DIANA'S INHERITANCE.

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1906, Page 6 (Supplement)

DIANA'S INHERITANCE.

(All Rights Reserved.)

. OR T&E LOST PROOFS OF HER BIRTHRIGHT. BY HEDLEY RICHARDS,

'Author of "Time, the Avenger,'* '-.The Haighs of Hillcrest," Etc., Etc.

PART 14

"Shure, and you're next door to the quality," said Molly as she toofc, off her hat and Mrs. Riley returned to the kitchen with a smile on her (ace. In a few minutes Molly followed tier, and her mistress saw that she had washed herself and tidied her hair, and looked really a very tidy efirl. "Bon't you think this is better than walking into Bromhead ?" inquired the former, as Molly seated herself. '"Shure, mama, and it's mysel/ 'that's lucky." Tom Riley took his pipe out of his mouth and said : "It's not sale for girls to be going about alone now, seeing what's hap.pened." Molly looked surprised. ' '. : "There's been a yoivng lady made o.ff witbrr-they call it abducted— in the fulllight of the day, and her belonging, as you may say, to the gentlefolks, though she was - only ''■/': companion to Mr. Justice Spender's wife; but she was a lady, .every inch, folks say, and a rare beaiity, too," Riley said emphatically,. "An' where did they take her ?" asked Molly regarding him with dismay. Jf this was what happened in * England she did not like it. Mrs. Riley saw her look of dismay and hastened to reassure her. "There's never been such a thing heard of before, and folks think that if Miss Came hadn't become 'engaged to Sir John Oldfield, she'd have been 'let alone; but they say there was a Dr. Nolan, who was mad about her, and, to be sure, he came from Dublin. Did you ever hear of him?;' she said. "I think I've seen his name on a fine brass plate in Dublin. He's a doctor to the quality," answered Molly. "Well, anyway, he was mad to get this Miss Came for his wife, and one afternoon she'd a bit of a note telling her a friend wanted her in Bromhead and' off shejgoes, and from ' that day to :thjs she's never been seen,." said Mrs. Rileyv "An' the doctor; i has; he gone too" and? a keen observer ; : would have' detected anxiety? and disjnay in Molly's tone. '•yes, the -pair of them. He deserifes his fatei but it's hard to think of a beautiful her, ly-' ing at the bottom of the sea,"- said ' Mrs. Riley. "You don't mean as they're both drowned.?" asked Molly, with horror in her eyes. "That's what the missis does mean, and I'm not sure' that she is not better there than in that villain's power. Faith, and he was one of the biggest scamps unhung, and a disgrace t00,,.to i .ould Ireland,", said ■ Tom Riley. .'■' ; '"./*'•' ' "He was only half Irish'; his mother was an Englishwoman," said Molly, unthinkingly. "Then you do know s6nlethihg:?of him?" said Mrs. Riley,.:. ",. V "Well, ma'am, I don't want to own up to all l'^ve heard, but over the sea they gave him a bad charactei\ an' it's myself that was told his money came from his English mother, and had been made in beer an' such like." "It seems he has a bad character in his own country as well as here, but he's clever. The detectives, and Sir John say it was a neatly, laid I plan," said Mrs. Riley. "An' would you be telling, me how he got her on the water ?" . "It was sheer divilry that did it. He drove her in a carriage to Mosely, a little seaport town, and after making her stupid with drugs, he takes her on board a boat called the Gadfly. Carriage and all went ; they're like Elijah, they didn't leave a trace behind — nothing but gaping folks to tell the tale. And right away in the sunshine the Gadfly sailed, bound for Dundee, they said, but in truth, it was taking every soul on- board to that land from which . none return," 6aid Tom- Riley, speaking, with some of the pathos ' arid imagery with which his countrymen are gifted. 1 'CHAPTER XXI. ; "An' were they never heard of again ?" asked Molly in a str-atige, hard voice. It was as tnuch as she ;; could do to sit still, the news had vcoine upon her so suddenly. She was .'* sorry for Diana, but she had nopity f or. the bad man who had killed h&v child, only she wanted to be quite sure he had not escaped. . "No: but a piece of the boat with. 'Gadfly ' painted on it, and the captain's body were washed ashore at Dundee. It's supposed the doctor was going to have married her in Scotland, where it's easier to- get. wed than_here, and they must havei .got^«6iifcy near pof£ before .the

went down, uiou^ tnoy weru .several days overdue," said Uiley. For some time Molly, did not speak ; then her mis treys asked her if she was tired and would like to go to bed. • i "Shure ma'am, and I'm dead tired but if there's anything that I can do "— she replied. "No. Molly ; you shall start work in the morning. I'll wash the few supper things. Good night ;" and her husband echoed her words. Molly went quietly to the little room at the back of the house, and, bolting the door, pulled up the blind and looked out. It was a glorious summer night, but she took no heed of that ; she thought only of Dr. Nolan and Diana. "She didn't escape him. poor lady !" Then her thoughts turned to the man who had ruined her life, and murdered her child, the man whom she now hated with the inten-. sity she had once loved. , "Drowning was too good for him: an' to think he's been taken out of my hand, after coming all this way to pay my debts," she said, taking out of her bosom a little pistol that bore the initials D. N. "I thought it was a lucky day when he left it in the cottage. It's a deadly work it would, have been, and now it's no use at all ; but, who knows ?— he's that slippery it's himself that may be alive at this blessed minit, and poor Miss Came lying at the bottom of the sea. Shure, an' I'm thinking he's not dead, so I'll take care of this;" and opening a drawer of which her mistress had given her the key, telling her she could lock up anything. in it she liked, Molly put her clothes in it, wrapping the pistol which was little more than a toy in one of her garments. Next she hung her other cotton dress, jacket and hat on nails, and undressing, got into bed. While she worked the next day Molly was busy with what she had heard. If it was true that Dr. Nolan, was dead, then she might as well so. back to her own country ; but on second thoughts she decided to serve [ the- month for which she had been en- , gaged, and try to find out all that had happened since Miss Came and the doctor came into the neighbour- | hood. Accordingly when her day's work was done she set off for a walk, hoping to see where Miss Came had lived, as during the day she had heard in what direction the Court and Oldfield Hall lay. also that some distance; ' down the lane she would come to a field-path that led past Bromhead Court and into the town; and befojre she came back to the cottage sliefd have a good look at the Hall,, aiid thought how well it would have suited the beautiful Miss Came to have been mistress of it. Night after night Mo^ly went out, always taking the route that led her into Bromhead, and during the day listening to every scrap of gossip, hoping to hear that it was a mistaK© and that Dr. Nolan and Miss Came were still living ; but no such news reached her, and 'she began to think that he had perished in the Gadfly, and resolved to return to her own people when the', month was up. The very night she had come to this conclusion she happened to be later, than usual going out. As, she left the cottage the clocfc^dn the kitchen struck half-past eighitS and , Riley reminded •her- not to go too fairy as the night was getting on. Thinking, it was no use going towards Bromhead she turned up a lane and wandered along for some distance when she saw a stile that led to a path over the fields. Careless in what direction she went, Molly mounted the stile and after crossing a couple of fields came to one where the hay was gathered into haycocks, and seating herself behind one of these, her thoughts wandered to the pasi; Presently she was roused by the sound •of a quick, firm tread, and .-Molly, whose sense of hearing was very keen,, detecting something familiar in the steps, sat up and listened As they came nearer, she peered round the haycock, and by the light of the moon, which was just coming - : p'ut* she saw the tall, upright figure of a man, who wore a Hong, dark coat, with the collar well up, and a soft felt hat crushed on his head. Both figure and walk were familiar to her, and the girl watched him with interest ; then, as he passed through an open gateway into a field. beyond, she gasped, "It's himself, and no ghost," and slipping off her shoes, glided quickly over the grass, murmuring, "Shure. an' it's not even my shoes that sha/11 tell a tale this time." When she had gained the gateway she stood and looked ahead, partially hiding behind the hedge while she did so ; then, seeing he was some distance in front of her, she stepped into the next field, where the hay, was also waiting to be gathered in, : - steal ing^iji and cut of the haycontrived to keep him in view with yery little risk of being seen herself. Across three or four hayfields they went in this fashion, and presently while she kneeled behind a haycock,, she heard him open a gate and shut it after hitii. A minute later she, heard his footsteps in the Jane beyond, and, stealing forward , she gained the hedge iv time to see him pass and turn towards, a house, a dim outline of which .she could just make out, Listening intently, «he heard three sharp whistles, interrupted by the, barking of the dogs/ and 'a moment later she fancied she heard a door shut. "Shure, an' I'll be knowing what he's, after," muttered Holly, as she ran to the gate ; then not daring to risk opening it, she climbed nimbly over, and wassnon standing in the lane jg^b^fl^^^ide^Fausing a mOrn<^^H^^^^^HH|H^in£s_she Lt|e^^^^^^^^^^^^^^BM|^

ward, until the house became more distinct, and she saw that a bruud drive would past the front door. Stepping softly Molly got nearly to the front of the house, and was debating where to hide, when .she noticed a big, bushy chestnut troo that stood in the centre of tho circular piece of grass that faced the house. Quick as lightning she began climbing, and before long had secured a seat on a bough among the thickest of the foliage ; and not one minute too soon, as the loud barking of a couple of dogs was heard. Evidently their quick hearing had detected something. In another minute the door was thrown open, and she heard a brutal voice say : "Hi, Jo awl Ben, at 'em !" and the two big dogs rushed out, barking and running hither and thither. Poor Molly was in terror. She had heard of dogs that could trace people by scent, and she was in deadly fear that /before long she would be forcibly ejected. But no such thing happened ; the dogs ran hither and thither, then went back to the man at the door. "So you gave a false alarm, did you ?" I suppose you wanted a run Well, come in," and as the dogs trotted into the house the man closed the door and Molly breathed freely again. A quarter of an hour passed, and still the man for whom she waited did not appear, and Molly, who was afraid of getting into trouble if she stayed later, and being now particularly anxious to retain her place, descended from her perch, and returning the way she had come, reached home just as the clock was striking eleven. "Faith, and we were beginning to think you'd been abducted," ejaculated Riley as she entered ; and his wife said : "Molly these are late hours for a respectable girl to keep." "Shure, an' it's myseflf that was lost, an' when I got on to the right road, I ran as hard as 1 could," Molly returned ; and they saw that she looked tired. "If you lost your way there's no more to be said, and here's your supper, my girl," said Mrs. Riley, who had taken a liking to the hardworking girl. "Why, you're not eating any supper !" she said a minute later, noticing that Molly had pushed her plate away. "No, thank you kindly ; but I'm a bit tired like, so I'll wash the dishes and go to bed." "You'll do no work to-night. Go and get a good night's rest," said her mistress, aad Molly did as she was bid,, but in her own room she sat down by the chest of drawers, and unlocking the one in which she kept the pistoi, took it out, and then drew forth a small box of bullets. "If I'd only had it with me to-night he'd have had his deserts," she muttered ; "but I'm wondering, as he's alive an' no signs of having been drowned, if the beautiful young lady is living. Maybe he's got her shut up in that house, an' all the world thinking she's lying at the bottom of the sea. It would be like himself to do it, the cheating, decaying, villain. I'll let him live a bit longer till 1 find out the truth. It's myself that would love to save the lady," and with this reflection Molly began to get ready for bed. The next evening Molly did not go out until late. Mrs. Riley thought she was going to remain in the house and told her she was a wise girl as it looked like rain, but as soon as I supper was over, when the mistress was in the larder, .and Riley smoked his pipe in the garden, she caught up her hat and jacket, and slipped out of the house, and ran along the lane as though she was being pursued After a time her pace slackened and she took it easily, Knowing that she had plenty of time. At last she got to the hay field that was close to the lane in which the house stood, and seating herself behind one of the haycocks, a little way from the path she waited to. see if Dr. Nolan would j pass. It was darker than the pre- j vious night, as the heavy rain-clouds obscured the moon which was not at the half; but she knew that the sound of his footsteps would warn her of his approach, and she had no; been long there when she heard the step that at one time made her heart throb with joy, but which now raised a longing for vengeance. Waiting until she heard the gate close after him, Molly stole noiselessly along the grass, and standing near the hedge, saw him pass, and. after the signals of the previous night had been repeated, he entered the house. "I'll wait here, then *c!lov him home, so I'll, know where he lives before I give the 'warning," the thought as she seated herseli behind the hay. Presently the rain began to fall in torrents, hue .Mo'iy remained at her post, -tho'uga sne was wet and chilled to the bon-j. At (last, when she had waited more than half an hour, the rain ceased, then Molly heard footsteps, and before long Dr. Nolan went along the path at the edge of the hayfield.Waiting *until he had got some distance' ahead, Molly followed him, with bare feet on the soaking wet crass. On he went across several meadows, leaving the hayfields beliind him. The path ran in a sloping direction, and skirted turnip and hay fields. Presently Molly saw him. pause, and she at once hid behind a haycock. Peeping round she discovered that he had climbed a wall. Quick as lightning she was after him and as the rain had just begun to fall in torrents, -she knew it would deaden even the faint sound of her stockingleps feet. Molly mounted the v&~L, which wtt.s not three-feet high, and found herself in an orchard while j v. a little distance she could hear ! _s footsteps of the man «he vas fiMpeuing who was evidently going

along a pftth towards the house. Trusting to the heavy rain to prevent her movements being heard she pressed forward, in and out of the trees, till she stood quite near to the house, and saw that in one of the rooms a bright light was burning. A moment more and, she saw Dr. Nolan approach a door, and after givin<r a low, peculiar whistle, he knocked four times in quick successior The door was quickly opened by a man. and she heard the doctor say, angrily : "It's a deuce of a night, and I'm not going to stand any more of this dancinrr backwards and forwards. It is too risky apart from the nuisance. I've told her I shall bo there at half past eleven to-morrow night, and if she doesn't promise to marry, me, I will shoot her." "Whist ! You never know but what even apple trees have ears," said the master of the house as he shut the door. Molly stole away through the orchard, and just as she was mounting the wall a vivid flash of lightning illuminated the house. Fearing it might reveal her to any one who happened to be at the wondows she dropped into the field • at the other side, then ran forward, till she had put some distance between hersell and the house. Tired and weighted by her wet garments, she walked slowly, so that it was nearly two o'clock when she reached the Riley's house. Not wishing to disturb them she stole round to a little toolhouse in the garden, and sitting on an old stool leaned against the hard wood and slept fitfully till roused by the light and sunshine. At first she did not remember what had happened', then all became clear, and a feeling of satisfaction that her task was so near completion overwhelmed her as" she entered the cottage where Mrs. Riley was bustling about, a shade on her usually contented face. "You, Molly," she said, pausing to look at the girl, whose clothes still bore signs of having been soaked "Where have you been ?" Now, Molly wasn't going to give her secret away. "What is a lie w v hen there's so much at stake," she thought, so she answered : "Faith ma'am, I went into the hayfields for a breath of fresh \ air, and sitting down comfortable like I fell asleep, and slept on, an' when- I woke I hadn't a dry thread on me, then I found the house was shut up an' you in your comfortable bed, so I just lay down in the tool shed and slept." "Molly, these are queer goings-on, I'm afraid I shall have to part with you at the month's 1 end ; and I wanted to keep you, my girl, because I've taken, a liking to you." "Shure, and you'll know before the month's up that I'm a good sort, and it's yourself that's been kind to me." "Well, breakfast is ready, and there's plenty of work waiting to be done," and with these words Mrs. Rileja closed the conversation. ' (To be continued.) 1466