A Daughter of Mystery
OUR SERIAL.
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.
CHAPTER XXXII —Continued, j "Honest!" Charlie continued. "He an iron foundry at Castle Claydon, and you may have met him at the vicarage—all my sister's money. But it's 110 affair of mine, T suppose, and as they will be married soon the less said the better. The engagement was published last week. Hallo what's wrong? Dust in your eyes? Perfect little whirlwinds up here when it's calm in the valley." He started the car again, and ripped down a long lane that looked like a ribbon; then through a picturesque, old-world village, which must have looked much the same at the time of the Conquest. "Warden Village. See the old wo7i> ui curtsying? Everybody knows me here. Church looks pretty, doesn't it?" The way was narrow, and a pony carriage was approaching. Charlie slackened speed, and then pulled up dead. "Mrs' Heseltine. She's mortally afraid of motors. I must let her pass quietly, or I shall get a wigging." The pony, however, wa-s brought to a standstill beside Charlie's car, and , off went Charlie's cap. "How do you do, Mrs Heseltino?" He leaned over, and shook hands. "I am just coming away from the Grange, Charlie. I heard from the rector that some of you were there, but had my journey for nothing." She smiled and nodded, and turned her bright eyes upon Elneth. "Sorry, Mrs Heseltine. Only my rn worthy self here at present, but my father and my sister will be back soon. Sick of London. Ah—this young lady ir, a friend of ours." He blushed. "Met her accidentally inßrighton, and as her people are away for the day we thought we'd have a spin round n the car. Miss Elneth Tyndall —Mrs Heseltine."
or shall we bo moving?" But Elneth rose to her feet. "It is very stupid of me, Mrs Heseltine!" she faltered.
"I quite understand, my dear, We poor women are subject to pains that growling, grumbling man never even dreams of. Feeble bodies, with ten times too much nerves. You shall bathe your brow with cologne." "A brandy and soda would be more beneficial," Charlie said. He watched the ladies until they disappeared indoors; then he fidgeted about the car for a while. Presently Mrs Heseltine returned alone, and she addressed him softly. "Charlie, I've discovered your secret."
He started guiltily. "Secret? I have no secret —never had one." "Of course. I've heard from Eva about your extraordinary conduct. You are in love with Miss Tyndall, Charlie." "Yes." "And she?" "Won't listen to me. Sisterly love, etc." Mrs Heseltine smiled. "Platonic love can never exist be- \ tween a man and a woman. You remember hew Ferdinand appeared to Miranda?" "Never heard of Ferdinand or Miranda. I know that Miss Tyndall likes me, but she is as proud as she is poor. What do you think of her ?' ' "A dear creature. What lovely eyes! Oh, it's a dreadful pity!" "What's a pity?" he asked fiercely. "Hush!" exclaimed Mrs Heseltine. "She's coming. You had better take her straight home. She has a nervous headache—worry, or shock, or something." She. turned to E'neth, .'and kissed her affectionately. "Are j you better, dear ? I hope to see you j again soo.i. Isn't it wonderful that ( some of our best friendships are the ibirth of a moment?" She pressed both of the girl's hrnds, and when the car rolled away Mrs Heseltine wondered why her heart felt starved and empty.
The two women bowed and Mrs Hes- , eltine invited Charlie and Miss Tyndall to go home with her and have a cup of tea. "I don't know," he said doubtfully. "There will be the devil's own gossip," ) hj" thought. Elneth was dumb—overwhelmed. "It will be a real charity, Charlie," Mrs Heseltine said winningly. "I've hardly had a soul to speak to for such a time." "I must go to the Grange first. I am short of gasoline." - "Then Miss Tyndall shall go to the Hall with me in the carriage. You follow us, Charlie." She made room for Elneth toside her. and Lorington sprang down to help Miss TyndaH from the car to the pony carriage. "By Jove!" he was thinking. "I must warn the old lady, or there will be the deuce to pay." He drove off at top speed, secured a -fresh supply of gasoline, and got to Warden Hall right upon the heels of Mrs Heseltine and Elneth. Mrs Heseltine appeared to be overjoyed that she had got someone-to talk to, and the girl listened like one under a spell. Was this really Ronald's home, and Ronald's mother? Surely she must be dreaming! She was taken upstairs by Mrs Heseltine, she washed her hands and face, and brushed her hair, and she saw a picture of Ronald hanging on the wall. Oh, it was almost past belief! ,Tea was served under a big, »liady tree on the lawn, arid Mrs Heseltine introduced some particular kind of cake that she lauded to the skies.
"This is Ronald's favourite cake, Charlie," she said. "Yes, I know it. Pretty good tack for youngsters. Do you expect him to come?"
"I am always expecting one since he bought one of those hateful motor cal-s. He rushes about like one distracted. I have seen little enough of him for years." "And you'll see less.in the future. He's going to build a house in the Black Country to take his wife to. Fancy Eva in a cottage among the coal miners and things! It is too funny foi! words!" "Children are not unmixed blessings," Mrs Heseltine sighed. "Neither are exacting relations," growled Charlie. "It's all take and no give. Them's my sentiments." He laughed and turned to Elneth. lam afraid the musical part of our programme is off. You don't mind, do you?" Mrs Heseltine noticed the tender inflection of his tone, and was startled. She looked at Elneth's flushed face with eyes full of kindly sympathy. "You look verv tired, Miss Tyndall."
CHAPTER XXXII. BACK TO STREATHAM For several days Elneth indulged in very painful heart searchings. The news of Ronald Heseltine's approaching marriage weighed heavily upon her, and she became irritable and depressed. She spent much of her time on the pier looking out to sea, or preS tending to listen to the band, and Mr and Mrs Mobberly consoled themselves with the reflection that she was thinking out the scheme of her new work. Then the weather changed with al most magical swiftness. The skies turned to lead, the wind blew : n savage gusts., and the rain fell in a steady downpour. "Only half through our holiday," Mr Mobberly said drearily. He was standing at the sitting room window, and staring down at the sloppy street. "Mr Stanley won't have to water the garden now if it is raining like this in London." "It isn't raining in London at all," his wife observed. "Look here, what the paper says about it." Mr Mobberly gnashed his teeth. "It's really too bad," he said, "I shall put on my waterproof an* l go out; I oan't stick indoors any longer. Where's Miss Tyndall? Still in her room ? She doesn't seem to like being in Brighton." "Perhaps it would be better to go home, James." "But we've got to .pay the rent of these rooms, and the weather may clear up. I don't care if the landlady is snappy. She wants us to go that she may have the opportunity of letting the same rooms to somebody else, and thus get paid twice over." "She refused to hang your coat before her fire yesterday, and there was no hot water this morning." ' "Confound the woman," -Mr Mobj berlv growled. "She is an unprinj cipled extortionist. The business of j letting lodgings is most demoralising. You remember what a good, conscientious girl Matilda Binks was —the very first servant we had? She left us to marry a painter, and they took in lodgers. My goodness, didn't she develop into a Tartar? And boasted of her brigandage. I sent one of our mlerks to her, and he never forgave me. Well, I can't stand this. I'm off to the front."
"Yes, I have a dreadful headache I think it must be the heat."
"Dash it. What a nuisance!" Charlie exclaimed remorsefully. "I've put too much into the day; it's my fault. Will you rest here a bit, Miss Tyndall,
(To be Continued.)
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10267, 20 June 1911, Page 2
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1,429A Daughter of Mystery Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10267, 20 June 1911, Page 2
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