ' '

"Have I said something very dreadiful?" she demanded. "One would J think from your manner that a woman ! has no right to her own." "My dear Eva, I am only a httle taken aback," he stammered. "You have always said that sentiment was weakness and folly—that love was inelegant humbug." "And were you not of the same opinion. Ronald?" "Well, perhaps I was." He was thinking of Elneth, and his whole face lighted up. "It's the fashion among boys and girls, and the half educated, to believe in cynicism. The 'eeli.ig >s liko a- bad attack of indigestion—a sort of intellectual nightmare. The silliest sentiment in the world is better than the loftiest kind of cynicism. • Human beings were created to have faith in God, in each other, in all j things. Without sentiment faith, hope and charity would be dead." "We have been very foolish, Ronald," Eva, said softly. * "Yes, but I always knew that yon had a great capacity for loving. I have observed your deep affection for your father—your sacrificing devotion to your brother Charlie—your devotion to your horses and your dogs " "And none for my future husband, you would say!" Her blue eyes svfre misty. Her cheeks aflame. "But that is a different kind of love, you know." "So you understand it also. Ronald? We have been travelling by the) wrong road for such a weary 4V of years! Do you know that I have .lC'cr understood the meaning of "real ihp~ t iness until this moment?" They were standing in the miJ'.le' of the room, facing each other, f-he rested one hand noon-his arm. her L»ee' upturned to his, Ronald's soul was anguished, and lest bis eves should I etrav him he bent and kissed Lady Eva I on the brow. | "How nice of you. my sweetheart," | she whispered. "The very first kiss I you have given me since we little children. The next time it must be on my lips." (To be continued.)