HER LADYSHIP’S COMPANION

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 19 (Supplement)

HER LADYSHIP’S COMPANION

Or THE WEB OF FATE

By

Author of —————— “Out of Darkness,” “A Day of Reckoning,” eto.

HEDLEY RICHARDS

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. LADY JANE TEMPEST. nn orphaned heiress, who is not considered even good looking, is expecting a visit from her cousin. RONALD STAPLETON, who has arrived home after six years’ big game shooting, expecting to marry Lady Jane, a plan made long ago by their parents because the estates of the two families joined. But Ronald .first meets Lady Jane’s beautiful companion, uJSTHEB COLLINSCN, and falls in love with her at first sight. Esther and Lady Jane were at boarding school together in France. Ronald cannot refrain from comparing the two girls, and wishes he were free to woo Esther; Esther realises Ronald is not in love with Lady Jane, and makes up her mind to win him herself. There is something in Lady Jane’s past that is worrying her. A boy'from the village brings Lady Jane a 'etter : she turns very pale when she recognises the hand-writing, and that evening she secretly meets VICTOR DUMA USQUE. who was the drawing master at the boarding school in France. Dumarsque succeeds in obtaining money from Lady Jane. Esther plays eavesdropper and learns that Lady Jane is in the power of Dumarsque. Esther meets Dumarsque while out walking. and is determined to find out more about his power over Lady Jane. Lady Jane gives Dumarsque £SOO. She is warned through an anonymous letter not to have anything to do with Dumarsque. as trouble would come of it. Ronald decides he must keep to the understanding that he and Lady Jane should marry. ' and asks her to become engaged and fix the wedding day. but Lady Jane refuses to do so. and says she doesn't wish to get married. Esther tells Ronald about the secret meetings between Lady Jane and Dumarsque. but extorts from him a promise he will not tell Lady Jane the name of his informant. CHAPTER VIII. Suspicions. For a moment there was silence. He dared not speak lest he should say words that he had no right to speak until Jane set him free. But his heart bounded with joy as he realised that Esther cared for him. Jane’s entanglement with this' other man was lost sight of in the happiness of knowing that the woman he loved cared for him. Esther sat beside him with downcast eyes, perfectly aware that she had betrayed her love, and rejoicing that she had done so, because, taken unawares, he had revealed what in calmer moments he would have tried to hide, until this semi-engagement with Jane was cancelled. Now she felt triumphant—before she had hoped and halfthought Ronald cared for her. But there was no doubt in her mind now; she was certain he loved her, and but for Jane would have told her so. Jane was the barrier that stood between them, and Esther resolved that in some way she should be thrust aside. Suddenly the chain of her thoughts was broken by Ronald saying: “I will walk back with you to the Hall and see Jane.” Esther rose triumphant. He was not going to countenance any unnecessary delay; he was going to bring Jane to book, and Jane would not be able to give a satisfactory explanation of her meeting with Dumarsque, so there would be a rupture. Then, in a little while —there would have to be «. decent interval —Ronald would woo her. But even before they were engaged she would know he loved her, and it would be a delicious interval, during which they would often see each other. Then a suaaen rear made ner say: “If you speak to Jane now she may suspect I have told you about her meeting Dumarsque, and she will make me suffer for it.” “I will shield you, but it is out of the question that our present relationship can continue and she go on meeting this man, even if I—” He stopped abruptly, but Esther knew that if he had finished the sentence it would have been “even if I didn’t care for you.” As the- entered the morning room they heard a man’s voice and Jane’s quiet laugh. “So you’ve come, little Sis.” As the man rose, Esther recognised her brother. “Jack! You here!” she exclaimed. “Yes, I found Miss Tempest’s note waiting for me, and somehow I’d a longing to get my journey over, 60 I came straight on, travelling in the night, and I got here about half an hour ago. Well, you’ve grown. There’s not much left of the little girl I remember. Lady Jane was telling me you had changed very much the last few years.” “I’ve grown up, and that means a lot,” she said, laughing softly, as she thought it meant loving and being loved by the man of her choice. For a second her brother’s eyes rested on her face; then, as Lady Jane spoke, he turned to be presented to Ronald Stapleton, and as they shook hands he said: “I know a man of your name—Dick Stapleton—he’s a captain in the King’s “He’s a second cousin of mine, or something of that sort.” “He’s a good fellow, but an awful gambler,” said Dick Collinson. “I know; his father and grandfather were the same. That was the reason my father took precautions that, in the svent of me not leaving anyone to follow me, the estate should pass to the female branch of the family.” “Your father was a wise man. I was tarred with the same brush, and landed myself in debt, but I pulled up, and I don’t think I shall ever bet more than a trifle again,” said Jack, looking at his sister. But even as he reproached himself for having, through his extravagance, been unable to provide her with a home, it struck him that she did not appear to have lacked anything. She was as well dressed as Lady Jane, and there was a look of triumph on her beautiful face that puzzled him, and, glancing from her to Lady Jane, he was struck by the difference in their expressions. Her face was grave, and h.e could have fancied she had known sorrow. She did not give him the impression of a happy girl, but her quiet dignity and graceful movements attracted him. “Esther looks like a beautiful queen, but Lady Jane is a gracious, dignified woman,” he thought. Dinner was over. The men had followed the ladies into the drawing room, and Ronald at once joined Lady Jane, who was standing near an open window. “Jane, I want you to come into the garden. I have something to say to you,” he said, gravely. She looked annoyed, and her voice betrayed her impatience as she said: “Is it anything of importance?” “Vs; it is of vital importance.” ery well, then, I will come.” And s he opened a glass door that led on to the verandah she stepped out.

“Well, what is it?” she asked almost sharply. “Wait until we reach the lawn, then I will tell you.” Then, seeing she hesitated, he added: “These windows arc open, and our conversation would be overheard. v “What does that matter?’’ she said But, nevertheless, she ran lightly down the steps that led from the verandah to the lawn. “Now, what wonderful mystery have you to talk about?” she asked, looking up at him, and seeing that he was very grave. “Jane, I want to ask you why you meet that man Dumarsque secretly? What is li,e to you?” Her face turned white as death, and for a moment she did not answer him. Then she said: “Who told you I met him ?” The question staggered him. He had given his word not to name his informant. Moreover, he had not dreamed she would answer him id this fashion. He had expected dismay and apologies, followed by an explanation, but the only sign of emotion had been her pallor. Her voice was low and calm. “I cannot tell you,” he said. “Then I won’t even admit I met the man you name or any other man,” she said quietly. “But, Jane, I know you did, you were seen with him. It was for him you wanted that money, and as your cousin, if nothing more, I demand to know what it means.” Her eyes blazed with anger; someone had played the spy on her, then talked of it, “I will answer your questions when you have told me the name of the person who has been spying on my actions.” “I cannot,” he said resolutely. “I promised not to give the name of my informant,” lie added. “Neither can I tell you anything.” “But, Jane, you don’t deny that you met the man and gave him money ?” “If I did deny it you wouldn’t believe me. You would rather take the word of a spy and an eavesdropper,” she said angrily. “The person who told me was neither. It was mere accident that led to you being seen ” “And heard?” interposed Lady Jane. “Yes, and heard. I can assure you the person who told me had your welfare at heart.” “Then tell me the name of this wellmeaning person,” she said scornfully. “I cannot.” “Then there is nothing more to be said,” she answered as she turned away. “Jane, I have something else to say,” he said, following her. “I don’t want to hear it,” and hurrying forward she reached the verandah just as Esther Collinson and her brother stepped on to it, and during the remainder of the evening Jane persistently avoided Ronald, and talking to her companion he forgot—for a time that the question of his marriage with Lady Jane was still unsettled. That night as Jack Collinson stood looking out of his dressing-room window he was thinking of the youthful mistress of the Hall. “She’s a charming woman, but why docs she look so sad? I’d like to see that sadness vanish.” Then he smiled as he muttered, “Jack, my bov, you are unusually interested in this vonmr woman, and it’s a good thing that' instead of five hundred pounds a year and five hundred down, Charlton left you five thousand a year and five thousand down. It was a rummy mistake of the lawyer’s clerk, but I’m not sorry it was a mistake. She’s an heiress, but a fellow with five thousand a year couldn’t be called exactly a fortune hunter.” CHAPTER IX. A Strange Warning. It was a week after Jack Collinson*® arrival at Lynton Hall, and it seemed to Jane as though the place would be very dull without him. Aunt Sarah had taken a great liking to him. Ronald and he were very friendly, but Esther found him in the way. He had such very keen eyes, and she got the impression that he saw through some of her little artifices. Still, she did not wish him to go. She thought he admired Jane, and she was certain Jane liked him—even better than Ronald—so it was possible the two would play into her hands, and that the man she loved would be free to woo and marry her. She was thinking this as she* put on her riding habit of green cloth, with a cap to match. It had been arranged that the two girls, with Ronald and Jack Collinson should ride as far as some ruins and lunch at a little country public-house near. It would be a delightful excursion. Jack, who knew nothing of the family arrangement that Ronald and Lady Jane should marry, would be sure to appropriate the latter, which meant that Ronald and she would ride side by side through the country lanes. The very thought made her eves brighter and her face flush, and she came down the stairs the others, who were waiting in the hall, thought what a vision of loveliness she was. “I’m awfully sorry I’m late,” she said as she glanced at Jane and noticed how well she looked in her dark blue cloth habit and cap. A few minutes later they were riding down the avenue, Lady Jane and Jack leading the way. It was a pleasant ride of ten miles, and the ruins of the Priory were well worth s-eeing. Then came the luncheon at the pretty little inn, over which they loitered an unconscionable time, so that it was nearly three o’clock when they started homewards, Ronald taking his place beside Lady Jane; but very soon Jack had manoeuvred so that he -was beside her, and the others left behind. There was no need to hurry, and they went at a leisurely pace, Lady Jane listening with interest to Jack’s account of picnics in India. Then a sudden change in the sky attracted her attention; dark, heavy clouds fringed with yellow obscured the sun. “It’s going to thunder,” she said in % frightened tone, and as she spoke they heard the distant rumble. Jack looked up. “Yes,, I’m afraid it’s coming, and I expect there will be 6ome heavy rain. Ts there anywhere we could shelter?” “Yes, we can turn up that lane,” she said, pointing to one a few yards distant. “Mr. Ray, of the Corner Farm, will let us shelter.” “So I am to make acquaintance with the Corner Farm,” he said in a bantering tone. Then, as a heavy peal of thunder considerably nearer made her lace turn pale, he said:

the others and tell them where we are going.” Lady Jane turned up the lane, but a feeling of terror and loneliness came over her as she left Jack. A moment later Esther and Ronald Stapleton joined him. “Where is Lady Jane?” asked the latter. “She is on her way to the Corner Farm. I waited to tell you,” he said, then set his horse off at a canter. “Poor Jane, she will be terrified,” said Esther, as they turned up the lane. Meanwhile Jack had overtaken Lady Jane just as a vivid flash of lightning burst from the clouds, causing her horse to rear and prance, and to dash wildly forward, hut in an instant Jack was by her side, and, seizing the horse’s bridle, he held it firmly, and the horse became quieter. Then, as the rain began to fall, they came in sight of a long, low house, built of stone that was grey with age, and was only visible here and there, through the Virginia creeper and climbing roses. A wide garden gay with summer flowers, stretched in front of it, and as they drew up at the gate Jack, glancing at the house to see if anyone was about, saw a woman’s face at one of the quaint diamond-paned windows in the upper storey. Then, as he helped Lady Jane to dismount, the front door opened, and a fine, stalwart man appeared in the porch; then, recognising her, he hurried to the gate. “Your ladyship will just get under shelter in the nick of time,” then, as she passed up the path, he said to Jack: “If you’ll hold the horses a minute I’ll send a boy to take them to the stable.” “Thanks, my sister, Miss Collinson, and Mr. Stapleton are following. Ah, they’re coming,” he said, as the two horses came galloping up the lane, and in another moment Esther had followed Jane into the house, where very soon Ronald and Jack joined them in a quaint, low room, with heavy oak beams across the ceiling. “The rain is coming down in torrents. It’s lucky I’ve got all my hay in, but one little field—the corner field, nigh the house,” 6aid Mr. Ray, as he came forward. At that moment the door opened, and a maid entered with a tray on which were tea and cakes, and Mrs. Ray began to fill the cups, which her husband handed round. “Do try to drink a little, my lady; it will hearten you up,” said the farmer, as Lady Jane declined to take any. She shook her head. “Thank you, but I couldn’t drink. Oh!” and she buried her face in hei hands as a. vivid flash of lightning lit up the room, followed by a heavy peal of thunder; then, when it died away, a woman’s voice said, in clear, distinct tones: “Perhaps Lady Jane has something on her conscience, and fears the lightning may kill her.” (To be continued daily.) It is said that in all forests of the earth there are no two leaves exactly the same.