Time, The Avenger

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 401, 4 October 1911, Page 2

Time, The Avenger

(All Rights -Eeservefl.J

THE UNRAVELLING OF A STRANGE WILL MYSTERY.

By HEDLEY RICHARDS, Author of "The Haighs of Hillcrest," "From Mill to Mansion,," "Diana's Inheritance," Etc., Etc.

TWELFTH IN ST ALMENT At that moment Mona entered th( room dressed for going out, and kissing her mother, she told her to be sure and have a pleasant day. Ther Nina kissed Lady Dalrymple, promising that she would drive Mona home after they had afternoon tea ; and her ladyship accompanied them tc the door, where a little pony carriage, drawn by a pair of dapple greys stood waiting. A groom stood at their heads, and when the ladies had seated themselves, he took his place on a little back seat and in another moment they were driving quickly down the short avenue to the lodge gates. Just as they turned into the lane they saw Gar Hatton, who was walking at a leisurely pace, looking decidedly doleful.

Nina checked the ponies and he came quickly towards the carriage, his face brightening when he saw Mona, and there was something in his manner as he shook hands with her that struck her as unusual.

" Are you never coming to see us again ? " she inquired. " Certainly. May I come this afternoon, Miss Hudspith ? " he asked, eagerly. " Yes ; and I will give you some tea." Then, noticing the expression of joy in his face she said, "You can come early." " Thank you ; " and she touched the ponies lightly with the whip and they sprang forward, leaving Gar with his hat in his hand looking after them.

" She might have asked me to luncheon ; but I must be thankful for small mercies," he thought, as he went quickly onward, hoping he might catch a glimpse of them in the town. "It is quite likely," he told himself, "that they will have some shopping to do but Avhen he reached the town there was no sign of the pony carriage. Meanwhile the girls chatted as they drove on, Mona feeling that the world was brighter for the brief glance of Gar, and totally unconscious that her friend was watching her. When they arrived at Gelder Hall, Nina led the way to her own sitting room which adjoined her chamber, and placing Mona in an easy-chair she seated herself opposite tier friend, saying : " Well, Mona ?

There was something questioning in her tone, and Mona looked at her in surprise.

" Have you anything to tell me, dear, about yourself and Gar ? I have waited expecting to hear you were engaged. Mother and I were talking about it the very day before she was taken worse," said Nina, in reply to her look. " I didn't care to bother you with any of my own troubles or I should lave told you that it is all ended," and Mona had a little trouble to keep back her tears. " Ended ! Have you refused him?" asked Nina, in surprise. " Father has. He says I shall lever marry Gar Hatton." " What on earth is his reason ? " inquired Nin?. "He vi'ics not give any. Even iiother c, anot gueso' the cause. Oh, NTina, it has made .me so miserable, and Gar is qnjte bitter about it."

Nina looked grave.. s>-e liked and respected i.Il , ,ua;~ /<aple, yet she could not under- • a his conduct, ft seemed i.nat he should have allowed Gar to visit at the house as he had done, then refuse to sanction ais engagement to Mona. At last 3he said :

" I am sure Gar is very much in ;ove with you, and I half wondered if ;hings were not going smoothly as fou never named him. That is why [ asked him to come this afternoon :o give you the chance of a chat ; but perhaps I ought not to have done it."

" Oh, we are allowed to meet and will be asked to the house when vvc have a lot of other people. I :old my father I would never marry without his consent, but I would never marry any Cfie but Gar," said Mona.

" And what did Mr. Dalrymple ;ay ? " " He said he would never consent ;o the marriage." " Then Mona, I am afraid you stand a very good chance of being an old maid, as your father is a de;ermined man ; but that would be Detter than a loveless marriage. A.nd, after all, things may come right in the end, only I wanted you to have your happiness right off. I thought Jou and Gar had such a bright, happy future before you." " Nina, you are unselfish. It is you who deserve the happiness," said Mona.

Nina smiled gravely, as she said : " It's rather funny that I should have lived to be twenty-two and only had one offer of marriage, and that from a man I could not bear. To tell the truth I've never what is called fallen in love, so I've come to the conclusion that I'm intended for an old maid, and I can imagine being a very happy one," she said, with a smile, " You will never be an old maid ; you are too good, and altoget! cr nice," said Mona. " Well, time will show. There may be some man waiting for mc who will love me with his whole heart ami beloved in return ; but just now I i live

" Where is Hugh ? " inquired Mr. Hudspith. " Here;" and Hugh Hudspith entered, followed by Gar Hatton, who advanced to shake hands with, his host. " I met Hatton in the town and I brought him back by main force," said Hugh as they seated themselves. " How is your grandfather ? " inquired Mr. Hudspith. " Very well. The warm weather suits him." " Miss Dalrymple, I began to think you never intended coming to see us again, and in that case life wouldn't have been worth living," said Hugh, looking admiringly at Mona, who seemed more lovely than usual, as the advent of Gar had brought a beautiful colour into her face. Mona laughed. "I think you would enjoy life juite as much if I was at the other end of the world," she replied. " You are very cruel," he said, trjring to look sad, which made Mona laugh again. " Miss Dalrymple does herself an injustice. We should all miss her very much if she ever left Wittonbury ; but I hope that is not likelj," said her host. During luncheon Hugh paid her numerous compliments rather too autspoken to be in good taste. Mona could see that Gar was annoyed and she was not sorry when they left the dining-room, and Nina proposed that they should get their hats and go into the garden, where they seated themselves under a shady tree. But if Hugh Hudspith had been deputed by Mr. Dalrymple, he couldn't have .ione more to prevent the lovers having a tete-a-tete. At last Nina lost patience, and was taxing her brain to find some plan to get him out of the way when a footman appeared bearing Lord Ovingham's card saying that he had told him Mr. Hudspith was out, and he had asked to see Miss Hudspith. "Go and bring him here, Hugh," said Nina so eagerly, that her brother looked at her in surprise ; then he went leisurely towards the house. " Wouldn't you like to take Mona for a stroll down the beech avenue ? There is a little gate further on that leads from the garden into it," said Nina hurriedly. Gar rose with alacrity.

" Thank you very much, Miss Hudspith. I see you are going to help us. Come, Mona."

Nina watched them go towards the gate thinking what a handsome couple they made. " I wonder what is Mr. Dalrymple's objection ? " she thought ; then resolved not to name what Mona had told her. " Because it would be much easier if the matter came all right than if explantions had to be made all round," she reflected.

As she came to that conclusion Lord Ovingham and her brother appeared, the latter looking annoyed when he saw -that Mona had disappeared.

" Where is Miss Dalrymple ? " he isked.

" She has gone for a stroll with Mr. Hatton, Hugh, will you tell John we will have tea in the garden ? "

R ufct idistantly he went and !>!' I G-.'ingha i began talking to Nf'ja.

i.leanwr'le G - Hatton and Mona ■c mak.ng thi most of their time. Does your . ther seem, as determined as over to oppose our engagement ? " Wo askee

" More p-~>. He is quite bitter aboufc if" D i you know, Gar, I cannot he'."' thi king my father is ill, he has r'langeii so Much of late. He is moorJT avl quite altered altogether. I don't think he cares to see any one and he used to be so hospitable," said Mona.

" What does your mother think ? " " She says very little, but I know she is uneasy about his health and troubled about things generally." " Whatever the cause is it's making me wretched. The other day I felt I couldn't stand it any longer, and I was half inclined to take his advice and go out to Africa," said licr lover.

" Oh, Oar, you mustn't, If you were going because you thought. it was your duty, I wouldn't try and persuade you to stay at home ; but you oughtn't to leave your .grandfather, and I should be miserable if I felt that it was through me you had gone."

" I won't go darling. In fact I don't suppose I could go. It would half kill my grandfather. Confound it ! I beg your pardon, Mona, but here's Hugh Hudspith. Why cannot he leave us alone ? "

" Miss Dalryrnple, the tea's waiting and I'm not going to let Hatton cheat you out of the cup that cheers," said Hugh, who began chatting to Mona, though he was conscious that neither she nor Gar desired his company. By the time they arrived at the spot where the table had been placed both of them had got over their annoyance, and greeted Lord Ovingham pleasantly. The next hour passed quickly, and when Lord Ovingham arose saying he must go, as he had a long walk, Gar said he would accompany him. Then Nina ordered the pony carriage to drive Mona home. Meanwhile Lady Dalrymple had not spent a very happy day. When she had seen the girls drive off, she had returned to the morning room, where she found her husband standing in the window, gating out. " It is a lovely day," she remarked as she seated herself. : Svide.atly .be was buried in thought

as sue had to repeat r.er obs-'orvat ton. Then he turned round, saying : " Yes, it's very fine;'' and again lu became absorbed in his reflections. Lady Dalrymple, watching him, sav how much he had aged during t.ln last week or so. There were lines ii his face that she had not seen a month ago, and she asked liersel what was the trouble that was a gun her husband so quickly. That, it wa.: of serious import she felt certain and she longed to share it with him So she spoke again, this time verj gently, but distinctly. " Richard, what is this troubl* that is telling so cruelly on you Won't you let me share it. witl you ? " He started, but did not look round "You imagine things, Mildred What trouble can I have of whirl s*ou do not know ? " " No, Richard, it is not inmgina tion. You have some trouble, and 1 svould give a great deal to share it with you. Surely it is my privilege, dear husband." "Do you think it docs not annoy me to see how grave Mona has be:ome, that she is not happy been use of that foolish fancy for Gar Hat ton ? " he cried. " Richard, she loves him, and sh< will not marry anyone else. As foi Lord Ovingham " • " I don't want <ier to marry Lore Ovingham, or anyone else. Let hei remain unmarried until she is older;' and with these words Mr. Dalrympl( left the room, leaving his wife mon puzzled than ever, and deeply grieved that he would not let her share hif trouble with him. If she could have seen him in the library as he sat with his head rest ing on his hand, looking the picturf of despair, she would have grieved still more. " Oh, my God ! Is my innocence never to be proved ? " he murmured Then he roused himself and went Dver all the details connected with the forged cheque. "How can I prove my innocence when there is not a single circumstance that points to anj one else ? I may have vague suspicions, but of what value are they ? " If I had ever -walked in my sleep [ should think I had done it at sucb i time, because I know that I slept ±at afternoon ; but is it likely that once only in my life I should walk and talk and do what perhaps a confirmed somnambulist might do ? No ;hat is not the solution. Oh, for some light on the matter ; I am no nearer finding out the truth than 1 was when I married Mildred. Then ] believed it would be easy if I lived near my old home to quietly investigate matters and establish my innocence. Perhaps I made a mistake in not employing a detective, but ] shrank from telling anyone that 1 was once a convict," thought Mr. Dalrymple.

CHAPTER XIII. MISS HOLMES TELLS A STORY OF THE PAST. The acquaintance between Miss Holmes and madame had grown rapidly—in fact they had become fnsi friends. Louise was a frequent, visitor at the Hollies, and her mothei ;vent there even more frequently than 'o Miss Penman's. She liked the old lady, she said, and Miss Holmes declared that madame was more to her liking than half the Englishwomen she had met. with, and if all French-

women were like her, they were n sort. One bright Sunday afternoon to (Yards the end of July, madame was seated with Miss Holmes in her jretty sitting room, which looked on to a smooth, well-kept lawn, witl: aere and there a neat bed, in which geraniums, roses, &c., bloomed. II a pretty room, and furnished with good taste—perhaps a little icavy, but nothing gorgeous. Moreover, it was fairly cool, in spite of the heat, as a sun-blind was stretched outside the window. Louise had declared it was hot, and saying she would sit in the arbour, bad departed some time ago, taking a novel with her. much to her mother's sat;sfact.ion, as she preferred being alone arith Miss Holmes. " This is a very pleasant room ; indeed the house is altogether nice. Von must have saved a good deal while you were at Gel dor Hall," said madame, in a tone that expressed satisfaction at her friend's good fortune. " I did. Air. Hudspit.b paid me a »ood salary, and I saved out of it ; nut I never took perquisites from the tradespeople. T just dealt, at the nest shops, and never paid a penny more than the poorest person in Wittonbury would have done, for the same thing. There are housekeepers

who expect a commission given their for dealing at the shop, and, of course, the goods are charged higher; but I never did, and I'd like to have seen the tradesman who dared tr have offered me one. Mr. Hudspith inew I was to be trusted, and he did not forget me. when he made his will. I think he must have foreseen I should not be long at the Hall after his death, so he left me the Hollies rent free as long as I lived, and if 1 didn't wish to live in it I could let it. He also left me a thousand pounds, besides an annuity of three hundred a year. I have good reasor to think well of Mr. Hudspith." To in' ('out i nurd .