WOOING OF DARIEL

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1933, Page 11

WOOING OF DARIEL

By

May Wynne

■CHAPTER XVlll.—(Continued.) "He will never go to prison if there is truth and justice in the land," said Dariel, “I hate you for daring to condem a man you .pretend to love." , Flavla laughed aloud. "I reckon you’ll marry a rascal and learn -you’re some horn idiot too late," she drawled. "Come, Mr. Durrock, -we’ll go hack to the Castle first. I want to, see Brinloch before calling at the farm.” She epoke meaningly, but Dariel paid no heed. She was consumed with, fear for her lover. Graham must be warned at all costs. She did not follow the others as they turned back towards the village, but took a short out to the farm. At the farm gate she met Jean McCallook, a basket on her arm, just starting out. The woman looked vexed and would have passed without speaking but Dariel stopped her. "The Laird is in danger," sh? sam, "and I know you love him. °Tell me where he Is. I must see him." The other shook her head. "You’ll learn nowt from me, mistress," she said, “I’m no spy or talebearer. Ye maun gang otherwhere to find sin to betray a friend.” "I am the Laird’.s friend too," cr..od Dariel passionately,' "Don’t you believe that." Jean shrugged her plump shoulders. "The Laird’s greeting last nloht was no’ that of freen,’’ she said slowly. "Gang your gait, leddle. You'll no be wiser for my showing." Tears brimmed in Dariel’s eyes. "You must tell me,” she moaned, "for the Laird -has cruel enemies. They will take him iO; —prison. Won’t you believe me. Don’t you know why I want to save him."

The woman hesitated. “Ye’ll be spying on him,” she whispered. “Ye will be no freen. Why should you wish to do malr for him than we can do.”

“Because,” orled Dariel, and her hands were wrung. “I level him. I love him.”

She turned away, despairing as she spoke, flinging herself down on the bank and covering her face with her . hands. . She thought Jean had gone her way and so gave way to her despair. She looked up with a startled cry when she felt a hand resting on her -shoulder. Jean McCallock was standing there, her expression changed. * “Th© Laird mawn blame me If I’m wrong,” -she said slowly, “but a woman kens the heart cry of anither woman—and so if it’s to save the mon ye lo’e, Lassie, ye can come with me.” CHAPTER XIX. Just a woodman’s hut—in the heart of a bluebell wood—and Jean McCallock had gone within to find it empty. It was Dariel herself who saw the man standing leaning against a tree down by the little burn. She did not so much as look for Jean to re-appear, but went straightway down to where McAlne stood musing. He started and stiffened at sight oi her and his eyes were stern in questioning. “So Jean has betrayed me," he said.

Dariel shuddered. “I made her tell me,” she replied, "for Flavla Consell has employed detectives from New York. They discovered you were al Malllsh Farm last night. Jean thought I was spying. II" She, caught back a sob.

“Mr MoAlne,” she went on, “You—you think it is strange that I am here, But I must explain. I must warn you, These detectives have been told you are guilty. They Insist on adopting that _■ theory, but but if only you will go right away and leave your cause .to us -we will prove your innocence.”

McAlne listened with the puzzlement growing in his eyes. He passed his. hand over his brow as if he were trying to master a problem. “My innocence?” he echoed, “Yes, but—you ' must understand 1 do not wish that proven.” \ It was her turn to show surprise. She echoed those last words slowly, “Not wish it?” she asked.

He frowned. “I should not have left home without a definite purpose,” he said, “Nor do I ask for thanks —or reward. Mr Brlnloch will have given you my message.” Dariel .paled. “I do not in the least understand,” she said, “but I want this to be quite clear. Ido hot know, I can form no guess as to the real thief who played so cruel a part at Glanferne Castle, But lam sure it was not you.”

McAlne was watching her closely. Her face, sweet, brave and Innocent was raised so that the sunlight fell on it. She . spoke very softly and very emphatically. McAlne came nearer. He too was pale. “Colin Brinloch told me you had confessed to him you had stolen Miss Consell’s jewels,” he said, “and asked him to implore me to save you —that is why I Left Glanferne Farm.” At first Dariel thought she must have fainted, but she managed t< rally. “It is too dreadful,” she whispered “Why did he tell such a lie? Whai could he have meant? I a thief 1 j to steal Flavia’s jewels. But hi must be quite mad. I knew none qi the Castle secrets then. I 1 was 8 stranger. And he told you I was a thief? Oh, he was wicked, wicked. Hed —* —the cruellest lie. He has been proving you to be the thief. He has brought proofs and witnesses. Even the Waikes believed him. Flavia believed him She gave you up. She told me she told us all she means to prosecute and send you to prison. She has detectives from America. Ah 1 I see why Brlnloch did not look pleased at that news, He wished to make you appear to-be the criminal because - jealous, —„—AmL.ut;.., XPU ~.■

she was beginning to realise more what MEAlne’s story "irieanU “You took my guilt. You went away because you wanted to save me from disgrace.” Her eyes were alight with tearful smiles. “Tell me,” she said very, very softly, “why did you do it.”

He placed both hands on her shoulders. It was the greatest moment of. his life. “Recause I love you,” he replied.

Dariel came close Into his embrace. “It Is worth all the Buffering to hear that," she sobbed. “Oh, Graham, don’t let us spoil this perfect moment by talking of others’ gilt, Let us. have our hour ——the hour in which we can tell each other of this wonder. For you know I love you. Kiss me, Graham— and tell me nothing is ever going to rob us of this great love/’ t , He obeyed—h,alf shyly at firstthen with the glid triumph of a conqueror. He had wog his heart’s desire after having bpen through the deep waters of renunciation. And yet-—the wind which swept up the glen had a chill breath. Half turning, they saw Jean MoGallook wiping her eyes with a corner of her apron, and knew she'rejoiced as every true woman must rejoice at sight of true lovers meeting In the springtide of the year with the’joy of their youth. “She is a darling,” said Dariel, following his glance and yet half regretful that there should be a spectator to cut short the dream hour. “She knew I spoke the truth when I told her I loved you. And this is only the beginning of happiness, Graham. Flavia can never rob me now. She gave you up. She believes, you are guilty—and so— — “We are free," he concluded In great contentment, “And after all, Dariel, we have no more to fear. I shall come back with you to the Castle, now. I shall tell Miss Consell and the detectives the truth. I shall ask Brlnloch for an explanation. Then we shall start our search. Truth must prevail.” "I cannot understand," said Dariel. “Mr Brlnloch must have been cruelly jealous, cruelly wicked, but— —I don’t see who he is shielding. He cannot have been the thief! He never slept in the 'Tower, tie never saw the ghost. Could it have been Mr Flaxon.' I don’t see who else it could have been. Yet neither he nor Colin knew the secrets of the Castle. I should like to go and see Ellen Pearns. Will you come with me Graham. She told me the Castle' was ‘haunted. She knew the secret of the passages. She may have been In league with the thieves. Mr Brlnloch may guess that, for he knows- her, he visited her. Could she have helped him. Let us go and find out.” She was growing so excited that Graham had to laugh at her. What a child she was, and so impetuous I They had to stay and speak to Jean McCallock, who needed no explanations. But Graham Interrupted her in his gravest way. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough, Jean,” he said, “for bringing me a sweetheart and—all the good news in life. I’m going back to the Castle and——heighol I’m not going to see any clouds to-night. .It’s a grand day for me.” Dariel clasped her hands. She knew that just for a moment he was thinking of Glanferne and how, though he won a bride, he must pay for her with his inheritance.

But Jean was congratulating and her tears and blessings were sweet ■to the lad and lass who presently went tramping off over the moors to begin, their task, a task which was to bring them home to happiness. For — they could not forget for long that detectives were searching for a man whose good name lay under a black cloud of accusation.

Across the old bridge they .passed, and so through the pine wood leading to the ridge—and Ellen Pearn’s lone hut. As they came up a tangled path, the smell of burning reached them, and the pungent clouds of smoko rolling in amongst the thickly growing trees told of fire.

A -bonfire maybe but no, It was more than that—and as the two, quickening their pace to a run, reached the outskirts of the wood, it was to see -the hut lapped in flames. Dariel’s cry echoed Another, which rose shrill from the interior of the hut—and to the horror of the two watchers, a woman, her arms laden with household goods, came staggering out—whilst as she crossed the threshold a beam of blazing wood falling athwart her shoulders brought her to the ground even as McAlne racing forward, stopped, kicked back the burning beam and raised the unconscious woman in his arms, dragging her out of reach of the flames, then beating the fire out from her hair, her shawl and sleeve.

It all happened so quickly that before Dariel had reached rescuer and rescued, the flre was extinguished, though the woman lay inert.

.“She is dead," whispered Dariel In horror, “dead.” And even as she spoke Ellen Pearns opened her eyes. “Colin 1” she moaned. “Colin my son.” CHAPTER XX. “She is wandering,” said Graham, “poor soul. She has had a sad life. We have always felt so sorry for her. The villagers have been hard.” He believed the woman had become unconscious again, but she opened her eyes almost at once. “Brandy," she pleaded, “Give me brandy, and then carry me down to the wee burn in the wood. I’ll rest there and—ye shall hear the tale before I deer-gfor it’s a deeing woman I 1 AijQJi a ■ '•

Graham felt in his pocket. He carried aTiask of brandy and unscrewing the silver stopper managed to pour some of the spirits down Ellep’s throat. She did • not appear to be burnt—saving a few scorches on wrist and. brow, though there were great holes in her shawl and skirt—and they guessed that her shoulder had been injured by the falling beam. Still, there seemed to be no reason for her collapse unless there had been heart trouble before. Graham slipped his arms under the thin frame and without great difficulty carried his burden down to the burn side. The hut was blazing away, and there was some threat of the wood near catching fire. But the two who bent over Ellen pearns did not heed the danger. She was reviving after the brandy, and naif raised herself, peering round. Dariel watched her, fascinated. The woman’s face was grey and haggard, ier hair hung in. wisps, but the eyes were bright with fierce light and there was something in the face which told , k he Ule of girl-hood’s beauty. GpnUnuod.J,.,