Daughter of Mystery

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10273, 28 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 fi Heiress," "A Loveless Marriage," "The Doctor's Secret," etc.

OUR SERIAL.

CHAPTER XXXVll.—Continued. ; "Hoi- brother!" Ronald was dazed "Thank vou, madam. I hope I haven't bothered you." He made a mental note of the curate's address, and within ten minutes was waiting in Hugh Stanley's silting room, his heart pounding up into his throat. How could a wan named Stanley be Eliiath's brother. Swiftly he paced the carpet, every nerve vibrant, until he heard a quick step in the passage. Then his heart seemed to stand still, and he turned to face a tall, dark young fellow, just of his own age. They looked at each other through and through, and the right hands of both shot out together. "You are Miss TyndalPs brother?" Ronald said. "And you are my sister's sweetheart I think," said Hugh heartily. "We have but recently discovered each other—Elneth and I, and her name is not TyndalL at all—but Stanley, same as mine. But that story will do for another time. Now, Mr Heseltine, what if; in the wind?" "Good Lord, man, I want to see Elneth. She ran away under some misapprehension. We have loved each other for years " "I know the whole story, Mr Heseltine," Hugh gently interposed. "My sister was persuaded by Paul Morosov, her uncle, that there was something very sinister about her birth, but that is all bosh. Morosov did not want to lose her. My father—and Elneth's father, of course —was a British army officer, and my mother a Russian. Both imbibed the nihilistic teachings of Morosov, and both were sent to Siberia for life. My father was shot' while making an attempt to escape. My poor mother, God be praised, is to be released I only had the blessed news this morning." Tears of jby were standing w. his eyes. His voice was shaken • with emotion. "I was writing to Elneth the glorious truth at the moment that you rang the door bell." "Writing to Elneth? Then she is not here?" "No," said Stanley. "She sailed for New York last Saturday." Ronald reeled like a man stricken. "A bit of a shock," Hugh Stanley continued. "Stay and have a cup of tea'with me, and I'll tell you all about it. There's no ( good in rushing about or being upset. Elneth's nearly in mid-Atlantic by this time." "You are right," Ronald admitted despondently. "And I can't begin the chase to-day. It is too late t© catch a North Gei man-Lloyd beat, so I must go by a Cunard on Wednesday." Hugh Stanley laughed. "So it's like that, is it?" he said. "Yes—just that, and aothing else." "Then we must have a long talk, and you shall take my joyous message about our mother to Elneth*' Heseltine, we are nearing the da'wn." "Thank Heaven for it. The night has been long, arid very dark." CHAPTER XXXVIII. j SUNLIGHT. | Just eight days later the Mauretania glided into her dock at New York in a blaze of dazzling sunshine. Everybody said that the summer heat was almost without precedent, and it Avas good-by to comfort from the minute the great Ounarder had touched tlie Gulf Stream. Ronald Heseltine had met with a number of startling surprises, and he was prepared for almost*anything now. Off Sandy Hook two saucy-looking tugs had borne down oh the ship, and both contained a number of newspaper men. They boarded the Mauretania, and they bearded the amazed Heseltine in a manner which left him quite breathless. The attack had been en- s tirely ' unsuspected. Not conversant with the ways of American reporters, he had fallen an easy prey to them. They produced copies of their respective papers, and he was referred to as "a great English engineer," "an inventor," "a millionaire," and what not. As though this were hot sufficiently startling, he was questioned regarding his private affairs, and read an authoritative denial of a marriage between him and the beautiful Lady Eva Lorington, only daughter of the blue-blooded earl of that name. Was it true." '■■'': "Quite true," he said. "Had there ever been any question of an alliance?" "Clear out!" he growled. "If you don't give vis an interview will be a couple of columns anyway." He knew that he was being snapshotted, and entered into the fun of the thing. "Oh, go ahead," he laughed, and they went ahead. To his infinite relief not one of them | bad an inkling of his real business in New York. He was there to pirate

American ideas, and copy American machinery. After thirty minutes of sweltering torture the victim was released. "And noAV he was standing in a file of people on the dock, waiting his turn to pass the barrier. He anticipated no more surprises. The reporters had left him hours since, ho bad got through teh Customs unscathed, and was dreaming of a swift ride to a good hotel, a bath, a change of clothing, a square meal, and then—Elneth. Steadily he advanced to the barrier, "passed in his checks" to the officer in charge, and sighed with satisfaction to find himself a free man. He looked about for a cab. A couple of negro porters eyed his heavy satchel, and became clamorous. /There were plenty of carriages near the entrance further on. He was passing onward when he heard his name spoken "Ronald! Rnoald!" His limbs weakened, and his limbs chilled. Then it plunged through his veins to bursting point, and he swung round, to come face to face with Ejlneth —his sweetheart, his beloved! He dropped his satchel, and clasped her in his arms in ful Iview of the crowd. But such scenes are not uncommon in such places, and the crowd surged on good-humouredly, appreciatively. "My darling Elneth," he cried, passionately. "How did you know that I was coming?" . "My brother sent a long cablegram, and it was all in the newspapers. Oh, Ronald, and you passed me by down there!" "I shall never pass you by again, dear love." "Sunlight, at last!" she said. (THE END.)