“AN EVIL ANGEL”

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20499, 16 May 1938, Page 12

“AN EVIL ANGEL”

An Exciting Mystery Story.

(By JOHN MIDDLEMASS.)

CHAPTER XI. continued) Of none of this, however, did Nina speak, though thoughts, that should have no place in the merry life her hostess and Marie were seeking to Institute at the Grange, would obtrude, si:**, hid them out of s'ght. j A bright look was even now dawn- j ing on her face u gleam us of day light in her eyes, as Marie came danc- ! Ing along the passage, singing a gay ! refrain out of a new opera. j ' Whpre Is mother?" she asked, j stopping In her melody as she entered. ( ".-he has just gone out by the other j door Into the grounds. 1 think," for i Mrs Cooper was far less good at act- j Ing a part than was Nina, and as she ! did not wish "the chlldie" to see ill ! omens written on her brow, she had suddenly escaped. "All right. She loves a solitary i walk—communes with spirits, 1 believe. Poor dear mother, 1 wish slip would hp more like us. and learn to enjoy herself as we do—von arp enjoying yourself, arp you not. Nina? and you like thp dear Gomtesse? Isn't she sweet ? There is no one I ever met that 1 love like Feo.” "Oh. Marie!" "I do not mean you. you old silly. You are part of myself—like mother —but she d's a dear —say she Is a dear—" "Gomtesse Feodore is wonderfully kind." said Nina with just a little iciness in her tone, which she vainly tried to warm. Marie, however, did not. notice it. She went babbling on: "We've been working at the stage ' with Gervase A'Court —he is a host in himself for management- Oh. how I shall love to act! These theatricals will be a real triumph" and she skipped round the room, once more trilling a chanson d’amour. Was Nina under the spell of Mrs ''.neper’s auguries, or why did she tremble and feel heart sick, as she remembered the gay spirits in which thoughtless Marie had indulged In that memorable gloaming, that, should have been her wedding-eve. All, however, she ventured to say was. "Is the play finally, fixed, and are the parts filled up?’’ I "Not quite—we are going to have i what. Feo calls a ‘conseil d’intimes,' and then we shall settle it—Jacob Northey—that is Lord Yesey is cOrning I to-day—oil Nina, how strange it will i seem." i ‘‘Strange indeed." murmured Nina. I “I am obliged to be gay and laugh I and sing so as to forget," want on Marie—“but Jacob is a good fellow — he was very thoughtful when —yes. I like Jacob—poor dear Yesey always spoke up for him.” "Perhaps. Marie—” , “No, don't say it. T spe it on your j lips. it is you Jacob fancies, not me , —oh. Nina—suppose you were to be- . come Countess of Yesey—well, 1 f should not mind that is not much —" i

"Never. Marie, quite impossible." "Why impossible?” "I shall never marry. 1 cannot—please—never say this again.” "Dear, darling old Nina, why should you be so moved and excited about it. ■ You are so funny about men. I can- | not make you out. lam sure Mr j Browne thinks you are the strangest j woman lie ever came across. 1 see | him looking at you. with eyes that are ! full of wonder and surprise.” l "Yery likely." was the murmured answer from blanched lips. "Perhaps 1 too think that, he is strange." "And you are right. Why he won't art in a play l can t think, and nothing will persuade him. To hear him talk, one would imagine he was quite an old man. and Gervase tells me he is not forty. He says he must have lived two lives in one to make him so prematurely old and grave." Nrna did not answer this, had she done so slip might perhaps have been able to shed some light on why Hamilton Browne was so much more seriporaries. While they were still talking, the door was thrown open by the butler French, who had come to Hie Grange for a time at the request of his young mistress—who disliked Gomtesse Fen's black attendants, and so d'd French, added to which he too seemed to see ghosts at every turn, so preoccupied and lachrymose was his mien. Poor French, he was a sensitive man. and had never quite got over the shock of Lord Yesey's death —the fact of Miss Marie having become so gay and lively not a little increased his gloom. It was therefore a sharp trial to French to announce the Earl of Yesey, as he was compelled to do when he ushered Jacob Northey into the presence of he two young ladies, who. although they both of them expected Jacob and liked him. were nevertheless much taken aback by the sudden resurrection of the Earl of Yesey, as it almost seemed to be. Northey himself—as he would infinitely have preferred to be called—was fuly aware of the effect his name must have on poor little Marie, and it was with very sympathetic gentleness that he accosted her. and. not only Marie but Nina, for Marie was not far wrong, when she said she was sure that Jacob felt a more than usual amount of tenderness for Nina Fonblanque. He did so. and though he was not. in a position to speak out the estates belonging to the Earldom of Yesey being in terrible disorder, still lie hoped, with ttie assistance of the keen little lawyer Ford. that, the day was not, very far distant, when he might ask Nina to be his wife. That her answer would be "Impossible. I cannot, marry,” was a reply

of which he never dreamt, and would have fronted as mere coyness, had It been presented to his consideration, as did Marie, who only laughed at. her friend's diffidence, and want of belief in herself. Bui. of marriage there was no question for the moment. The first shock the well known name of the murdered Earl had produced being over, they received Jacob with the cordiality and real welcome that his goodness merited.

Jacob was indeed a worthy fellow, who had by no means deteriorated by becoming an earl—nay, rather, his good qualities and thought for others seemed to have increased with his own advancement in social life. "Feo will be here directly," said Marie in her off-hand way—"she is writing a letter in her boudoir. She will be glad to see you—so good of you to come—good, too. so say you will will help us in the little play we are getting up—quite a work of charity you know—the people about here are very dull, they want to he roused and amused —and so do we.” Enter Gomtesse Feodore to whom Jacob, Lord Yester, had not yet been introduced. Marie at once left oIT chattering, and presented him with her usual graceful aplombHe bowed very low, almost as if Gomtesse Feodore had been a royal personage, and did not attempt to take the hand she held out to him. She looked half amused, half pleased as—almost nervously. Nina thought-—she murmured a few words of welcome to the Grange in her pretty FrenchF.nglish, the foreign accent being even more observable than usual. Gervase A'Court came into the room, and French, accompanied by the hlackies, having brought in tea, the conversation became general, if general talk it can he called when nothing but the forthcoming theatricals was discussed. Nevertheless Jacob did not appear to be wholly at his ease. He treated the Gomtesse Feodore with marked deference and politeness, while he glanced every now and then at Nina, “A darkey, and they never told me,” that was probably what he was thinking, A'Court decided, for he knew that Jacob had an insuperable dislike to ; Eastern blood, therefore he had carefully not told him that Comtesse Feodore was not wholly French. "He'll get used to it. as we have done," he decided. "She is much too fasci-aiing not to make a captive of old Jacob."

Meanwhile Jacob did not appear to he captivated, except l ,v Nina, but he entered con amor** into ihe spirit of the theatricals, and not apparently going to retreat because the Gomtesse was ''black" not likely when Nina was of the parly.

He tried hard to persuade her *hat she must take an active part, but her determination not to do so Nina was invincible.

‘‘We have the ladies’ parts filled quite. My maid, who is a personne instruite will take the femme de menage. She has in France played some roles." said the Comtesse, interrupting his persuasions, since she was by no means anxious for Nina's help—"what we do not have," she went

! on— "and what mi lor! can perhaps | help us to obtain is un jeune premier j — a man who can play a lover with ari dour and verve. | "Morley!" shouted Jacob, so elec- ; trifying the assembled group .that no one spoke.

“The very man,” he continued, "he I is in England for a few weeks —called ! back unexpectedly to settle up the affairs of his aunt. Lady Harrogate, who died a couple of months ago. You could not have a better man.” j "I do not have the acquaintance of I Mr Morley." said the Comtesse. "but I shall be glad to do so. I believe I he is most charming, and quite grand seigneur.” "Exactly—shall I send him a ‘wire’ . —or perhaps a letter would be better. ] I could give fuller particulars.”

"A la bonne heure,” said Comtesse Feodore. "Mi lor is more obliging, let us hope that Monsieur Morley will equal him in courage and affability. While she spoke, she moved some objects on her own writing table, and arranged it for Jacob’s use. Meanwhile Marie and Nina looked at each other in pallid dismay, while A’Court tried to catch Lord Yesey’s eye, and without being observed by the Gomtesse, give him a glance of warning—but in vain. But Jacob and the •Comtesse were imperturbable anjd bent on securing the services of the man Jacob knew was a first rate artiste. Neither of them seemed to have the slightest suspicion that his coming might be otherwise than most agreeable, not only to everyone present hut to himself —why should they? Marie had never confided aught about Philip Morley to the Comtesse. Philip himself had made no confidences to his friend. Jacob. But would Morley come? How would he regard this invitation? In what spirit would his reply be couched. (To be continued)