THE MYSTERY OF HILDA VAUGHAN.

Evening Star, Issue 11894, 23 May 1903, Page 2

THE MYSTERY OF HILDA VAUGHAN.

[Published by Special Arrangement.]

Bt Lloyd Lestek, Author of 'For Women Must Weep,' 'ln the Bondage of Fear,' etc., etc.

[Copyright,] CHAPTER XIX. A MIDNIGHT DISTURB AICCE. After dinner, from which Athol excused himself on the plea of business, Venetia and her friends held a consultation, and it was finally decided that Lord Helstone should escort his cousin that same night to Helstone. At first it was'thought advisable to wait until next morning; but .Mrs Rhys pointed '■«il that Mr Hawke would by that time be I'-i'iKired to enforce his authority, and i-wi-lon or flight would be out of the question. " N\t one must know where you have gone, my dear," said the old lady. "Yonr cousin will bo.able to procure an injunction against any warrant of Mr Hawke, pending the investigation of his conduct towards you ; but legal steps take time, and we must hide you until your guardian has been deprived of tho power to control you. I advise, therefore, that your cousin takes you at once to his stepmother. There is a -train just after nine o'clock_, and you can fet by that easily; you will reach Helstone y eleven." ""But Lady Heißtone—what will she think of my going there uninvited and so late?" objected Venetia. And, leaning her pretty head lovingly against Mrs Rhys's arm, she murmured: "lam so happy with you, but I dread this lady whom 1 have never even seen." " You will find Lady Charlotte most kind, I assure you," said Dr Rhys, who had Aught the low words. It pleased him to think the lonely girl' felt reluctant to leave bis home. A■s )'■' " Oh, that 'is quite certain—especially when she hears Venetia's plight," said Lord Helstone, heartily. "I expect Mr Hawke saw you enter the carriage with us," continued* Mrs Rhys; "if so, he will he is aware of your relationship—where Miss L'Estrange is staying. He will imagine she is at Helstone, after he has visited us and found her gone; therefore, to divert his suspicions, Geoffrey, you must return, to town immediately, and, when he watches your movements, pay mysterious errands to your seaside manor in Sussex; but do not go, near the Abbey on any account until the injunction is obtained." This plan met with approval; and time being brief, there was no delay in carrying it into effect. Within twenty minutes Venetia was ready for her night journey. The parting between the girl and her sweet old friend was very tender. Venetia kissed and clung to Mrs Rhys, pouring out her gratitude for the kindness which bad made the pretty house tho first glimpse of home she had had since early childhood. Then she turned to Nigel Rhys, who stood quietly near, a curious hard look in his eyes and a tension of the muscles about his finely-formed mouth. "Good-bye, Dr Rhys. I shall always think of you as a most kind friend," she said wistfully, wondering why the young doctor looked so cold and stern. He gazed down into the lovely eyes, liquid in their dark depths, with "feeling, moid his own dropped to hide tb<> expression which he knew Venetia must not see there. For ten years Nigel Rhys had not given more than a passing glance to any fair woman who chanced to cross his path. Early in life Berth* Cameron had jilted him for his cousin Athol, and the svound had been long healing, leaving him, as he belftved, indifferent to all women save his mother. But Venetia L'Estrange's sweet face and sad story, her gracious ways and unspoilt heart, had kindled once more the flame on Love's altar; and the young doctor, like the unfortunate gentleman in 'H.M.S. [Pinafore,' could only sigh: "I love; and love, alas! above my station." Although his birth and social standing were excellent, Nigel Rhys was only a hardworking young physician, before whom brilliant possibilities extended, and that was all.

Certainly he would not be permitted to address the beautiful heiress of old Sir Robert L'Estrange as a favored suitor. "It is useless and hopeless! I must and will crush out this second dream!" he muttered to himself. " God bless her beautiful life, and give her a worthy partner. She is not for me, and I am no child to cry for the star so far above me."

This was Nigel's resolution; but he could not quite keep the pain and regret out of his voice as be answered Venetia's innocently earnest farewell. "If you ever need a friend—not so very likely that now, I think—but should you do so, Miss L'Estrange, you will find, one always in me," he said. And his low tones shook slightly with the feeling it was impossible to conceal entirely. He pressed her hand closely, once more scanned, with eager, lingering gaze, the lovely features, then turned abruptly to Helstone, saying: lose the 9.15 if you are not smart. I will light you to the back entrance, which leads into a small street. At the little house opposite my gate my groom Jives. You can go through his place and out into the yard of a mews. There my cab will be ready for you; so that if Anthony Hawke should be reconnoitring this locality you will, I think, manage to elude his vigilance." Nigel Rhys'e precautionary measures had not been taken uselessly. " At that very moment the father and his hopeful son were patrolling Glenavon rond like sentries. Hawke had discreetly and warily kept in the track of the doctor's carriage, and ascertained at which house it stopped; he had then despatched his coachman back to the hotel to summon Warren, and throughout the evening a close espionage had been maintained, not only in front but at the end of the little street Which gave access to the garden doors of Glenavon road,

Thanks, however, to Dr P.hys's foresight. Lord Helstone and his cousin gained their conveyance in perfect safety, and wero driven to Eustou station in time for their train.

1 he journey proved uneventful. Geoffrey looted after his charming young relative's comfort in every possible way; but much conversation upon the subject engrossing their thoughts was not practicable or wise for several persons travelled in the same compartment as far «s Buckingham It was nearly ehnen o'clock, but Lord Helstone had no -difficulty in getting -i conveyance, and Venetia speedily found herself driving rapidly lilong the dark country roads to the Abbey. "You will soon be home, my dear child " said her cousin, reassuringly. " I can promise you a loving welcome and reliable protection." *

\ enetia sincerely hoped so, but she felt singularly timid and anxious over this introduction to strange scenes and faces. She sat as still as a mouse, trying not to show her nervousness, which increased the nearer she approached the great, dark silent Abbey. ' " I am afraid the household has retired " observed Geoffrey, putting his head out and scanning the frontage of his stately home A ever mind, Masted will be about [ dare say. He seldom goes to bed until twelve or one o clock.

Lord Helstone alighted, helped his cousin out of the fly, paid and dismissed the driver, and then rang a sharp, smart echoing peal at the hall bell, which was soon answered by Maxtcd, his lordship's staid and stately butler. "Everyone gone to bed, Maxted?" asked Lord Helstone, as he walked past this mildly-astonished functiohary "I believe so, my lord. Her ladyship retired earlier than usual. She gave no orders to expect your lordship this evening.

"No. I did not intend coming down until the end of this week; but circumstances changed my plans hurriedly Has your wife retired yet. Maxted? "if not If- ,i£ be good enou S h t0 att e"d en tills lady. The butler bowed and went away, wondering m his sage mind if the pale young stranger could be "my lord's wife " Venetia turned to her cousin as he conducted her across the hall.

We ought not to have come down so Me. Lady Helstone will think me a most ill-mannered person," she said, distresscdlv little goose! Dear old _\f ra iHaxted will soon make you snug, and the best thing you can do is to close those pretty eyes as toon as possible; and when you open them again, Venetia, you will ruid the mater smiling serenely upon vou " said Geoffrey, cheerily. ' ' In rv few moments Mrs Maxted fn,. JiaEdsome old housekeeper, made her appearance. Lord Helstone confided Venetia, to her care, heard that his stepmother's niece and Mr Birkmyre were at the Abbey and final!v sought his own rooms, which' fortunately, had been prepared in expectancy of his return somj time that week For some time Geoffrey sat before the fire in his room, thinking over the events of the day, of his lovely cousin and he-r perplexities, and various other matters, until he grew drowsy, and at last sank into a, heavv slumber.

How long this lasted he could not afterwards tell, but a sharp, strange noise suddenly awoke Lord Helstone. He sprang

up and looked about Turn, wondering if the tingling metallic sound was part of a nream, or some close reality. ■ As she stood thus between sleeping and waking, the same noise vibrated on his ear again, clear and snapping, the unmistakeable sound of a pistol-shot. Geoffrey rushed to his bedroom door, pulled it open, and looked out into the corridor.. CHAPTER XX. I A SINGCLAH INCIDENT—A LETTER FOII < HILDA VAUGHAN. The shining of a late-risen moon streamed its pale light through \h& row of mullioned windows opposite, illumining the high, arched gallery- and long line of closed doors. All was profoundly still. Geoffrey cast a rapid glance up ahd down, and then stepped across to the window fronting his door. Below lay the grassy court known as the Abbot's Garden, and the moonlight shed its silvery shimmer upon the grass. Buildings closed in this garden. Ou the right were the smoking and billiard rooms, on extended the picture-gallery. Immediately opposite was another line of windows, belonging to a range of apartments usually assigned to bachelor guests. Below these narrow-pointed casements was an arched arcade, formerly a part of the Abbey cloisters, which led directly through a Gothic door into the great central hall of the building. Geoffrey suddenly fancied he could detect something moving in the obscurity of the arches. The light was too uncertain for him to be able to discern clearly the figure. It was a dark shape, and certainly human. "What on earth is that?" he muttered to himself. "There is some mischief on foot, I fear. I shall go down and meet this mysterious visitant. Perhaps he, she, or it can explain the mystery of that noise —which was a pistol-shot if I ever heard one."

Lord Helstone wasted no time in idle speculation. Swiftly and silently he traversed the corridor, crossed the picture gallery, and began to descend the great staircase, when a sight met his eye which brought the master of the Abbey to an abrupt halt. Coming up the first flight of stairs was a tall, womanly shape, clad in a pale-hued gown. In one white hand she bore a lamp, and the brilliant rays from this streamed upon her lovely face and shining waves of golden hair. She looked like a spirit of the moonlight as her snowy, unshod, feet glided slowly up the oaken, shallow, polished steps. Her pure, delicatelymoulded features were slightly raised, and her eyes started in a strange blank look at Lord Helstone, whose lively interest was roused, not only by the fair strangers loveliness, but the singularity of her appearance. He waited by the landing, his heart thrilling with a new sensation, odd and inexplicable! as he watched the lady coming nearer, still with that blank, unseeing look, although her face was turned to the very space which his tall person occupied.

Suddenly the truth flashed upon Lord Helstone—the lady was walking in her sleep.

Scarcely breathing, in his anxiety not to startle this fair somnambulist, Geoffrey iemained still as a statue. He could ratch the soft swish of her silken robe and detect the odor of some delicious perfume, whkh he ever afterwards associated in memoir with the scene of this night. Nearer and nearer, until the tinv. daintv feet climbed the last sta ; r, and "the lady turned m the direction of the west corridor bhe walked so close to Geoffrey that her robe swept his foot in posing, and at that moment the young man almost cried out in his astonishment. A tiny, silver-mounted pistol, almost like a child's tov, was clutched in her right hand. Her countenance wa<? strained, harassed, and full of trouble, indicating that whatever scene she imagined herself taking part in was one of pain and sorrow.

Lord Helstone allowed her to precede him, then he followed noiselessly in her wake. He was aware of the danger any sudden waking from her trance mfght entail, and dared not attempt to rouse her to consciousness. All he could do was to watch and see no harm befell her.

Presently the lady paused at the junction of the west corridor with the picture gallery. Here a great bronze statue of Italian workmanship occupied a niche, ft wa » the figure of a man ,in ducal robes, standing on a pedestal of black marble. A carved oak chcur stood by its side, and Genoa velvet curtains draped the arch. The lady set down her lamp on the floor and went close to the statue, tropin" about the pedratnl as though hunting for something. Helstone, intensely curious, drew near enough to touch her" by putting out his hand ; but he stood slightly on one" side, so that he could watch the expression of bcr features.

By-and-bye she stopped groping, and stepped back, as if considering. Then she mounted the chair, and extended her arm behind the bronze figure. Geoffrey noticed

the little pistol's silver mountings flashing in the lamplight as she lifted her hand. He then heard a soft Bound, like the.metallie note produced by metals clicking against each other, fhe lady withdrew her hand, descended from the chair, stood a second with clasped fingers in a thankful attitude, then, all needless of her lamp, she turned and glided away down the west corridor, and entered a suite of rooms opposite Lady Helstone's apartments. ''Well," remarked Lord Geoffrey to himself, " thjs is a strange affair! That lovely girl must be Lady Charlotte's niece; but what on earth causes her to wander about the house in hex sleep? I suppose she fired that shot. Let' me see if she has really hidden that deadly little toy in the hollow.' Geoffrey mounted the chair, and put his arm up and round the man of bronze, at whose back stood the representation of a rough, broken tree-trunk. In the top of this was a crevice about six inches wide and ten or eleven deep. Into this Geoffrey inserted his fingers. They touched something cold and hard; he seized it and drew It out.

Lord Helstoue carried the little pistol back to his rooms, where lights were burning. Then he carefully examined the object. On the handle was engraved in silver "A.C." and a crest. Beyond that there was nothing to distinguish the weapon. Geoffrey Helstone mused over the strange incident for some time. He fancied that the lovely somnambulist must be his stepmother's niece, Miss Neville—'■since she was the one lady staying at the Abbey, excepting his cousin Venetia.

After some cogitation the young master of the house decided he would say nothing about finding the pistol, which at an early opportunity he would restore to its hidingplace; but he intended mentioning the occurrence to his stepmother, and leaving the question of telling her niece of her propensity or not in her hands. With this resolution he sought his pillow, and soon fell asleep, only to repeat the scene in his dreams.

Disturbed as his rest bad been, Lord Helstone rose at his wonted early hour, and was the first member of the family to enter the sunnv breakfast room.

He was standing on the hearth in tho Englishman's favorite attitude, scanning a morning paper, when Venetia came in, looking bright and fresh as a rose after her night's rest, yet withal a little timid as she glanced nervously about the room. "We are patterns of punctuabty, it seems, this morning," observed Geoffrey throwing aside his paper and giving the gir! a cousinly greeting. " Was your sleep undisturbed, Venetia?"

" Yes, on the whole, Cousin Geoffrey," she 1 replied. " I fancied I heard a curious noise, for all the world like someone letting off firearms. It sounded under my window, and I went to look out, but could not see anything, so I thought I must bo mistaken."

"Where did Mrs Maxted put vou?" abruptly a?ked her cousin.

j Venetia kughed—a gay, musical little laugh.

I "Why, Cousin Geoffrey, how could I possibly tell you that? My room is somei where on the west side of the Abbey. The window looks into a large grass-covered ootirt." j "Ah!" • • I Lord Helstone had barely uttered the interjection when the rustle of skirts announced a newcomer—or two, rather, for Lady Helrtone was accompanied by Hilda, whom she had met on leaving her rooms. Lady Charlotte noticed her stepson's curious, searching glance at her supposed niece, and the singular air of satisfaction which succeeded the inquiring gaze. Her ladyship's own fair, proud countenance lighted up joyfully as she hastened forwards, exclaiming: "My dear boy, welcome home again! It was such a delightful surprise when I read your little note on waking. lam thankful you have returned safely." 1 Lord Helstone put his strong aims about Lady Charlotte and kissed her fondly. He loved his stepmother very truly, and souaht to make up in some degree for the sorrow his mother's heart had known. He knew the deep, strong, affectionate soul which the society hauteur concealed from almost everyone save himself, and his filial regard had been the sole green oasis in Lady Charlotte's love-barren life. "Geoffrey, you look healthier than when you left England. Your trip has done you good, I can see," said her ladyship, fondly. "Hildred, my dear, allow me to introduce my son to you. This is Richard's daughter, Geoff." Lord Helstone's warm blood flushed his fair Saxon face as he turned to honor the introduction, and met the lustrous, lovely eyes of Hilda, now brilliant and animated with expression.

Yet they were the same eyes he had seen a few hours before so fixed" and blank. As Helstone had suspected, the heroine of his night adventure and Miss Neville were identical.

If he had thought her beautiful in her

trance-like appearance, seen in the freshness of morning, a smile on her lips and the light of a true womanly soul shining in her magnificent eyes, Geoffrey Helstone acknowledged to himself that the young heifess was the fairest woman he had ever seen.

Venetia, with her shrewd girlish wit and tact, kept mostly in the background while the. trio were exchanging compliments and greetings; but presently Lady Charlotte caught sight of 'the stately, slender maiden standing by a window which overlooked the gardens. / "Who is that young girl, my dear Geoffrey?'.' inquired the lady, in a low voice. " I have not noticed her until this moment, although I heard that you had brought someone with you. Who is she?" In equally low tones, Geoffrey made his stepmother acquainted with Venetia's story and- predicament. '

"I felt sure you would not refuse your protection and love to my father's relative, mater; and, as thq ffeed was so urgent, I could not communicate to ask your permission," he said, in conclusion. "Certainly; there was no necessity, my dear Geoff. Of course I will shield and guard the poor child under such circumstances," warmly replied Lady Charlotte. "I know something of these Hawkes, and I would rather see the child in her coffin than under their control."

Lady Helstone crossed over to the window where Venetia stood watching the birds, aid gently laid her hand upon the girl's shoulder. Venetia looked round, met the kind glance of Lady Charlotte's eyes, and then the lady's arms were folded tenderly about her.

"My son has told me something of your troubles, my dear," she said, in her sweet, full voice. "I am truly grieved for you, and will do all I can to protect you from the unnatural people who are hunting you. You will be quite safe here, Venetia." Bending her stately head, the handsome woman pressed her lips to the girlish brow, so pure, frank, and noble; while Geoffrey stood by, glad that his stepmother had so warmly welcomed the young fugitive to her home.

But very soon his eyes wandered back to Hilda's face, and he sought her side as she stood by the breakfast table putting a few dainty touches to the floral adornments. " You love flowers, Miss Neville. I 'can tell by the way you handle them that you prize them," he said, for the sake of making conversation.

"I am certainly fond of all flowers, but I give my preference to English blossoms. Lord Helstone," Ehe answered.

"May I ask your favorite one?" Hilda smiled, and the fascination of that smile was a thing to remember. "I have no fav.orrfce. Perhaps if I love one more than another it is the clove-pink," she answered.

Hildred," said Lady Charlotte, approaching the young couple with a beaming face, "here is a very sweet companion for you. My husband's niece, Miss L'Estrange, has come to stay with me. I will tell vou why presently." J _ "It is a cousinship, I suppose?" laughed .Lord Helstone, surveying the two younc maidens, one fair as a lily, the other dark° eyed, dark-haired, with rich complexion and nobly-moulded features.

«u \ .?™. afraid not," answered Hilda; but if Miss L'Estrange will permit me, I snail try to win a warmer affection than cousinly regard." Jff 14 ' j°° k v ed «P at the beautiful speaker, and a happy smile curved her Ups \T,Jn 0 V r £ ver >V k ! nd . t0 sa y that/Miss Seville, she replied simply, experiencing a schoolgirl adoration for this lovelv woman, whose gracious manner excited ft in these first moments of their acquaintance. *

Rpllo is a laggard this morning," observed Lady Charlotte, glancing at the clock. "Ah, I think I hear him coming," she added, as a firm tread approached the door.

It opened, and Roland Birkmyre appeared. He greeted Helstone with much warmth, and they were soon, deep in earnest coriversation. The two men were old friends, and not having met for six or seven years, they naturally found an inexhaustible fund of subject matter to discuss. JJirkmyre had reconsidered his decision. Instead of leaving- the Abbey the day following his discovery of Hilda Vaughan's secret, (he young man had lingered on—ostensibly for the sake of meeting Lord Helstone, but really for Hilda's own sake. The breakfast was almost concluded when a servant brought in the post bag. Lady Charlotte distributed the contents. Her own was the larger share of correspondence, but there were two letters for Mr Birkmyre and one for Hilda. Roland's lips were compressed as he looked over the first note; then he lifted his eyes and glanced across at Hilda. There was a world of meaning in that look. The girl had become pale as death. The smile died off her lips, the light left her eyes.