Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10271, 26 June 1911, Page 2

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 XXXVl.—Continued. "My dear Lady Eva," Basil said, "you astound me! I am unable to credit my senses." He got up and uaced about. "Of coure, I know Miss Tyndall very well, indeed; but as for Charlie—l had no idea that they had ever met. I am glad to know that 1 Miss Tyndall is safe and well." He floundered. "But as for marrying your brother —nonsenle' —utter nonsense i A magnificent young woman, highly cultured, and altogether lovnbl»." Ho dropped into his seat again, and mopped his forehead. He was afraid :o meet he." direct gaze. "A lost journey!" sneered Lady j>.'a. "How absurd you men can be. If you were unmarried I should say that you were in love with the yourself." She jumped up. 'I believe you have told me a parcel of lies, M.r Cooper. Your manner betrays you. I am going, arid pray don't tell Ronald Heseltine that I've been here. I hato the odor of his precious foundry, and am just in the mood for a violent quarrel." 'Ronald loves his work," re torted the vicar, nettled to the point of rudeness. She had accused him of lyjing. 'Better than he loves me." \ "You are wise to realize it/ before

lieve in your sincerity, and I admire it; but you are quite as liable to make mistakes as your less-favoured brethren." She sneered a little. "God help me—yes!" breathed the vicar. "I am not such an egotist that I cannot judge myself," she proceeded calmly. "I am proud of my youth, my beauty, my riches, and my name. I am giving Ronald Heseltine far more than he can ever hope to give me, and the bar/g/ain is a good one for him — from my point of view. We are not a pair of romantics, and the passions of the poets are quite out of our line." "Are you trying to draw me, Lfrvdy Eva? Or are you deceived and bewildered by the very egotism you deny?" '

She laughed lightly, but the ring in her laugh was metallic. "Go on, Mr Cooper. Say that I trapped Ronald Heseltine with my money, and that it was a mean thing to do; but do not forget my claim in the old days. Tell me that he loves someone else in the approved, passionate way; but his sense- of duty to the female villain of the piece will ultimately mar the happiness of at least three lives!" She pressed her quivering lips tightly together, and dashed tears from her eyes. "I am so sorry, Lady Eva," Basil said thickly. "Don't insult me with your pity," she answered haughtily. "Pray forgive me," she resumed. "Some day I will forgive you, but not now. It is not alone your triumph, Mr Cooper;,' but a triumph for all —Ronald, Miss Tyndall—and myself. I only marvel at my blindness; I have no blame for Ronald Heseltine. If my pride is stung and humbled, my heart is untouched. I cannot blame him; therefore, you -see that lam capable of judging myself and others.". She rose suddenly and held out a trembling hand. "Good-bye; I leave you to I tell Ronald. I will write to him toi morrow." i Basil Cooper was too agitated to do more than mumble a reply, and before he had quite recovered himself he ! heard the honk-honk of Lady Eva Lorington's motor car as it dashed along the lane.

marriage." She turned upon him furiously. "What do you mean, Mr Basil Cooper?" He shrank back dismayed, and covered his face with bis hands, his elbows resting on the table. His breathing was heavy—-convulsive 1 , and when he looked at her again he looked as if he had aged years. j "Sit down, Lady Eva. This is my'; opportunity and yours." , "No, I prefer standing—l don't know why I remain here at all. I hate you pious people. You all have the fatal gift of making trouble." "I hope we do some little good. I want to talk about Miss Tyndall — about Ronald —about yourself. As for your brother, he is no concern of mine. I am thinking—hoping—praying " He broke off. , "The lifelong happiness of several people may depend upon the result of a few miniites' speech. Please hear me through and question your own heart. If I have erred I will bow my head to your pity or your scorn; but I shall feel that I have done my duty." Lady Eva was still standing, and one hand was resting on the back of a chair. The hand trembled slightly, but her eyes were filled with scorn. "If you say anything unpleasant, I shall refuse to listen," she said. 'I would not utter a word if I believed that you and Ronald loved each jother uridividedly—unselfishly. I happen to know that you do not. Ranald knows it —you know it, Lady Eva. You have admitted it to me." She laughed at him. "I admit such a thing? Never \ You are more than absurd —you are mad! If I were not amused I should bo angry." "You adroit it when you make light of the work of his life." He pointed to the lowering sky; he sniffed the sulphurous fumes which came through the open window. "Would you mary Ronald, and for love of your husband, sacrifice your mansion in the country—in London —and live with him here —in the black town of Castle Claydon?" "No, I would not," she stormily answered, and with a shiver of disgust. "Your impertinence is beyond bearing. Do you forget who I am?" "Then you do not love Ronald as a wife should love a husband," he scoffed. "And Ronald will never give up his cherished foundries, and engineering shops, and the clang of machinery, and the soot-laden air for you." Her manner underwent a swift change, her features sharpened with growing dread. She knew in her heart that Basil Cooper was speaking the truth. Ronald had never pretended the part of the passionate lover. He had never once kissed her lips—he had never once caressed her. "Why are you saying these things to me?" she hoarsely whispered. "To save a man and a woman from a life of misery and regrets! This was my opportunity, and I dared not let it pass." Although the glance she flashed on him was filled with savage contempt, the woman's sharp instinct was aroused, and in a flash she read, his mind. She sat down again, and faced him—pale, but resolute. "There is a lot more at the back of all this, Mr Cooper. I have heard of you often enough, from Charlie —and from Ronald. You are one of those very good men yho believe that it is their mission to regenerate the world. You are a visionary who spares neither friend nor foe at the call, of your fetish. I do not blame you—l be-

CHAPTER XXXVn. DAWN. Ronald Heseltine's mail was always light on a Monday morning, and no matter how pressing the orders, Monday was ever a sort of off day. Most of the men lost a quarter, and many of the experienced hands refused to work on Monday at any cost. Nowhere in the ,world is the working J man so independent, stupid, and blind to his own interests as the Britisher. Ronald was fuming over this very fact when his eyes lighted upon two private letters. He knew the handwriting of both, and but them \ into his pocket, unopened, until he I got back to his own sitting room at j the hotel. Just one hour later these j letters were spread open before him, and he was making a vain effort, to analyze himself. He stamped/ and swore; he murmured Softly, sadly, endearingly; he laughed; he wept. The first letter was from Aubry-Smith, and was of small importance to him, just then. Aubrey-Smith was coming to see him that very day. He had a new idea for a dirigible airship, a load of models, something to revolutionise the world, but he had hitherto failed in one of the, essentials which spells success. "Just the same as our submarine," he wrote. "I lack the practical side. No matter what our differences are we must not allow them to interfere with business." The second letter was from Lady Eva Lorrington, and while he was stirred to the very depths with astonishment, sorrow, and dismay, he thanked the gods for giving him a glimpse of the coming dawn. For the third time he took up Ljady Eva's letter, repeating each word like a child in doubt. (To be Continued.)