The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 316, 30 November 1910, Page 7

The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

(All Rights Reserved.)

> » By the Author or "Stella,"- "Two Keys," Etc., Etc.

PART 0. "What would . you do with him, then ?" the woman inquired, earnestly. "Oh," she added, feelingly, "he was such a beautiful child ! I was sure that he belonged to a good family, and it nearly hroke my heart to have him sent to Unit home." "I have not yet decided what to do with him, if 1 do not succeed in gaining some clue to his parentage," Mr. Carrol gravely replied. "I have no home of my own—no friends with whom .1 could place him ; but of one thing I am sure—l shall never allow him to drift back into the slums, whence, he came to me. You feel sure that the woman was his nurse. ?" "Certainly ; she could have been nothing else. There was nothing in common between them, and, besides, she wore the nurse's cap and apron, while the babv looked Ihe little aristocrat in every line a nd feature." "And does now," said her Companion, "in spite of his rude life. 1 was amazed, after lie had been subjected to a vigorous bath and was decently dressed, to mid what an interesting child lie is. Will it be possible I'or one to see this woman. Mad Moll, as she is called '?" he inquired, in conclusion. "Yes, if you wish, although I am sure you will reap no satisfaction from the interview. But I will arrange for her to come to you," the nurse returned, with ready compliance, as she arose to leave the room.

She was a quiet, demure-looking finally returned, and was followed by a woman of perhaps thirty-five years.

She was a quiet, demure.lookiing person, having "a good, honest face, in spite of its vacant expression, black hair and eyes. She was very neatly clad, had a. plump, well-form-ed figure, although she was somewhat awkward in her movements. "This is the gentleman who wish--2d to see you, Mary," said the nurse, by way of introduction ; and Mary made a n awkward curtsey, but without betraying the slightest interest in her visitor.

"I suppose it will be of no use to question her ?" Mr. Carrol rem a rk-

"Not the slightest. That was tried times without number years ago," the woman returned.

An expression of sadness swept over the young man's countenance : but after studying the unfortunate's woman's face intently for a mw moments, he put a couple of shillings into her hand, and kindly told her that she might go. She now looked eagerly up at him, and laughed out like a child that had received a coveted toy. thus showing that she knew something of the value of money if she was sillyon all other subjects. She. thanked him, made another curtsey, and then, at a gentle signal from the nurse, left the room.

At the end of a month both Carrol and his protege were in excellent health, a nd the clay dawned on which the Seavcr party were expected to arrive in London.

During the afternoon Mr. Carrol called at the house to which V.r. Seavcr had directed him, but to his disappointment he was told that the family had not yet arrived. On his return to his own lodgings he found a letter from that gentleman, telling him that they would be one day late in getting to London ; but that they should 'look for a call from him very soon. The The letter closed as follows ' " Mrs. Seavcr and Miss Richardson join me in kind regards and the hope that you arc full.V recovered from the accident which so nearly proved a fatal disaster. We should have lost our dear girl but for you." A very tender, tremulous smile quivered about the young man's expressive mouth as he read this. "Ah, thev can have no suspicion of how ' dear' she has become to me," he murmured.

The second day after receiving Mr. Stavcr's note he made a careful toilet, and started out to make his call.

First, however, he bent his steps towards a well-known florist's in Oxford-street.

As he drew near to it he observed a lady just emerging from a bookshop. She was well and tastefully dressed, and there was something familiar about her air and figure, although he could not. see her face, that sent the swift colour into his cheek and an electric thrill inio every pulse. Almost at th» instant a tall, coarse-looking man approached her, and addressed her with a menacing air.

She turned and glanced at him with a look of astonishment, and now' Mr. Carrol saw that the ladywas Florence Richardson, as he had already suspected.

As he approached nearer he heard Ihe man observe, in a harsh tone of irritation '

"You can't plav Unit game on inc. you obstinate hussy ! You just conic along with me if you don't want to make a scene." "I do not know what you mean, si;-," said Florence, backing away from him, with an air of hauteur that l.ecanie her well, her blue eyes Hashing' indignant fire upon her assailant- "I never s a w you before, and \ou will let me pass, if you please." "Well, but I don't ' please,' Miss Impertinence', and you never saw me before, so "you think !" sneered the man, coarsely. . -'lt's pretty well done, my girl, but it's a game that won't work ; so you must come along, as you are told, or—there'll be a devil of a row—d'ye hear ?" lie laid his powerful hand upon her shoulder as he concluded, and would have forced her away with him, signalling at the same moment a passing cab, if Mr. Carrol had not suddenly appeared upon the scene and confronted him. With an Howard blow of his hand

he released Florence fi'om his grasp. • "What is the meaning of this outrage ?" lie sternLv demanded, a ,s he at' the same moment shot a reassuring look into the frightened eyes of the fair girl. The man gave vent to an angry oath and cringed with pain, for the blow: had been no light one. "It's none o' your infernal business, you meddlin' young popinjay ! Why don't yer mind yer own bis'ness ? The girl belongs to me, and with me she's going."

And stalking t,-> Florence's side, he again seized her rudely by, the ami. One agi'e spring forward, one quirk powerful- stroke straight from the shoulder, and Florence's great., rawboned, ungainly persecutor lay sprawling upon the pavement at on; hero's feet. CHAPTER xr. A BID FOR FORTFXE. The next moment the young man turned to Florence with t lie old luminous smile, which she remembered so well, and as calm and serein as if he had just, shoved some light, inanimate obstacle from his path.

"1 hope he did not hurt you," he said, putting out his hand to clasp the trembling one which she extended to him. while his heart leaped with secret joy at I he confiding look which she (lashed at him. "No: but. oh, 1 am so glad that vou c a me to m\- assistance !" she responded, somewhat nervously. and still clinging to his hand, as if I'uirful of being spirited a way from him. "Have you a ny "lea who the villain is?" he questioned, drawing hei aside, for the attention of people around them had been attracted to the stunned and prostrate figure on the g-round.

•■Not Hie slightest." the fair girl returned, with a shiver. "1 left auntie in a shop opposite, while 1 ran across here to get a book that I very much wanted. dust as 1 stepped outside, he accosted me. talking as if he knew me. and insisting that T must go with him. What should I have done if you had not come to my rescue '•'"

"Why, some one else would have come." he returned, smiling- down into her troubled eyes.

" Ah, but T a m very glad it wasn't 'some one else.' because—because I know you." she confessed naively and shyly ; then added, 'And now, will you take me back to auntie ?" "Certainly; I was just on, my Way to call upon you." he explained.' Florence, anxious to get out of sight, hurried her companion into a shop across the street, where she found Mrs. tteaver awaiting her return.

That lady greeted Mr. Carrol most Cordially made light of the incident. Then 'they' fell "to chatting about more interesting subjects, until Florence mentioned that Mr. Carrol had been on his way to call upon them, when he so opportunely came to her rescue, whereupon Mrs. Seavcr' insisted that he must come home to lunch with them, and two minutes later they were all rolling on their way toward Portland-square, where the Seavers were staying-

Here they found Mr. Seavcr, who was heartily glad to meet the youngman, and in whose estimation he rose higher than ever when he learned of the. efficient service which he had rendered his ward that morning. They passed a very pleasant hour over their meal, and after smoking a cigar with his host. Mr. Carrol took leave of his friends, promising to join them at a reunion of some oi their fellow-voyagers, which had been arranged for the next evening. On his way Mr. Carrol purchased the flowers he had intended to take to Florence, and ordered them to he sent to her with a note of explanation.

The next evening, when:he presented himself at their rooms in Port-land-square, he found quite a number of people present whose acquaint ace he had made on the steamer, and conspicuous among them was Mr. Addison Merrill.

A frown of exceeding annoyance contracted that gentleman's brow as Mr. Carrol entered the pretty draw-ing-room looking the manly man every inch of him. "Curse him!" he muttered under his breath. "The beggar hasn't lost any of his good looks getting over his accident. What on earth is he here to-night ror ? It can't be that Seavcr has invited him to go along with our party." This reunion had been arranged chielly for the purpose of making up a partv to travel under one courier through Oermany and Switzerland.

Mr. Carrol had not heard of it. but in the course of the evening Mr. Seaver broached the subject. and suggested that lie join the excursionists.

lie would have been glad to hav. joined the party, but he was not able to leave London just then, and consequently wa« obliged to decline the kind offer.

The next morning the " Se a .ver party," as it was called, started on their trip to Swit-/.erland. The following week Mr. Carrol

closed his last business transaction connected With the sell ling of his father's estate, found himself a free man, although an almost penniless one.

His first act after this was to write to the head nurse of.the hospital, where Mad Moll had so long had a home, and beg her to use her influence with the' authorities to indue- them to allow the woman t o receive scientific treatment for the restoration of her mental faculties. Two days later he was somewhat dismayed to receive a reply staling that the woman had disappeared in (he most, mysterious manner some two weeks previous. Mr. Carrol deeply regretted thus losing sight, entirely of the woman, for upon "her and the restoration of her faculties had rested his only hope of ever being al.de to diseo\er the parentage of his protegee. But this perplexity was soon swallowed up b\- ww interests, for somparties whom he had come in contact with while settling his father's business had become s u impressed by his unimpeachable 'honesty and manliness, together the thorough knowledge which he had manifested relative"' to the business, that they proposed to reorganise a new company, giving him a third interestfor his knowledge ; ,nd services.

This was a very ilafferiiig and promising offer, and he immediately closed with it, although'the arrange-

meat would necessitate repeated absences from London and the leaving of dailies behind him. This he regretted, for he was becoming very fond of the boy. who in return fairly idolised him: but. the opportunity was not one to he slighted, as it was sure to lead him to even belter things, and the separation, though trying, would have t () be borne.

Therefore he sent, .lames to a boarding .school for hoys, and obtaining from I'r. Field, the doctor who had attended him. and who was also deeply interested in him. a promise to look in upon him occasionally-, he was ready for his first trip, which, would take him from London for from three !o six months at a time.

Before leaving, however, he made an effort to look up his relnlhcs; but. on paying a visit, to their es-

tate, he found it deserted and no evidence that the place had been occupied for some time. This was ~ keen disappointment in him. for he was so alone. he had hoped io establish some lie of" kinship: but. thinking the family might 1),. travelling abroad, he fried to comfort, himself with the promise of seeking i hem again- upon his ret urn from his t rip. I<i '-"•

Nearly two months have elapsed ! since the Seavers. with their ward. ; sailed for Europe, an d we now find Waiter l.eighton located in New York, whither he had returned about ; the Ist, of September. He had bee.-, in anything but an 'enjoyable frame of mind since the i departure of Floreii'-e. for her quiet | and decided repudiation of their pre- \ vious relations had warned him that i the girl had more strength of purpose than he had ever giv.-n her credit for, and if also enraged him bevond measure to ha Vl - '"'en so : baulked in his plans. ; Another circumstance hud served fi j greatly augment his irritation and i annoyance.

It will he remembered t hat on his return from his last interview with Florence he had found a visitor in his rooms—a man whoni he both hated and feared, and one whom he had believed to be dead, and thus helpless ever to rise in judgment against him.

A stormy scene had e n sued : but although the man had finally departed without having accomplished the object for which he had come, the knowledge that he was still, living and might again rise in his path, seeking redress for the wrongs he had suffered, was a constant source of annoyance ' o him. Six weeks passed thus. e\rry day only serving io make him more and more dissatisfied with his life of drudgery and monotony. < hie evening. after returning late from his club, where he had played a losinggame at. poker and drank far more than was good (or him. he threw himself heavily into a 'hair to 'mish his cigar before ret iring. and drew a paper from his pocket .

Tie read for half an hour or more. :ind then turned carelessly to a page of advertisements, la/.ily running his eye up and down the \nrious columns.

All at once his ga-v became fastened upon an advertisement, which caused him to almost, leap from his chair and vv.'vy a fom of colour to recede from his face as he breathlessly read it through. It'ran thus: "Wanted information regarding the nearest of kin to Sir .lulien 'l.eighton. Bart., or l.ady Eeighton. Relatives of the abovenamed will learn "f something to their advantage by conferring with Wellington and Hayes, solicitors. No. 17, Lincoln's Inn fields, London. England."

"This means, of course. I hat s ir .lulien and Lady l.eighlon are both dead, and left no heirs," Hi,- young man mused, with his heart in his mouth, as he realised whu< the demise of the baronet and his wife meant to the next-of-kin—a,, estate in the" south of Kngland worth many thousands of pounds, with a. rentroll and a banking a-couni would put, the incomes of some of the New York magnates in the shade. "Ret me. see," he continued, "what is my story ? I have it right at my tongue's end. and it's such rare good luck that I ha\'' all th- papers also to prove niv position. I'll look them over carefully to-morrow: my head isn't clear enough to-night. Curse that brandy ! I wish I hadn't touched it." At the usual hour he repaired Io the bank where he was employed, sought the president. and showed him the advertisement, which he had discovered Ihe evening previous. together with the proofs that he was the nearest, of kin to the late wealthy baronet, and notified him of his intention to start immediately for England to secure his inheritance. Mr. Wright Vas greatly surprised by this piece of news. a nd the heretofore scarcely-riot iced clerk at once arose many degrees in his est ima t ion. Walter l.eighton was hastening on his w,-iv Io procure (he tickets for his passage. when. on turning a corner, he suddenly came face to

face with \inva I- olsoii), Florence s !' i'.\-niai<l • \ " Alia ! "Mr, r.eighlon slu- exi claimed, in familiar tone. ''l was | iusl, (in my way to tin: bank to see you." ; • • "S'ou were going to 1 lie hank to ' 51 .,. j, ■>" I .eight on repeated. with i jv.' emphasis, accompanied by ! a. 11'"" ii■•Yes, 1 ata in need of sonic | MUiiii'v. ami I thought von might he i obliging enough to help inc." 111>■ girl ' ret urned, with n confident ial i ilk - I Iler companion Hushed witli anI no,\ aiice, a ii(] an angry I'i nit sprang to his iijis hul hi' checked it. | "limn !" said l.eighlon. t hough t - | fully. as lie drew forth his wallet, and | began to 1001-i over the notes in it. | "I rather think 1 can lei. you have a j trifle Anna, and." lie added, looking her steadily in the eye. "provided i | should he able to do something I handsome for you later on. 1 supj pose. I could depend upon you to : swear to a certain ceremony which ! von saw performed a tew weeks ai;o, | eh ?" i " What. goud would that do ; you ?" curtly demanded Anna- "It | wasn't you who was married to -Miss ! Florence." " What do you mean Anna'.'" sharply demanded (he young' man, who had taken this win; It; tind out how much tlii. 1 girl really knew. She la.ughetl at him saucily. (To be Cont tnued.)