Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10272, 27 June 1911, Page 2

Daughter of Mystery

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

OUR SERIAL. , A

CHAPTER XXXVll—Continued. "My Dear Ronald," Lady Eva wrote, "I motored to Castle Claydon on Saturday, to call upon Basil Cooper; I wanted to know something about + ,Me antecedents of a certain Miss Tyndall, •the lady with whom my foolish brother has fallen in love. I saw Miss Tyndall on Friday, and, to my sur- { prise, she spoke of Mr Cooper and Castle Claydon. This was my opportunity, but my inquisitiveness ended with consequences disastrous to myself. I saw Basil Cooper, and, with n frank brutality, which he conceived to be his duty, he told me of your little romance. '.'l do not —I cannot —blame you, Ronald. You have never made any pretence of love to rae. You have never caressed me, never kissed me on the li'ps. ■ It was all a mistake from Tbiegipning to end, and I alone am- to blame. I feigned an affection I did Hot really "understand, and, much as I like you, I coul l never relinquish one little comfort to please you. I always intended that the ironworks must go — indeed, that was one of the conditions of our marriage, and has been fully discussed between the earl and myself. The very odour of the midlands is revolting, the tumble-down, blackened houses, the smoke-laden air, the squalid streets, and the ferocious looking, uncivilised people. I now realise to the full that our ways lie apart, and gladly, thankfully, give you your freedom. "I have told papa and Charlie all, and instead of returning to the Grange next week we are going on a long cruise. Algernon Southfleet has placed his yacht at our disposal. We may not meet again for a year, Ronald, and, when we do, I trust that the old friendship and neighbourliness will remain unimpaired. I inclose the address of Miss Tyndall, and hope that ; you and she will think kindly of EVA LORINGTON. Ronald crammed on his hat, and ,walked to the vicarage in a dazed, bewildered manner. He opened the door without knocking, and walked into the study. Basil saw, and followed hiia from the sitting room. "Do you k*ow anything about this letter?" Ronald asked huskily, as he handed it to his friend. "You promised t« come in to tea on Saturday, »M chap, and I have been waiting for you." "Fhen «t is true?" ' "Yes, true enough. H«w are ym taking ill Sit down, man, and ion't look lfkftthat!" "I am very jfond of Eva —in a way," ! Ronald said, weakly. "She is sure to feel it a bit." "Her pride is hurt. The announcement of the marriage, and all that. But it will soon blow over. It was my meddling teat drove Miss Tyndall , away." He breathed hard. "You understand?'' Ronald nodded. ... "What are you going to do?" ; "I am' going to ELneth. Thank God, I am able to do honourably." "Then I am satisfied," Basil said. "I was afraid to come to you." ' There was a silent pressure of hefada, and Ronald turned to the door. - "I am going," he said simply. . He returned to the hotel, and looked up the trains to London. There was an express leaving Birmingham at eleven-twenty-five. It was barely nine o'dock, so that he hM ample time to have a talk with his general manager. The affairs of the works were in good hands,/thanks to his exceptional powers of organisation. He began packing his satchel, and when half w)ay through he discovered that he was not alone. Aubrey-Smith was standing within a couple of yards of. him, regarding his movements with an abstracted air. "Hello 1" said Heseltine. "I knocked twice," Aubrey-Smith apologised. "Going on a journey?" "Yes." "Lucky I caught you. Got my letter?';,-' " "Yea," . "I am staying at the hotel," Aubrey ; Smith explained. "Came yesterday. He lit a cigarette. " I was considerably huffed when we parted last time, old chap——" Ronald was <on his knees, bending over his satchel. He merely turned his face to Aubrey-Smith, and nodded. "What the dickens is up with him," thought the little man. Then -aloujd. "I ?ay, Heseltine, you look half dotty. I never thought that success would

upset your mental balance. I want to talk business." "No," Ronald said, scrambling to his feet. "I am sick of business. I'm going for a holiday." He took Lady Eva's letter from his pocket. "Read this; it is due to you and due to me. Don't hesitate j no broken confidences. Then you can pursue your own course. You are a rising man. I'll strap up this bag, and spare you ten minutes!, and then you must go." Aubrey-Smith read Lady Eva's letter, a tingle in every nerve. Openly he pressed his lips to it, before handing it back to Ronald. "Will you shake hands now," he wistfully asked. "I knew there was something behind it all." "Shut up. I'm going to London by the eleven-twenty-five from Birmingham. I may be away two or three days. Your office and workshop are at your disposal, and you might look after my private affairs if you will. Everything else is shipshape. I will write or wire instructions." "What, ho," cried the littel man. "I'm as happy as a sandboy!". Ronald motored" to Birmingham, and the eleven-twenty-five whirled him Londonward. From Euston he drove •to Streatham in a taxicab, leaving his luggage in the cloakroom. At three o'clock he was interviewing Mrs Mobberly, who referred him to the Rev. Hugh Stanley." "And who is the Rev. Hugh Stanley?" he demanded. "My business is with Miss Tyndall. Is she here?'' "I believe she lias gone abroad," Mrs Mobberly told him." Ronald stared at her' blankly. "Gone abroad! ( Good Heavens, madam, don't mislead me. This is a matter of life and death." "Then you must see Mr Stanley," Mrs Mobberly said, trembling all over. "He is her brother." (To be Continued.) '