THE NOVELIST. MY LADY'S - - - DIAMONDS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2527, 20 August 1902, Page 59

THE NOVELIST. MY LADY'S - - - - DIAMONDS,

By ADELINE SEX GEANT.

CHAPTER XIX.— CAPTIVITY.

door of the kitchen, and cast a satisfied glance at the barred window, which looked into a deep area, beyond which stretched a paved yard. The sitting room window, though not barred, looked,, out upon, a side-passage, . and, as Joan found out, had been nailed down for some time previously, while its panes were too small to allow of a. grown woman's egress. Crortin smiled as he noted the glances of her eve.

" I'm going to leave you," he said. "I shall send away the boy and shut up the chop. You may scream if you like; nobody can hear you. The house is empty, and your neighbouis are not near enough to notice any noise you can make. You have the rooms and plenty of food and fuel. You won't be badly off."

For her father's sake. Joan condescended to plead with him. She pointed out that Major Carrington was an old man, that he would be almost maddened by anxiety if she did not come home, and that she -would even pledge herself to say nothing about what &he had heard or might hear from. Nan's lips. rAndr 'And how am I to know that you keep your word?" said Cronin. "No, no! I'm too old a bird to be ciught by that kind of chaff. I have made up my mind that I'll take no risks. Perfect safety is what I'm trying for, and I'll have it at any cost !" And Joan knew that it wat> useless to say more.

He went out, locking the door behind him. Other sounds she heaid, which she hardly knew how to characterise ; but she guessed that they came from descending shutters and closing doors.

To these noises a dead silence succeeded. The red-haired boy had evidently been sent home, and it was probable that Cronin himself had left the house.

A fit of rage which generally attacks a prisoner came over Joan for the first time in her life. She battered at the door with her fists, she shook the window-sashes, she tore at the iron bars aciovs the kitchen windows, but all to no av.ul.

And at la«t, dejnes.sed and humiliated, Fhe came back to the parlour, to find Nan fritting erect and conscious again, and veiy an\ious to know what was wrong.

In a few woids Joan told her, thinking it u-t-less to conceal the truth. Nan's eyes blazed with sudden fury, and she struck her thin, brui&ed hands wildly against the couch on which she lay. "Oh, \\ hat a fool I was !" she cried. "Fancy me giving us all away in that manner ! I'm sure I didn't know what I said! I must have been off my head, I was that awfully frightened!" "Yes, I think you did not know what you were saying, Nan!" k "I'd have cut my tongue out first! To lock you in with me, mit.s ! Oh, it is a fcharne !"

"There is no way out, is there, Nan?"

"Not any, if he's locked the doors. Oh, it's too bad — too bad ! Will your pa be in a dreadful way, miss?"' father? Well, lam afraid he will be very anxious.'' "And the young gentleman, miss?" "Oh, lie is away. He may be back to-night, or he may not ; but I'm afraid they can't do anything unless, indeed, they were to guess!" "Guess what?" asked Nan,^ as Joan seemed to be sinking into a reverie. "Never mind ; it was only something 1 wrote to my father. Well, Nan, dear, if we can't get out we must try to make ourselves comfortable here ! and I -think J shall sse whether 1 cannot find a teajpot

first Joan could hardly persuade herself that the man was serious. When he moved away from the door, she flung herself upon it, only to find that he had locked it securely and carried away the key. He then locked the outer

and a kettle, and we will have a. Jp o> tea."

She was glad to get away from th«f child's,strange eyes for a little while. Hei^ heart was inconveniently full, and sh^ could have cried like a baby if she had been alone. But she had Nan's spirits to consider, aad she restrained herself.

"I'll tell you what I've been thinking,'" Nan said to her, when the drinking of a/ cup of tea had brought a very little coloutf back to her pale face^ and even Joan's courage was revived. "I believe that Josiah and his wife mean to leave London in a day or two. I'm not sure about Uncle Nat-. I've sometimes thought lately that he seemed to be winding things up, as if he were going too. Praps they're going together." "And you think they want to keep us quiet until they are safely out of England ?"

"Yes, I think that's it. ' They're afraid I shall say that Mrs Josiah took the diamonds. Because they'd get caught if I did say it, wouldn't they?" "They might be." "That's it, then ; we're to stay here till they've gone."

"In that case," said Joan, "who is to let; us out?"

She was afraid she had propounded an unanswerable question ; but Nan, looking at her calmly, replied with perfect conSdence:

"Oh, Sandy!" " Sandy?" "The boy with the red hair. Didn't you see him in the shop as you came in? He knows I haven't gone out. Maybe he'll watch for me. He's a great friend of mine, although he's very rough and rudo sometimes. And when I don't come out, he'll get into a fuss — you see if he don't. And maybe he'll pass the word to the police."

"But that may not be for two or three days, I suppose?" "I s'pose so. We can't help it, can we? We've just got to wait." Joan wished she could be as philosophical as the girl with the sprained ankle. However, she constrained nerself to put a good! face on the matter ; she tried to treat it as an amusing thing; but at heart she was weary and dispirited. It was not the least of her tribulations that everyone would imagine she was trying to escape the arm of justice," thereby hopelessly compromising her own case.

As the hours dragged on, Nan suggested a new kind of anxiety.

"You'd better be careful of the bread and tea and things, miss," she said, when Joan brought her another light meal. "You know, we may got out to-morrow,* and we may not get out for a- week!" "But would not your uncle send us or bring U3 food?" * ,

"Don't suppose he'd think of it. If we. knew for certain how long it would be, we could manage ; but there ain't no saying !"

Joan looked at her in dismay. The girl saw the look, and smiled back at her bravely.

"Don't you fret, miss !" she said. "Some-, body's sure to find us before long. It's only a way I've got of putting the woisfc' side uppermost."

"Indeed, Nan, I think you put the* brightest .side uppermost as a rule," said! Joan. "I wi^h I were as cheerful as you are. However, don't let us thfnk of it. Shall I te'.l you a story? I know some veiy nice ones, if you care for stories."

She told one so effectively that Nan's fervent restlessness was quelled, and after a little time she fell into a placid slumber. And Joan sab aud waited, wondering what Oeoffrey and her father were doing, and when the hours would go by. The afternoon passed quickl—, and the room slowly grew dark. Joan lighted the gas, and prepared tin evening^ repast for Nan. She herself had a difficulty in eating ; she was excited and nervous, and had lost her appetite. But the compelled heiself to swallow some food, partly as an example to Nan, and partly because she knew that she ought to keep up her own strength.

Then came the question of rest for the nierht. Nan had her sofa, and Joarn covered her with her own warm coat and an old lug or two.

For heiself «he r nnrd .in old rocking chair, which she dragged round to fire. There was no • lii-culty in finding something to do, fur (here were plenty of domestic duties which had been long neglected : and, under other circumstances Joan miqhfc have found a kind of pleasure in the cleaning of pots and pans. But it was advisable to keep Nan quiet, so that after 9 o'clock Joan turned down the gat, and announced that she was sleepy. 'i he red light of the fire glimmeied on the mu&ty wall : there was no sound in the room except the flicker of tho flame or the cropping of a coal. Nan's eves v. ere closed, and she seemed to be almost asleep. Suddenly she started into a sitting posture, and her eyes looked large and wild. "There they are!" she said. "My dear child, who?" said Joan, who had heard nothing.

"Josiah and — not Uncle Nat — no ! Listen ! It's Josiah's wife! I heard the cab drive up to the door. There's boxes being set down in the hall. That's Jonah's step !"'

And now Joan did hear something ; but the sounds of which Nan spoke had been quite unheard by her.

There was a grating of tlie key in the lock, and then the door of the little parlour was thrown open. Joan rose to her feet, and turned on the light, noticing a* &he did so that the clock was striking 11. She turned and faced Nina Town ley and a sallow, dark-eyed, beak-nosed man.

There was a momentary pause, and then Nina broke into affected laughter. She was dressed for travelling in a very plain dark tweed, with a toque of the same material ; but Joan had never seen her look so ethereal, so delicately pretty as she did just then. 'So you are trapped 1" slie said. " fc'it

jfou are like the starling-— you can't get -piit. Isn't it clerer of papa Cronin, Julius, to shut these twe up together, 'find keep "them there until ye are out of Manger? It is a capital idea !" J 1- don't think Mr Oonin's cleverness accounts for it altogether,'' said Joan quietly. fife flid not bring me to this house, ior o. l^hing. I came ol my own accord !" V does not much matter how you came, i|o long as jon are safe here!" said Nina Wcorjafußy. "We*ve been dining with him at » restaurant] that's how we know all jgbout Ij. And, as we had to stop here pick up our luggage, he gave us full particulars. "You are going away?" , "Leaving England, with my husband. jjuliu*, let me introduce you. Oh, he has ■gone upstairs. I'll sit down here until he comes back, and perhaps I can explain nutter* to you a little. You need not look at the • door ; you can't get farther than th« shop!" Joan noticed that the grace and refinement of Nina's manners had utterly disappeared ; her tone was that of a woman in a much lower grade of society than she had moved in for so many yearn. Was Y the real woman making its appearance, bow- that ghe thought herself free? Mrs Julian Cronin, as she railed herself, 'drew a chair to the fire, and placed her feet on the fender. Then she looked critically at Joan, and contemptuously at Nan. "You are a nice couple,"' the said. "You would both ben ay us to the police if you could, but we've taken care to prevent that. There will be a great hue and cry about }rou to-morrow. Joan. I have done my ittle best to get you into prison, and I tnint you will find I have succeeded. Your attempt to escape — or. rather, to hide yourself — by coming to your fathers old acquaintances will be quite a telling detail !" "I cannot think. '' said Joan, 'why you Bate me so much !"' Nina's white face changed. It had been merely malicious ; it now became suddenly dangerous, go charged was every line with deadly hatred and spite. "Hate you? Of course I hate you:" she said. "Haven't you everything that I ever wanted? You have friends, you 'are pretty, you are going to marry an (honourable man I Think what my life has been and what it is-going to be ; then think cf yours !" 'You are trying to luin mine '" said Joan.

Xiua burst into a wild kugh. I • "Trying? I have succeeded' The Bockinghains will never be persuaded that j ■you did not nuke away with their diamonds !"' "But I shall tell them," said Xan sioutly, "who did take them, and then they will know that Miss Joan was not to blame "You little rat!" said Nina viciously. "I don't wonder that old Cronin knocked ■you down ! I would have killed you if f had been here ! I hope he will kill you Lyet — leave you heie to starve, perhaps, •you and your Joan, like two rats in a hole ' ,'iTou will be paid out then 1 "' I She laughed at the look of terror on ■\N*au"s face ; but the laughter died away j '*'t the sound of a heavy knock at the hall I door — sounds, indeed., not only of one '/Knock, but of heavy blows repeated at intervals, accompanied by the sound of Tpice.% which could be but indistinctly unCferstood. "It's the p'lice!" said X«m, clasping her hands. "They're saying, ' Open, in the name — open to the plice V They're fcoming fn ! Oh, Miss Joan, sa\e me ' For Nma had turned upon her with a face of rage and struck her heavily on the J lips. j "Hold your tongue!" she said fiercely. {And would have struck again had not Joan's nrm hand been suddenly laid upon her , .wrist. But the two women started apart as jjulius Cronin came frying downstairs from pn upper roont, with a face of ashy Vhiteness, with distended eyes, and teeth that chattered in- his head. "They're upon us !" ho cried. "They've bracked us! We'ie lost! I will shoot knyself sooner than be taken again ! Nma —Nma, what are we to doV The heavy blows resounded through the house. Nina listened, and grew pale ; ,but she was calmer than her husband. "I doubt "whether the police would make to much noise 1" she said. "It may be pimply someone who- wishes to make innuiries about Miss Carrington. Wait a jnoment, and I will go to the door.' She went to the shop-door and listened, then called out in a clear, loud tone : "Who is there?" "Open the door, or we shall break it In ! Open at once !" "What do you want?' "We want Miss C.irrington, who is here i" Nma turned her face to the inner door, with an evil smile. "Do you hear*:'' she said to Joan. "It is you they want — not I '" And she opened the door. In came Geoffrey Brandon and M.ijor Cariin^ton fir&t of all. and behind them SSandv,* who had, indeed, induced them to knock at the door by telling them that "the lady was locked up inside" ; and then, ibig and burly, silent and stern-faced, the police. " But they had come only to make inquiries, not to arrest Joan Carrington. OChey were more inclined to arrcht, Mr Brandon and his friend?. "That's nil right, sir!"' said one of them, niter a few words of explanation. 'There's ho harm done, it teems, so we'll say goodpighl!" Nina's eyes smiled in. triumph at her Jiusband. How foolish his plan had been ! But. she had reckoned without Nan. It Jtras Nan's shrill, high, voice thao broke upon her ear, "Police! police!"' she crieri. "Don't let them co! They've got Lady Rockingham's diamonds, and they're just gomtr to

Never neglect t- bad couch ; th;re is r.o . Vnowmg what it may develop into. T^kc rUSSIOUBA. 1

leave England! Mr Brandon, for God's sake, dont let them go!"

CHAPTER XX.— THE ORDER OF RELEASE.

For a minute or two there was a disposition to treat Nan's words as those of a foolish child. Geoffrey, indeed, turned pale ; but the constable shook his head. "Can't arrest on a charge of that kind !' he muttered, and edged towards the door. "Listen !'' cried Nan's frenzied voice. "Listen, or you'll get into trouble! That's the thief that stole Lady Rockingham's diamonds ! If you don't stop her. she 11 get away with them to-night." "The girl is delrriou* !" said Nina. '• I believe," said Geoffrey, " that the girl is perfectly right ." "What folly 1 Officer, you surely do not attach any importance to the ravings of a girl in a fever?"' "She is not in a fever,' said Joan quietly. "And I also believe that she speaks the truth '"

The constable.-, looked first at one person and then at another It wa« certainly rather difficult te know what to do Xan's scream was heard a^ain from the sof««.

"Pull down her hair '" she said. "Take off lieu hat and pull down her hair ; she carries them that way. You'll find the diamonds in her back hair, if you look. I said — I said I'd tell!"

Now, indeed. Nina was seen visibly to blench and to turn white with fear. Geoffrey looked her straight in the face.

"It is easy enough to disprove the accusation," he said. "If you will kindly remove voui hat and unfasten your hair '

"But/ I'm jll - 1 leady for a voyage : I really can't!" said Xma. ''It'« too ndiculous' And aeally we shaJl nij.-s our boat. Julius '"'

"I think, mad.nne." su id one of the policemen, "it would be mo'fe satisfncloiy if you would just convince us of what you say.'' "Julius!" ci 't'd Xini fnintlv.

But Julius was no longer to be sepn Peihaus it had suddenly d;mnrd upon him that the game was lost

One of the policemen took the pins deftly our of Xina's hat. Then, as s'ho still refused to assist him, he felt the soft masses, of hair at the back of her head with a careful hand, and suddenly blushed with surprise.

"I ferl something heie! 'he said. "Don't struggle, ma'am, if \ou please! That's the way the hair comes down, isn't it? Theie's something cuiiou<-]y liaid inside "'

And out of the hoi.-eh.iir ciiclet over wliil'i Xina's fan curl.s upio drawn hk hand exliJcted sometb'.ny which gleamed with a thousand fires in the gaslight — a strins of glittering beads, which Geoffrey recoanieed at once as the missing diamonds.

"I'm a r raid we imi-t detain you!" said the con.-tiible to Nma.

Ani she

"Oh, ceit-ainlv; but. of <ouise. T can acconnt for thfm. • They aie mv own daamond«. apd I alwav^ find mv hair a safe place for th&m when I am Uavelling." "Hut. all the kdin*. they came out of Ladr Rockingham's diessing c»s:e''' said Nan.

Km.! tinned anjrilv towards her. and would have spoken, but ot that moment a neu , &tr.uiifp -o'md came fioin the upper regions of the hou»f ( (4enff!r-v ,iiul nil" o f the policemen instantly madi- then way upstaiis. while Nina, who tiled to fo'low. was held back by 1 lie nm.iiiun^ constable, and finally fa'nt'-d away in hi.s aims.

She knew only too well the meaning of tlwt ominous sound Julius, or Josiuh Cronin, liad alnavs declaipd that he would never be taken alive. He had suffeied so much during hi.- ptevious incarceration that he avowed a p.eference for death rather than for anothe-i term in piison; ;md he a'wav« cariied a loaded revoher with him for the purpose of defending his own hbeitv.

Whfii his wife w.i* arrpst'd. when Xan's tongue was uuloused, hr- own fnte was sealed : and .1 bullet thiouxh his biain seemed to him the ea^iett way of escape

Nma had 1 e.'Uly loved him a« far as '•he was able to luve ; and the manner of his death certainly pi eyed upon her mind, and caused her to su< cumb to acute melancholia.

Before the time for her trial, on the charge of btealin^ Lady Rockin^ham's diamonds, she was incapable of understanding any question addressed to her. or of speaking sensibly in reply ; and in a very few months her health gave way completely She died in an asylum, without leeognismg any of her old fi Sends, who would have been to do anything to as-ist and console her. But peihaps it was. bettti that she should die without knowing the long misery of the life that would henceforth he before her.

Of Cronin nothing muie wa- Leaid He had managed to get away before the final cnt.istiophe. li wis said that he had a<quued grc.it wealth, and was living in South America : but the story sounded lathiii falii'lou', and nobody attached much credit to it.

Nan MiniF-times wonder*- wlielher he will evei (omt li.uk. and has tenible \iMon« sometime- of hw \tr v _;ea.nre; buc since she nun ned Sn.dv. the led-haned boy, v. ho Viis vi-t up in bii'«:ne^«. by (lewfi'rey, as sume afknow'fdjmnit of hi.> timclv information that Joan \\,i^ locked up in the silemlookin^r lioii"-!-. -he lvi- lived "a pcrlYitly happy life, and .nous thdt she wc»uld not change pl.ii.es with anyone, even wiili Mi-> Geofire\ BK.ndun beiself.

For it happened that shr.iily afiei Joan's return to her father's, hou-e. a Krrv.ll.nlnl la.-lv called one day, and ar-ktd to be aA

mi t ted without mentioning her n 'liie It v is rather a *ho>.k to Joan when she came t'.to the iiji.in to find hoi --"If face to face '•ith Lad; liw.kiii.ham, wlio wa& evidently \ i i v iieivuir "Yuu iiv:m \>p srrpri'^d *o i ce me," the c Pi(l. m an i.i '. b iri'**-d lone. "I a in. lath' r, ? id Jcin 'It >s 1.- y .I.iv." i,n^i!..,l L" 1 * rVckiAtk&ia. • ta- James sws 80, Lk-oiLej

says so, and indeed I feel it myself — indeed I do'"

"Youi duty to come here?' asked Jean, only haif compzehending. "My duty to ask jour -pardon! Oh, Joan, can you ever forgive me? I beha\eJ abominably to you; but indeed I was ni.skd by that vile woman "

Joan iai>ed her band a little,

"liut poor woman," she said, almost tendtily — "that poor woman, whom God has punished "'

"Joan, you are an angel! If you can forgive her, will you not forgive me. too?"'

"I find it more difficult to forgive you, Lady Roekingham. You had known me 311 my life, and she had cot. You had more reason to trust me than to tru«t her'"

"Oh, I know — I know!" said Lady Rockinzham, buisting into very genuine tears ; "and I can never forgive myself. But. whether you fmgive me or not. I felt that I must come to you 3nd tell yon how miuh I re^iet the past, Joan, and how I should lik?, il possible, to see you happy in the future."

Ihen Joan coloured, and looked down, foi she began to undei stand why Lady ROl klngham had come.

"It lws always been our deare«t wish to «cc Geoffrey mamed." pursued the lady. "He is Sii James's heir, and we want him to be thoioujrhly happy. He will n^ver be happy with- anyone but you. Joan, ■n on't you consent to marry him? It is I that a«k it now. I would h<*\r it on my knees- if I thought that it would affect your decision favourably '"'

"And Sir James?" said Joan, somewhat wistfuliv.

' yi\ dear, he i-< c o unhappy that I don't know wlid' to do with him He feel* himself «n terribly to blame : m> do I \nd (tpollYpv «ill not come 1o the hmi<e

lie scarcely speak* to us. It is hard urion James; and yet v c c.in't resent it, for vp kumv that Geoffrey is ric'it. We r.^d to he *uch a happy trio, and now we are j'OMtively miserable. Xobody can put things riisiit bub 3'our^elf."

Juit ran I?"

"If you will, you certainly can. Geoffrey can't forgive us so long as you lefuse to many him. "

"T dj not w i«h him to be unfriendly with you. L»d\- Roekingham. It is not my doing." 1 "T know il is, not. Still, he is miserable without you." Jojn was silent. "Don't you care for him any longer? D.> you not> wa,nt him to be happy?*'

"Yes. 1 enrp for him ; but you know. Lady Rnikin^bam. that I "aid I would not many hi!!" 1 . "

"Lnl^s T <. - 1 1 yon to do «o. And I ask you now. Dear Joan, forgive us. ■ consent, fin 'ieufFiry's sal.c. not for ouri ""

Joan Leld onk her hand. «till with a, little hesitation ; but when the old 1 idv took her into her arms nnd kissed her with many tears she fell that she had bctn a "little haid in standing aloof so long

She responded to Lady Rockingham's repentant fondnei-H very quickly ; and Sir James's faltering apologies went home to her heart still nioie. And Geoffrey had no dilliculty in getting an answer to the question which he hnd been half afiaid to a^-k. "Do you love me, Joan? ' "A lutle." "And will you marry me?" "Some day. perhaps."' But then it was her tui-n to a^k questions.

ate you sure you trust me

"O-eofliey now '.'"' "With all my heart and sonl '" ''Even if you «w me in the most awkfl<ml and Mi«-piuous chcunistiince« ' "I should tiust you implicitly. Why will you insist on reminding me of a very short phase of feeling of which I am heartily a-hamed?''

"Perhaps because I think it good for you to be ashamed 1 ' said Joan demurely.

Bat there was a nervous purpose in her

•'Oeuft'rev. I should never care for love unless perfect tru«t went with it. Will you remembci that? M_v word i« as sacred as a mans woid to him. I have on high a sense of honour a« -vouiself. Will you believe this of me, and not of me alone, but of other women?"

"Of you. darhng — not of all women." 'X'ot of all. but of many of us. We can only be happy together if we have that perfect trust. Geofirey ; and life looks had and dreary to my mind if we lack it." "We shall not lack it. and life shall never look &ad and diearv to you through my want of faith. Deaiest, I have sometimes doubted — sometimes scoffed. I have had moments when I thought that love and faith were dead ; but you have given me back ali that is precious in this life — love, liope. and faith in God and man '"'

So hand in hand they looked out towards the fuir fruition of their lives, and knew that, whether weal or woe was in store for them, they had tasted the best and purest joys of earth, and could never 10.-c the memory of that taste 111 yeais to come, for their lives were ciowncd with love.

[The End.]

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