Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-12-17
MADELEINE.

The sun was setting in the west,
and his golden lances glinted from
the windows of an old manor-house
on the coast-line of England.
From the cliffs in front the grand
ocean could be seen, now slumber-
ing as if in deep repose, and anon
dashing madly against the rocky
barrier as if the restless demon
of the deep had been aroused.
1t was grand old mansion, with
turrets, and towers, and minarets
innumerable. The great, massive
door had opened for scores and
scores of years to the wishes Of the
ancestors of the present owner.
Indeed, the humble village folks
could not remember the time, even
in the tradition handed down by
their grandparents, that the Ruth
vens had not lived in Stormcroft.
They were of good blood, and it
was the proud boast of the family
that they had decended directly
from the old Saxon kings of England
who reigned some time previous
to the Norman conquest.
There were halls fitted up in the
great stone mansion that gave
evidence of at least part of their
story, for the walls were covered
mondescript, assortment of weap-
ons and armor, some of which
seemed many centuries old.
The present owner of Stormcroft
was Sir Richard Ruthven. He
was a handsome man, and lorded it
over his tenants with q kingly
bearing, but there were many who
looked upon him with an evil eye,
and wished in their hearts that
gentle Sir Bertram Ruthven had
lived to enjoy his inheritance.
They two were cousins, living
under the same roof with their I'M
Gle, who, dying, had bequeathed
Stormcroft and all its surroundings
to Bertram, who was engaged to
the loveliest girl in all the region,
Madeleine Carr.
Bertram seemed to feel the loss
of his uncle keenly, for he sank
visibly after the death of the old
man; and one day Richard sum-
moned half the household to the
room of his cousin, who was dying,
he said, and who wished to an
nounce his last wishes before his
demise.
The room was gloomy, and the
servants, seeing their young master
stretched upon the bed, and hear
ing his well-known voice, were
moved to tears.
He had his will read, leaving
every thing to Richard, his dear
cousin, and entreating Madeleine to
look upon him gently, as Richard
had loved her long before himself.
This be declared to be his last will
and testament. Then he left few
little legacies to each Of his SER
wants, which tickled their vanity
and righteousness, after which
they were requested to leave the
room, as the dying mans breath
was becoming hard.
An hour later it was announced
that the young man was dead.
Richard showed the greatest re-
spect for his Inflated cousin, and
the whole mansion was draped in
mourning for weeks.
Quietly he assumed possession Of
the estate, producing the will as ev-
idence OF his right. The ill-starr-
ed Sir Bertram had been buried
with much pomp and ceremony.
Richard profsssed to regard his
cousin as sacred, and declared that,
as they two were the last OF the
Rutbvens, none but q Ruthven's
hand should touch him. He did
all the work himself, and not a bu-
man being saw the face Of Sir Ber-
tram after the death-bed scene.
When ell was settled about the
mansion, and dark-faced Sir Rich
ard had assumed possession, Mad
elem was shown the wish Of her
dead lover in tho viii he had drawn
out. At first she recoiled from the
thought, but Richsrd--who had