A Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10265, 17 June 1911, Page 2

A Daughter of Mystery

OUR SERIAL.

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

CHAPTER XXXI

THE UNEXPECTED

week passed, and Elneth still retained her reason. Not wishing to spoil the Mobberly's very evident pleasure, she had accompanied them on several trips—two by steamboat, and j one aboard a motor char-a-bancs. The J amount of energy displayed by Mrs Mobberly was surprising. Had this j pleasure making been called work she would not have survived it two days. Then a letter came for Elneth. It wai from Hugh Stanley, and he wished to know how she was progressing* with her work. He was coming to 3 nigh ton for a few hours on the following Wednesday. Elneth was. very glad of this. What a fine excuse for tripping no more! It would absolve her from a rash promise that she had made to' go with the Mobberlys to Ifastings. <■'. Elneth told Mr and Mrs Mobberly all about her letter at the breakfast table. ■

rain—-a steady downpour. A change in the weather may induce Mr Mobberly to curtail our stay here."

' "I really must do a little work, or I will get myself into disgrace. If I could only discover some quiet spot somewhere." Mr Mobberly rubbed the end of his nose. He usually did so when perplexed. but now a sharp exclamation passed his lips; then he laughed, rather pleased- than otherwise. "The sun and wind have caught my face. Am I getting tanned? My nose must have lost its outer cuticle. ■ I believe a man can live as long as he likes in this glorious air. I believe the action of the ozone is strengthening my hair where it was-«o thiii. -Look at my hands!' As brown as coffee berries. Don't bother about work and quiet spots. Miss Tyndall. We are out to enjoy ourselves. The only drop of rue mycup of bliss is the doubt about the garden at home. I really ought to run up ta Streatham and see that things are all right." "Why not ask Mr Stanley to look things ud, and water the Elneth suddenly suggested. "I'm surs he'd be delighted to help you." > f

Elneth sent the letter by registered mail, and then walked with the Mobberlys as far as the West End pier, where the char-a-bancs took up its passengers. When they were fafely gone on she paid to pass the barrier, and strolled along the pier to the pavilion. It was too early for a rush, and the swelling sea presented a magnificent sight under the blue and suiiny skies. Elneth bought a newspaper at the kiosk, at the end of the pier, but she had hardly had time to sit down and unfold it when she heard her name spoken in a tone of genuine surprise and pleasure. "Miss Tyndall, or do my eyes deceive me? No, thank goodness!" "Mr Lorington!" Elneth's face flamed, partly with displeasure. "Yes, it is I, all right." H e took "Her hand and pressed it warmly, then dropped dowjti on the seat beside her. "What a lucky chance I struck when I decided ,to have a. breath of the brinyj" i "You are sure it was chance that brought you hfere?" she said severely. "Positive Why?" "I was afraid that you might have followed me, and I want to be very quiet. Mr and Mrs Mobberly have ' gone away for the day." "Quiet? Oh, that book. You told me something about it. My dear girl, just put it out of your head for a bit. There'll be a deuce of a racket here in an hour or two. Pierrots, nig*ger mihstrels,>bands blaring. I think that Mr is an ass to leave you to your own devices in a place like' this."

"And why, indeed?" "You are far too young and goodlooking.—and all that sort of thing," Charlie stammered.

Mr Mobberly looked hopeful, but doubtful while Mrs Mobberly applauded the idea. "It's rather xinusual to ask one's pastor to do that sort of thing," he said. "Leave it to me," Elneth said. "MrStanley isn't an iceberg, nor an ordinary kind of man. I'll write to hira this morning." "And enclose the key of the garden gate.," The mantle of youth had descended upon Mr Mobberly again. He made jokes, and even alluded xtfth a certain amount of cheerfulness to the mysterious disappearance cf three bottles of beer. "I sent in a dozen on Saturday, 3 'lie said, " and we, have consumed seven. Now our virtuous landlady that there are «nly two left. I am afraid the cat is a tippler! My goodness, it's half-past eight. We are wasting precious'time. A shade over a third of our holiday has taken wings. How sorry I am for those chaps who only get a week! You remember Latter, Miss Tyndall, our law clerk? He

"Bosh!" Elneth retorted. "If you begin to say stupid things I shan't listen." She glanced at him critically/ "I can't compliment you on your appearance, Mr Lorington." "Why, what's up ?" "Dusty and untidy." "Is that all ? So would you be if you had jhotored over thirty miles of dusty roads. , I've left the car at a garage in the King's road. lam a'bit out of sorts. It isn't nice to quarrel with one's own flesh and blood, butniy sister and my father have got my back Hp. A prescriptive right, and all that sort of thing, you know, to interfere in. my affairs." He laughed shortly, and stared seaward.

There was a short silence, broken by Elneth.

lives Balham way, and, would you believe it, hj& spends his summer holidays loafing about Clapham Common! Well, got to meet the char-a-bancs at the West Pier at; te# o'clock. Hurry UP, Mrs Mobberly. vrSjtian't be back till late. A wfully sorry you won't go r Miss Tyndall. Here's the key of the garden, gate,!" ' While Mr and Mrs Mobberly were making ready for their excursion. Elneth r.\yrote "a,.hasty Jlettei-.,'.t0 1 the curate, in which she said:

"Quite impossible to work in this lurid place. Stuffy little apartments in a back street, with a fried fish shop .on the comer. Outside the streets are ruled.by a mixed mob of excursionists, redolent of garlic, beer, and cheese. The front is certainly very fine, but many of the people strutting about must be eligible for a freak show. I never saw such strange creatures anywhere else. The air trembles with all kinds of -ounds—motor cars and busses, arid all the rest of the vehicles. Two I or three bands seems to be eternally wailing, and I am actually longingfdr ( the quiet of the Streatham rose gai - - den. I am sending the key,' and it will !>e a real kindness to relieve Mr Mobberly of a. break in his absurd holiday, We went to: some rowdy place last Thursday, and would you believe that he took off his coat and wasted two shillings in throws at coconuts stuck on the tops of little sticks? Mr Mobberly succeeded in knocking one of them off, but when he opened it it was rotten. . . I shall not do any work here,- because I cannot ! Please don't come, but be sure and water the garden, and write to tell me all about it. Perhaps it is rather unkind, but I am hoping for

"So you' - are motoring about the country at a breakneck pace, just for the sake of trying to let off steam?" I came down by train %om London yesterday to our country leat—Lorington Grange. It isn't a great way from here, just over the downs. I am putting together some personal belongings, as I am just in the mood to fly to the other end of the world. I won't be dictated to. Of course, everybody expects the future Earl of Lorington to do something wonderful, and be a credit to his race ; but what's the old man ever done except squander the cash? I know I'm a terrible waster, but from whom do I inherit' it ?" . .

(To be Continued.)

"I'm so sorry/' Elnetli said, sym-; pathetically. "If you .speak X shall forget the promisi I made to you in St, James' Park!" Charlie threatenel. His voice shook a little. "The Or ;of it is that^they'want'nxe to marry some rich girl—and there's only one girl in the world I shall ever marry, if I marry at all, and that's you. I knew you were in Brighton, and I began thinking alTout you. foreseeing you here,-well, that was the last hope in my mind. I borrovved Lady Eva's motor car. determined to have a • spin, and hero I am." Elneth did not speak. She saw that Charlie was more disturbed than he cared to own. She had a strong suspicion, too, that she was the innocent cause of the trouble. "Haven't you a word to say to me, Miss Tyndall?" "I told you I was sorry." She broke off, and strove to hide her emotion. "Mr Lorington, you are blind to your own interests. You must put me out of your heart altogether. I am not only poor, but I have no love to give anyone. It's an act of madness to set your family at defiance. You bear your father's name, and he has a right to expect that you do not disgrace it. If the earl and your sister only knew on whom you were wasting your thoughts!" "They do know!" he flashed.