Denbighshire Free Press

(Copyrights ) DARING' OAME. By HARRIET "LEWIS. ] Author of "The Secret of His History," "The Old Life's Shadows," "Sundered Heart. Darkwood," &c. CHAPTER XLV. I AS CHTIMKLT ARRIVAT-, I 111 the early dawn of a grey, wild morning, Sir Harold Wynde, Lord Towyn, and Mr. Atkins arrived at. Inverness. They proceeded directly to the Railway Hotel, and secured ke.ii->orns and sitting-room ur.d ordered break- out. Some attention to ti *eir toilet was necea- after bath* and vigorous brtwhing they i)0r in their sitting-room, and here a very t" I;ng Scottish breakfast was served to them. i "v were still lingering at the table, dis- Ctl., i their future moremen's, when a knock was heard at the door, and the detective who had been sent to watch Knfus Black entered the room. He was a thin, small man, with a sharp business face, and looked the vpr" ideal of a keen commercial traveller; and Sir Harold for the supposed that such was his voca- t io: ilint the man had strayed into the v-rn-ir "om, This impression was speedily .t c. •'v ..od—morning, my lord," said the officer, aocirossing himself to the young Earl. "Ex- pe, your luni.-M.ij. down yesterday. Gocd- nii-; r;ngi Mr. Atkins. Fine morning, sir—for acK 'nd. My lord, can I see vou alone for a few minutes ? "Say what you have to say here, Rvan," Aid the young Earl. "Mr. Atkins is a fellow- guardian of the young lady of whom we are in search, and thin ffnt!.man, Mr. Hunlow, is also a friend of i \Vynde. Speak out, there- fore. Have yo;, any news ? Ihe detective clawed half-uneasily at the baronet, whose far-e announced that he was it) coninf»n ■( cry.a/f. The grev hair and military, bea/d had no' greatly changed Sir Harold s IOO'FR, }>ut liyan had never seen ihe baronet before. course conceived no sus- J""(-!on of hi ice~.il r. The barori-t r.e and went to the hearth, .Itlng down ix-fore the fire, bis face half-turned -way from the detective, who again addressed himself to Lord Towvn. "There is news, 'ny lord." he announced. I succeed ea .n tn-.cv^ finfns Black down to this place. He stopped at the Caledonian. Ia tact, he is stopping there now." The young Earl's face kindled with exoite- aient. "Then we cannot be far from Miss Wvnde," at- exclaimed. "He has stopped two or' three •<iys at Inverness, and that proves that he has t nunh further to go. Has he been out of K '-I'verness since he came ? » u r>S face clonded a little, t fiufus Black arrived at Inverness the day before yesterday,M he said. Upon the after- noon of the very day oa which he arrived, while I was at dinner, be went off in a cab, ttd did not return till late in the evening I was lounging about the door when he came Met, and he looked the very picture of despair, and came in recklessly and went to hit room. "That proves that Miss Wynd. is not many miles from here," said Lord Towyn. "Hie despair may be readily aocounted for, if he bad just come from an interview with her." "Yesterday," continued the officer, "he strolled about the -town all the forenoon, and went down to the river, aad visited the wharves en the Canal, and seemed to be making up his mind to something that required courage. After luncheon at the Caledonian he took a cab and went off ia, not returning till midnight t night." 'j wl you followed him ? cried Atkins, ju put-that sharp old ferret Craven V If""ru~ ejaculated Kvan, in astonenment ">0, sir. We-ye t «an nn_ cornn.cn p»ir te deal with. Mr. Black and hit lady are as shrewd and keen as any old stagers i ever knew. It wouldn't do to 'let themlus- pee» ttat we are on their track, or they would ■?* *nd perhaps put the young lady i. do a many things when they f„et that will do them no good, and hmrao thera if found out. A stifled groan came from Sir Harold. Ryan ,i_? ,«8P|ciou8 glance at him. Then yet, are at a standstill. Kvan ? said *iv Atkins impatiently. "You have treed the game, and sat down to wait for us ? "By no means, lIir," answered Ryan deliber- StelY. "I saw the cabby after Rufus Black had gone to bed, and arf-a-crown drew out of the fk IJ he knew- Mind vou, my lord, ♦flat gold »nd silver make the best corkscrews J* existence! The cabby owned up to ail he knew, as I said, and a pity it wasn't more. He drove out with his fare to an estate called Heather Hills, between this and Nairn, on the *> a wild, bleak spot it is, according to «M>by. They went up a long drive and stopped » ■ carriage porch, and Rufus Black he taoched and rung, and a housemaid came to the door and he aeked her something, and ■he pointed down the coast. And, tellin? cabby to wait, young Black went down the caffs and •truck across the fields. Cabby put an oilcloth on his horse for the wind blowing free and •trong from the ses, and sat there on his box, Md sat there tiu ,t began to grow dark, and »e began swear a blue streak; and then £ iast young Black came back, with a young Crossed in black upon his arm, a-hanging ♦Ik. Vi to verv fpnd, and a-looking up at a& Very tender, that cabby saw that they w,wo Icvew* ^"Impoieibfo!" eried Lord Towyn, turning I wilt stake my very soul on Miss vVyndo's COttTager, and her fidelity to me. No gerioml fears, no emelty even, could drive her iaio accepting -¥ttl Black..1 know her brave aad glorious nature; I know that -he could A "• or yielding. 1L* CU./X48 Sl'.s Jt"iVOO K 'li! J "No, my ford," said the detective doggedly. 1*3 ftafa anything your lordship likes on his good faith. Kufuj Black hung over the lady as if the ground Wftan t good enoogn for her to walk on, and she smiled up at him as loving »s—aa a basket of chips, said Ryan, at fault for a simile, and concluding his comparison father ignominiously. "The lady saw cabby, and says she, blushing and smiling: The gentleman will stay to dinner, and you can put up your horse in the stable,' says she, and go into the servant& I hall and get a glass of ale and your dinner.' And cabby put up his horse and went into the kitchen." A queer story," muttered Atkins. Perhaps MLs* Wynde was playing a part—pretending to love Rufus Black in order to throw her galore off their guard, and so obtain a chance of •scape ? Ihe young Earl's face now flashed. "I can't understand it," he said. "It is not like Miss Wynde to play such a part, even to effect her escape from her enemies. She is truth incarnate. She could never summon to her lips those false smiles; she could never for one moment allow Rufus Black to consider himself her favoured lover." "The Earl is right," said Sir H&rold. "ISeva sould never play such a d part. Bhe is too truthful and straightforward." The detective sent another quick glance at the baronet. "Did the cabman make any further dis- coveries ?" inquired Atkins. n "One or two, of some importance, said Ryan. "In the 1ir!t place, there were too iew tervante for so grand a house. In the second nlaro. the young lady, with an older woman, iiad mme up there within a week. In the third place, the housemaid said that her young mistf -sB was called Miss Wroat, but that ihut was not her real name, for the young gentleman had asked for hur by another name. And altogether an air of mystery seems to hang about the young lady. But the fact oi th« most import- ance of all is, that on the way home from Heather Hills last night young Black got up on the box with the cabby, and askud him no end of question* a out the Scotch laws concerning marriage-if licences were necessary, if publica- ion of blmnfl wfti usual, and so on. And the I young man askeu him whioti "u the beat churcl) to step into tor a quiet, informal marriage, without lieence or publication of banns, but the marriage to be perfeotly legal and binding." Ah eaid Atkins. That begins to look as if he business. "Young Black seemed to be in a gay Rumour all the way home, said Ryan. He' sung to himself, and talked and laughed, and acted as if he had had a fortune left to him. And as they drove into Inverness he told the cabby that he wanteu .,¡"" dl/l to church this morning at n q nirter to ten o'clock, and he toid him that lie wa* goivig t.) be fmwried to a great heirc-ss whom he sdnr..d. Is there not some miftake ? asked Lord Towyn excitedly. "Can he Le in love with some other lady "I should say not," snid Atkins dril.r. "Heiresses are not as plenty as oatcakes in Scotland. He's been courting Miss Wynde since last July, and was dead in love with her, as anyone could see. He could not shift his affections so soon, and fix them upon another heiress. The young lady is Miss Wynde, fast enough. And she is either deluding him, meaning to denounce him to the minister at the altar, or to escape from him in Inverness; or elee her courage is weakened, and she believes herself helpless, and has iel(lej to t-er enemies I in a fit of despair." I If she were alone upon the cliffs, she might then have attempted to escape," said Lord fowyn, thoroughly puzzled. "I cannot feel that this smiling, loving bride is Neva. I know she i« not. But we will pr*«ent ourselves at the marriage, and if the brid" be Neva we will save her." "I cannot think that she is Neva," said Sir Harold thoughtfully. "And yet, as Atkins savs, where could he have found another heiress 80 soon ? And how, if he loved Neva so de- votedly, could he be so deeply in love with this young lady who has just come down to Inverness ? "She comes from Kent," said Ryan. "The housemaid has heard her speak of being at Canterbury within the month." "That Pet tlee it said Atkins. "It is Miss Wynde "Ryan," exclaimed Lord Tcwrri, "YOU must go now and discover to what church Rufua Black is going. We will wait here for TOU to guide us." Ryan bowed and departed. He was gone until nearly ton o'clock, and -the time dragged heavily to Nevas friends, who remained in their closed aittmg-rooni, exchang- ing surmises and doubts, and preparing them- selves for an encounter with Craven Black and Qctavia. Sir Harold put on his great-coat and turned up his collar, and wound a grey woollen muffler about the lower part of his fiice. He was stand- ing thus disguised, hat in hand, when Rran catue back and quietly aliped i,:f0 the room*. "The cab is waiting, the detec- tive. "I have teen at Rufua Black's heels ever since I left you. When I zot back to the Cale- donian, he was just going out in his cab. I rode on top as a friend of the driver, who was won over to make a friend of me by a gift of a crown. We drove to the minister's, and to the sexton's, and finallv to a jeweller's, where Black bought a ring. We then went back to tne hotel. And a few minutes ago young Black entered hia cab again, and gave the order to The church.' I know the church, and we must get on our way to reach it, if we expect to get there in time to stop the ceremony." Sir Harold and Lord Towyn hurried impe- tuously out of the room and down the stairs, and were seated in the cab when Atkins and the detective reached the street. These two also entered the vehicle, which rolled swiftly down the street. A few minutes' drbe brought them to the plain, iubs'antial kirk which had bean chosen bv Rufus Black as the scene of his second niar- riage to Lally. The four pursuers leaped from the cab, and hastily entered the edifice by its half-open door. Passing through tit dim and chilly vestibule, they pushed open one of the baiie-covered inner di.ors, which swung noiselessly upon its well-oiled hinges, and stood within the kirk. It was a plain church interior, without itained-glass or lofty arched windows, with Lara m-alls and ceilings, and with the plainest of gasahers; the reading-difgk of solid oak. beautifully carved, was yet in keeping with the rugged simplicity of this house of worship. Here the old Covenanters might have wor- shipped,and here theii- descendant* did worship, in aii the stern simplicity of the frith in which they had been trained. There waa no one save the pew-opener in the church at the moment of the intrusion of Sir Harold Wynde and his companiona. The four passed silently down the long dim aifsle, and entered a tall-backed pew in which they were nearly hidden from view. Lord Towyn gave the pew-opener a aliilling, and they were left to themselves. "It doesn't look like a wedding," said Sir Harold, shivering in his great-coat. "If the bridegroom came on before its, where it he ? The question was answered bv the appearance of Rufus Black and the minister from the little vestry in which they had gone to warm them- selves. Rufus wore his ordinary garment*, but bad bought a white waistcoat and necktie, wbieh gave him a festive air. He kept his eyes upon the door with an anxious, uneasy glance. "He's afraid she'll give him the slip aftre all," muttered Ryan. The green baize-covered door swung open aDd; closed again. Rufua Black and the occupant* of the high-backed pew in the earner near the' reading-desk alike started, but the arrival wa* only that of a few persons who had seen th« open church door and surmised t'dat a wedding was in progress. They questioned the pew- opener and subsided into pews. Presently a few more curious pereooe appeared' and took their seats also. The occupants the Wh-Wked pew grew impatient. It was after ten f) ol t- early hour for a wedding, but the hoar Rufu. had himself appointed, in hia eager impatience ■'ds -1v. if? A coH "•"■-•A to the youtiK I.wc. Hie >. think that Lally had thought better of her promise to remarry him, and had decided to- give him up for the worthless, weak, irresolute; beiog he knew himnelf to be. "Thfre s a hitch somewhere," said Ryan. Again the baize-covered door swung open, and four {« rsons came slowly up to* aiale. It was the bridal party at last. Rufus Black started forward wilh an irre- pressible eagerness, joy and relief. Sir Harold Wynde and Lord Towyn, alike pale and agitated, regarded the approaching party with burning eyes. First of all came the steward of Heather Hills, with a girlish figure clinging to bi. arm. Behind these two came the steward s- wife in grey silk, and Peters in blaek silk and srape, but with white ribbons at her throat, and white lace collar and cuffs. Sir Harold and the young Earl looked at tlfce three strange figures in a sort of bewilderment- They had expected to see Craven Black and Oepavia. Not seeing them, they fixed their glances upon Lally. The young wife had laid aside her mourning for her creat-annt upon this occaaion, and wore a dre, that Mrs. Wroat had bought for her upon their memorable shopping expedition immediately after Lally s arrival in London. It was a delicate man vr, moiri, made with a long train. Over it was worn an upper dress of fihuy tulle, arranged in foam like puffs over all its surface. This, too, formed a train. The cor tag* wae of puffs of tulle over the Dloiré. The bride were a tulle veil, which fell over her face iit wft folds, an<i was oonfined to her head by an aigrette of diamonds. Through the iHmy folds of her voil the spectators caught the gleaiu "f diamonds on her arms, and neck, and I bor-. rn. The ttmard conducted his beautiful young chn» £ r to the altar, and bride and bridegroom 8:01"1 "tde ih" side, IInd the miniater alowly took • hi* plwe. Lord Towyn made a movement to dash from bi.t, hut Sir Harold caught his arm ia a 8trn jrrip, and compelled him to remain. At the moment of beholding the bride, i mi"t Lid SAel" over the young Earl's vision. Ij ¡"¡I\ ii*i:*#eawd to awioi. For the instant hf «. aicely tlonbtea, in tus excitement, th»r it WK* Neva who stood before him but as his vision cleared he knew that this young Lri de was not his betrothed wife. He knew it, although h« could not see Laily's face. He missed the haughty carriage of N-t!va's rleiicier figure, the proud poise of her small, be himct, the swaying grace of her movements. h18 young bride was not so tall as Neva, and had not Neva's dainty, imperial grace. "It's not Nev* lie whiskered excitedly. "That is Rufus Black, sure enough, but the lady ia not Neva." "You can't see her face," said Atkins. "I lady is not Neva." "That is Rufus Black, sure enough, but the lady ia not Neva." "You can't see her face," said Atkins. "I think it is Miss Wynde." At this moment the bride, with a sweep of her hand, threw back her veil. As her bright, dark face, so like a gipsy's, and with a glow of happiness upon it, mot the gaze of the spec- tators, Sir Harold stifled a groan. Lord Towyn stared at tLe pretty brown face with ita ductuating colour, and the soiUy melting blhC" "J!o. and a dead pallor oovered his face. If this young girl was the chosen bride of Rufus Black, where was Neva ? Why had Rufus given her up ? The wildest fears for her life and aafety possessed him. The marriage went on. The four purauera who had come to interrupt the proceedings sat in their high-backed pew as if utterly stupefied What objection could they raise to the marriage of Rufus Black, to a stranger who came to the church escorted by her friends ? Why should they object to such a marriage ? They heard the questions and answers as in a trance. The name of Lalla Bird sounded strangely unon t their ears. And when the minister said: "I now pronounce you man and wife, and whom God has joined together l^t no man put asunder, Sir Harold Wynde and the young Farl looked at each other with terrified, inquiring evee, that asked the question that filled their souls alike Where was Neva ? After the praver that followed the ceremony, the minister went into the restrv, followed by the newly marritd pair, the steward and his wife, and good Mrs. Peters. The spectators of the wedding stole silently out of the church. "Well, I've come down here on a fool's errand," muttered Ryan, in a tone of chagrin. "Perhaps not," said Lord 'rowv.,i. "Rufus may be able to give us some lue to his fittiter's whereabouts, if we approach him judiciously. I am going into the vestry to see h i m. "And I too," «aid the baronet, rising. The young Earl led the way from their pew I to the vo-try, Sir Harold at his sfde, and Mr, Atkins and Ryan behind them. The bride, all blushes and smiles, was wnting her name in the marriage register, when the young Earl and his commmions entered the small room. Rufua Black had just signed it, and was putting on his gloves. He gave a great start as he recognised Lord Towvn and Atkins, and stared beyond them with an unmistakable terror, as if he expected to be hold the eynical, sneering face anft angry vyes of his father looming up behind the intruders. "You here, my lord ? he faltered. "Yes, Rufie, saisi the young Earl, holding out his hand. "We happened to be at Inverness, and have been witnesses your marriage. Permit us to congratulate you." Rufua drew a long breath af relief, and shook the Earl's hand heartily. I tbought-I thought-" he began, con- fnsed and hesitating. "I was afraid—— .But never mind. It's odd jour being up here, uty lord. How do you do, Atkins ? Lally"-aNd Rufua turned to his young wife, who was looking curiously at the new-corners—" here are soims friends of mine, from Kent. Lord Towvn, Lady; and Mr. Atkins, of Canterbury." I Lady biaahed, and acknowledged the intro- duction gracefully. "Can we tee you in the church a moment, I Mr. Black ? asked Lord Towyn. Rufus consetrted, with that loaft of fear again in his eyes. He apologiaed for a moment'# -ih-chcc io uis rariae ana ner Irientfs. who wwre now signing th-tw names to the register, and accompanied his pursuers back inJte- the church. His face briglitesed whon he foand that hia father was not in wait'ir. for him in t>he church. "You have a very pretty bride, Rulas," said the young Earl pre»t»->p!iy, We have followed you from Kent, witfo the idea that yau were on ya*kr way to Miss Wvnde. It was iSi this way we happened to be at your wedding, Is li-re.. Rafua Black a. accent be- quaintance ? Rufua hoaitated, v&h a quick glance at Sir Harold's muffled face and figure. Then he said bravely, vesolving to act upon his sew prin- ciples of straightforwardness and; courage "It is an odd stosy. Lord Towyw. I have been married before to mv wife, to whom I was married thia morni-ig. My father sepasated me from her, and I read in a Londsnf paper that ahe waa dead. I discovered my iawtake the other day in London. I met We&- in a picture shopi She came off to ScotJamJ that night, and I' found her yesterday. Site- is an heireaa now, my lord, bs4: the Mrne ocue and Icviiig wife ahe uaed to be. I was desperate at her loss I wm half mad, I!think, when ] asked Miss Wynde t<o marry me- I never loved anv- one but my awn wife, and I beg you bo say u Wynde for me that I send mgr beat wiahes for her* happiness, and I should be glnd to witnesa her marriage with you, my locmL-7 "Tbank yen; Rufus. But, where ia Miss Wynde ? Ä. look of genome aurpriee appeared iirJtafua Black'a eyes. "Why, ahe ia- at Wynde- Heighta, -with my father and her step-motheBi~ w he aMwerML "She is not JAere. They- have not been. tbere. They have convayed her to some lonely ptaoe, where they hope to aubdm her into coaeemting to marry vou, said Lord Towyn. "GtA you give ua no clue to their whereabouts ? "None whatewr> my lords My fathtr;- said they were goiisg to Wynde Height#) and ordered me to, hold myself in readineea to coir." +0 him at a momenta warning. I have not heard from Lhu he left Hawkborat. lam now of ag*; and have flung off "Y tether's for ew I know no more tiimo you \.iV, .j ■ 1 i :-r. kï:.ir!l\.<4t" (: rk.i v;t But one thing is aure. When he sew the announcement of my marriage in the- Times he'll give up the game, and bring Misa. Wynde back to her home. "He may not dare to. do that," saitl Atkins. "He has carried-matters with too h ¡; a hand, and has gone tso- far to make an easy retreat. Has your fathee any property, Mr. Bfock ? "About three hundred a year," suid Rufua. Hia wife is rich." _I mean, does be own any real esthke Rufua smiled,, ahook his head, and, hesitated. "I don't know," be said doubfctolly. "I believe he doew own a, emall estate somewhere, but it never bsonght him in a penny. It is h™. "npredViotive. and out of the-world." The verypJMe lift which he would have gone I cried Atkine. "Where is ib ?. 1 don t kntm*" confessed Iwfue. "You see, my father never talked of his. affairs to I me. In fact*. I never lived with him. I was always at school, and we were more like strangers, on master and serf, than like father and son. HIS property may be m Walee, and it may be eisewhere. I believe there are- mountains- near it or around it, but I am not sure. Indsed- my lord, almost wiyone who ever knew my father can tell you more about hia affaira tliau I can." Rufus- spoke with a plain sincerity that con- vinced his hearer of his truthfulness. "We have had our journey to Scotland lor nothiitg," said Atkins. I Ryan looked crestfallen. We will detain you no longer, Rufaa** said Lord Towyn, a shadow darkening his fair and noble face. Make our excuses to your bride for taking vou from her so soon after your marriage, and accept our betit wishes fur your future prosperity and happiness. And now, good-morning." future prosperity and happiness. And now, good-morning." With an exchange of courtesies and friendly greetings, the party broke up, Rufus Black returning to his young wife and her wondering friends, to make all necessary apologies for his absence from them, and Lord Towyn and hia companions making their way into the street. What sre we to do now ? demanded the young Earl, as they paused at tha open door of tllr. "J-.