WOOING OF DARIEL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1933, Page 21 (Supplement)

WOOING OF DARIEL

By

May Wynne

chapter I It tool? considerable nerve to slip out -of beu- and cross the room. It was a cold night, and, in spite of the warm carpet, tfye stone floor seemed to cniti her feet. With trembling hands,. sh« unfastened the heavy door, and crepi to the head of the tower stairs. . Moonlight ' streamed througlr ths window slit behind her. But theps were no signs of spilled wine oi broken glass on the stairs, though, as Darlel stood, both hands pressed against her throbbing breast, she was sure she heard the faintest whispering in the passage beyond. Should she go and see? Dared Ehel Twice she moved forward—the? back again—undecided, and trembling But a strange spell tempted hei curiosity. She must go down, and leafn, if she could, the secret of Gianferne Castle. Down the stone steps she pattered a dainty little figure In her rose-col-oured kimono, her brown curls clustering round her shapely head,- hei eyes wide with fear and expectation The moonlight guided her, whilst *gain and again she paused to listen At the open door leading to the tower a curtain hung, concealing the broad pasage beyond. . Darlel caught the heavy velvet dragging it back. The passage was. pitchy dar^’7-^ o '. thing could be distinguished at all, but ■ as the girl stood, breathless and spellbound, she heard-once again the echo ■of a cruel laugh apd the shufflirm footsteps of one who dragged some heavy weight along the floor. Darlel swayed, trembling in tha horror which was still nameless. Bui ■ the ' spur of curiosity had gonh. She ■ would be afraid —more than afraid—to see who stole so through an unused passage at midnight. In a frenzied panic the girl turned and ran up the steps, not. pausing until she had reached her room and jay cowering like a frightened child, with the bedclothes drawn over hei head. , “I'll hover .sleep in this room again never,” she whispered. “And, oh, “1 Wish I had never ' heard of Glanferne Castle.” . . . J .. ' Yet in spite of those words, the conviction was Impressed upon her that a destiny strange and mysterious awaited her In this house -of Graham MeAlne's.

CHAPTER IL

Morning sunshine is a sure cure for midnight fears, and, though Dariel was a'late riser, she found several of the hotel guests still lingering over theirbreakfasts when she reached the dinIngrroom. , ~ • ' “A nice way to start work, site .murmured to Brinloch, who made .haste to attend to her needs, “but I had an excuse.” . . , t ,, She spoke carelessly, but almost instantly recalled her midnight exfierir enpe as she noted the expression of. intent questioning which flashed for a moment in his eyes. ' “What?’’- he asked. “Was it a mouse—an owl, or—” ' “Of course not,” interrupted Dariel impatipntjy. “I was alluding to the journey. No, I won’t have any marmalade, apd I must find Kitty to receive my Instructions.” ' “Nonsense,” retorted Brinloch. “Your' first duty awaits you I I actually refused to go with the Clunells to the ideal haunt of salmon Just because I wished for- the pleasure of taking you over the.moors.” . . Dariel hesitated. The moors in-, vlted her but she was not at all sure she wanted to view the charms of Digdale Moors in Brlnloch’s company. -.'.'..•“Sorry/’ she said, “but I thought ■ you .understood. I have accepted a post at Glanferne.” “Sorry too,” he retorted, “I did not quite understand. Anyhow I’ll be off to overtake the Clunells. See you later.” . . , And,- after she had allowed him. to go, Darl?l was half vexed. He wrns so amiable and (ready to fall in with any plans. . ' ' Kitty Waikes tod had so much real work to do In the marshalling of her staff that she could not spare long in telling Dariel what was required of her. “You know so much better than I do how to keep the flock cheery,” •laughed the little woman, “And even at that we none of us need trouble till the evening. Visitors don’t expect it. They like to be left alone. If you want a ‘change,’ then go and explore the banks and ' braes with. Colin, who already admires you in most transparent fashion.” But Dariel did not intend to go exploring with Colin and devoted herself instead to little Mrs/ Barraton, who was inclined to be bored after a ‘breeze’ with Nancy Criggett. ' Dariel was glad after luncheon to slip off unnoticed. More visitors were arriving and of course she ought to have remained to see to their welfare, but she did not intend to do so. She was going to Glanferne Farm . . . and she hoped she would find her friend of yesterday there. Vain hope. Graham was busy at his sowing, and Dariel, having been ushered into the cosiest of sittingrooms, felt suddenly shy in the presence of a stately lady of some flftyyeaps and a pleasant-faced girl, greyeyed', s'leqder and aristocratic. It .was awkward'to introduce herself, . and Dariel realised that she ought not to have come so soon—in fact what excuse had she for coming at all? Open confession is good for the soul! Dariel, finding conversation languish and her hostess’ eyes enquiring, blurted out the truth. ' ' “Do forgive me for coming,” she pleaded, “but Mr McAlne was my first ■ friend in Scotland, and he / was so ■ goqd to me yesterday. I ... I wanted to be friends.” Mrs McAlne flushed then smiled, - stretching out her hand. ’“lt was nice of you to say that, dear,” she replied, “And I knOw what ■ you -mean. Graham told us you were staying at the Castle for some tirne—-and. we hope to see you just whenever you like to come.” “How nice,” said Dariel, “I’m at home here already. Isn’t it a dear prettier than the MeCallocks. Your garden will be lovely, won’t ft, and I’m fascinated by the black beam's. They.are real antique.” ‘■‘Come upstairs and see the panelled room,” smiled Ajlsie, “and if you like farms and baby chicks I’ll show yqu round, but don’t say if you are bored.” But Dariel was not. the least bored, .and when McAlne came in from working for a cup .of tea she was still , chatting about the herbaceous horde, in' the Castle garden. „ ' “I must be going now, sM said, “but,would you mind dreadfully ir - asked a question, wjich you may not like to answer? Please just jpe if it is the case, and I won t. ask agairt; but —-is Glanferne Qastlhaunted?” t ~ . f Graham McAlne paused in the act or helping himself to honey a smile ; twitching his lips. '.''“Haunted?”- he echoed. are you-trying to'put a ghost into the oia. castle? Miss Deene, you must-have had that idea suggested to you by a visitor from across the Atlantic. And. it is no use. Ancient as Glanferne is,.

it has never been guilty of harbouring anything so elusive and-romantio —as a ghost, so that hope is sla • “What made you ask? ad^ ed . hls sister “Was it the tower? Or have yoi been reading Wilson’s Tales of the Border? Poor Glanferne! W hat would Kirstie say if we told yer. Darlel bit-her lip- Mrs McAlnw?s smiling, as If in excuse of her foUy, Graham and' Mips Ailple were actually the room In the tower,” she retorted, “and I did hear queer noises. I’m not hysterical or nervy, and 1 should not so very much wind sleeping in a room where a ghost appeared quietly and without fuss, but .last night there was such horrid laughter and the sound of breaking glass. 1 went to explore, but there was nothing. I had to run back, feeling squiggly and scared. I hated the feeling__4hat’s the truth. And • If the Castle is not haunted, someone must have been playing me a trick.” .. . . “A very, mean one,, said McAlne, “and anyone to do such a thing ought to be shown up. I can’t understand it at all- lu any case it is the first we have ever heard of it. There never has been a legend or tale of a ghostly visitor at the Castle, though the owls ire a nuisance." „ “It must have been owls you heard, added Ailsie, “or the wind. Won’t you have some more tea? And, would you like to see over the farm?” Darlel shook her head. I must get back-r-I ought not to have stayed. Mrs Walkes will be expecting me to pour out and it is almost too late. To-morrow we are taking the flock to Craig Ross for a picnic. We are going in cars. Will'you both come? It would bo good of know Mrs ■Walkes would be grateful. Only I shall understand if you—can’t. We could meet at.the cress-roads near the village." Ailsie looked at her brother. Mrs McAlne had left .the room. “I'm afraid,7 she began, "we could not very well come. Graham is so busy, and -— “I think it would do you a world of good," quoth Graham unexpectedly, “apd I ap. going to -accept for us bothGregory .will be here to ?ee to the farm- work. It will be my first holiday.’-’ • ■ Ailsie gave a little exclamation of pleasure. She was very youhg—and could not help feeling dull at times. She had secretly wished more than once that they could be on visiting ■terms with the new tenants of Glanferne, but this would have been heresy to her mother and Graham. She could hardly believe her ears now, and Danel was quick to close with the promise. “You spdrtsj” she cried, with tears In her eyes. “And we’ll have a lonely day. I simply will n'bt be formal with you. We are to be friends. Kismet!” Graham’s eyes softened. “You must ■come again,” he said, ‘‘and see the farm. ; Aii revoir!” Darlel went singing on her way. She was glad she had put that friendship to the hazard—,and won. If she had not gone to-day she might have failed of a welcome. She ; did pot take the hill path towards the Castle, and her duties at ■tea were evidently forgotten as she scrambled over a foot bjldge across a Stream and so through a pine wood. She wanted-to think over her experience. Wo-ftld It be kind to ask the McAlnes to come up to the Castle Hotel and-mingle with the gay crowd? “It won’t do,” she whispered, “they would be out of place. They could no t—could not endure seeing such folk in their home. Oh, dear, do I want the hotel to be- a success or no? I won’t say. Apd I shall make the MoAines my special care to-morrow." Sfre halted -as she spoke, having spied a figure strolling ahead of her along-.the-, p?.th. It was Colin Brinloch and she particularly did not want • to walk- home with him. Looking carefully around, Dariel spied a narrow path leading, to the right. She Would go that way, make a detour, and return to the village; she was not afraid of losing her way, even though the dp?k would soon be drawing in. . What a tangle of briars apd undergrowth there was to be sure, and once a tough bramble across her path sent her spinning. Someone was calling her name, too. She was sure Brinloch was trying to overtake her, and she was equally determined he should not do so. It was rude—really rude —of him to follow when he ought to be able to see she wanted to avoid 'him. “Miss Deene! Please stop!”

The call was repeated—Darlel turned, her pulses racing with vexation. Yes, there was CoUn Brinjoch, hurrying after her, an expression half annoyed, half amused on his face. “Take care!” he called, “Wait!” He spoke too late. Dariel, not heeding where she went, had slipped, and now ran without being able to check herself down a precipitlous bank into a deep pool which lay halfhidden by undergrowth—there under the trees.

Down! Down into chijly water and oozing mud. Dariel screamed in a moment of panic—rthen, finding her feet sinking into' the muddy bed below the dark waters, grabbed at curling roots to pull herself out. Vain effort! She was in up above her waist and some mighty force clutched at her feet. She was stiff 'sinking slowly when BrlnlOch reached the pool, and, stooping, lifted her bodily out. She had nd idea he was so strong. His arms closed in a steellike vice? and a fe w seconds later she was seated panting on a mossy bank, with Brinloch beside her. Never had Dariel felt more like cryr ing, but Pride held tears back. She did not want Mr Brinloch’s sympathy! If she had been.more sure of her voice she would have stormed out the accusation that it was all her companion’s fault.. 'But here he forestalled her.