The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-20
A STORY OF ADVENTURE,
LOVE AND DARING.
ERSKINE BOYD.
TEE STOLEN CHILD" DRIVEN FROM
HoNE." "PARIsIAN DETEC-
TIVE" &c, &c.
CHAPTER I.
GONE.

unuor ordinary circumstances, would have
obtained much comment, but which. ow-
ing to tho painful condition of the public
mind, caused by the announcement of in
solvent banks and companies, one after
the other, was, in the general panic and
anxiety, almost completely overlooked,
but for few lines of narrative aud criti-
cism in the corners of the papers Of that
day.
The night mail from the north arrived
in London. on ih 9th of October, at six
o'clock in the morning. Very few passen-
gers stepped from the carriages to the
platform. but amongst those few were two
who aliahted from the same carriage. At
o glance 1t might have been seen that they
were Ladies' in Ihe tTues; sense Of the
word.
She VINO wac first to leave the carriage,
however, was evidently the superior Of
the othor. Better dressed, and certainly
moro beautiful; there was that air of self
consciousness about her which always be-
tokens q sense of position and standing in
society.
Her companion was DISTINGUISHED by an
air Of Self-suppresson and sense eft subor-
dination which equally could not be mis-
taken.
They were very far removed cousins; the
superior of the couple being Margaret
Mayter the younger Ellen Fotherineay.
The former OF the two looked RAPIDLY
about for come moments, and then, with
puzzled air. she questioned her companion
with glance. She then went to the eGge
Of the platform. looked up and down the
roadway, and again turning to her COM
panion, she said, HE is positively not
here"
"Wait a little, Margaret, he will be sure
to como. Shall we so into the waiting
room?"
"Wait-wait! And have not seen him
for two whole months! Ha! there's cab
turned in at the gate. 1t is he!-Pm sure
it is he"
She ran forward to meet the vehicle,
then suddenly stopped, for it was as bad as
empty from her point of view.
NO" size said, lit is not Graham"
Are you quite sure he received your let
ter. Margaret"
why mott put it myself into the post,
and it must have been delivered either
yesterday morning or last night. What
ia to be donef" she added. excitedly.
Take cab. and drive home"
"But suppose be should cross us on the
roads"
1--WE shall see him; and if not, the porter
will tell him that we have gone, and he
vii come on after u.s.
"YUu are right" said Margaret Mayter.
But, nevertheless, she cast last very slow
look around her.
The cab, which had set down its passen-
ger, was being turned round as Ellen Fo-
theringay called to the driver. But when
the two ladies entered, and were about to
be driven off, Ellen heard her cousin sign.
"Why Margaret, what is the matteri"
II think was anticipating meeting
him with too much eagerness. suppose
have been fancying it would be co very
kind of him if he came and met me, and
we went back together, for in three weeks
We shall be married"
But you will see him, dear Margaret, in
a quarter of an hours time; it will not take
us longer to reach his home"
81 seem to have uresentiment Of evil,
Ellen"
"Of cvil-that he is ill' Nonsense! It is
only two davs since you had letter, tell
ing you all was we'll"
Sill, something docs seem to weigh
upon me" Margaret replied.
1t was one of those exquisite and equal.
ly rare October mornings when, for an
hour or two, all the glolies of the summer
appear to have returned. The air vas
clear, the rising sun bright, and the breeze
had that freshness about it which gives
such sense of lightness and enjoyment
Such morning when one forgets that the
trees are growing brown. that the swai-
lows have flown southwark, and that to-
morrow, perhaps, there may be frost. 1t
was one of those mornings which make
us regret that We have como back to town
so soon; which cause US to shake hands
heartily, to smile cheerily. and to think
thai, all said and done. tho world is not so
bad a place, after all. 1t fact, it was one
OF those days which tell us upon how lit
tie our happiness depcnds-for instance.
q bright day, and bit of blue sky.
| Even the less patient of the two young
ladies could not be insensible to the beauty
Of the weather, and gradually, as she
looked from the window Of the cab, her
face cleared, and she half forgot the disap-
pointment she had experienced in not see-
ing her intended husband en- the platform.
Every moment the cab drew nearer its
destination, and every moment the thought
of surprising her lover increasingly over
came the vexation which she had borne
with so little patience.
lie Gid not get my letter." she said, at
last. "He does not expect me. How happy
he will be when break in upon him"
The vehicle had now reached Drury
Lane, whence it diverged into some curl.
Gus, tortuous streets, and finally, came cut
near the Strand, and stopped before the
gate of one of those curious old squares, or
| inns. which are being 30 rapidly swept
out of London.
Margaret had leaped from the cab almost
before it stopped, and at once ran to the
porters lodge-for these strange old inns
are all guarded by q porter, who is kind
Of civilized spy upon those who live in the
place, and upon all that goes on within
| its boundaries. These inns being closed
by gate. it is necessary to ring the porter
up in order to enter during the night.
Margaret rang second time before the
porter could answer; and. upon his appear
ance, she reproached him with his slo'h
as she ran past, leaving Ellen and the por-
ter to see to the oabman and the luggage.
She ran up the staircase, and reaching
the first-hoor. loudly used the knocker on
the outside of the door on the landing
No answer was given.
! .ain she knocked. but no reply was at.
forded.
She could hear no sound coming from
the chambers.
"As thought" she said to herself. "He