The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-10
She ought to be in bed


and asleep"
spoke lightly, thinking it better to
try aud laugh him out of his folly. He
! took no notice of my sorry joke.
''No." he said, quietly, Il am not go
ing to try. But know now what was
wanting. Love-such love as mine
such love as hers-makes the connect
ing link, and enables sight or some 9TH
er sense to cross over space. and pass
through every material obstacle
Look here, CarristoD." said, seri-
ously. ''you are talking ike mailman.
don't want to frighten you. but am
bound both as a doctor and your sin
cere friend to tell you that unless you
cure yourself of these absurd delusions,
they will grow upon you. develop fresh
forms, and You will probably end your
days under restraint Ask any doctor,
he will tell you the same"
doctors are a clever race" an
swered my strange young friend, 'but
they don't know everything"
So saying he closed his eyes and ap-
peared to sleep.
We parted upon reaching London.
Many kind words and wishes passed
between us, and l gave him some more
well-meant and, / believe, necdful
warnings. He was going down to ste
his uncle. the BarOnet Then he had
some matters to arrange with his law
vcrs, and above all had to select resi-
dence for himself and his wife. He
would no doubt be in London for a
short time. If possible he would come
and see me. ANY way. he would write
and let me know the exact date of his
approaching marriage. If could man.
age to come to it, so much the better.
If not, he would try, as they passed
through town, to bring his bride to pay
me flying and friendly visit He left
ne in the best of spirits, and / went
back to my patients and worked hard
to make up lost ground, and caunteract
whatever errors had been committed by
my substitute.
Some six weeks afterward-late at
night-while l was deep in new and
clever treatise on Zymotics, n man bag
gard. wild, unshorn and unkempt
rushed past my startled servant, and
entered the room in which / sat He
threw himself into Chair. and | was
Mortified to recognize in the intruder
my clever and brilliant friend Charles
C&rriston!
'"The end has come sooner than | eX-
pected." Those were the sad words l
muttered to myself as, waving my
frightened servant away, l closed the
door. and stood alone with the sup
posed maniac. He rose and wrung my
hand, then without word sank back
into bis chair and buried his face in his
hands. A sort of nervous trembling
seemed to run through his frame.
Deeply distressed, 1 drew his hands
from his face.
Now, Carriston, I said, as firmly
as | could, look up and tell me what
all this means. Look up, 1 say, man,
and speak to me-"
He raised his eyes to mine and kept
them there. while a CHASTITY smile-a
phantom of humor-fickered across his
white face. No doubt his native quick
ness told him what | suspected, so he
looked me full and steadily in the face.
No" he said, mot as you think.
But let there be no mistake. Question
ME. Talk to me. Put me to any test.
Satisfy yourself, once for all. that 1 am
as sane as you are. "
He spoke so nationally, his eyes met
mine so unfiinchingly, that L was re-
joiced to know that my fears were as
yet ungrounded. There was grief, ex-
element, want of rest. in his appear
ance, but his general manner tod me
he was, as he said, as sane rs l was.
THANK Heaven you can speak to
me and look at me like thisr' ex-
claimed
lou are satisfied, them" he said.
ION this point, yes. Now tell me
what is wrong"
rest. his agitation and excitement SEEM
ed TO return. He grasped my hand
conyulsively.
':Madeline!" he whispered. "Mad-
cline my love-she is gone"
"Gonem repeated. leone where?"
''She is gone. | say-stolen from me
by some black-hearted traitor-per-
haps forever. Who can tell?'
But, CarriSton, surely in so short
time her love can not have been won
by another. If so. all / can say i3-''
WHAT he shouted. You who
have seen her! You in your widest
dreams to imagine that Madeline
Rowan would leave me of her own free
will! No, sir, she has been stolen from
me entrapped-carried away-hidden.
But 1 will find her, or l will kill the
black-hearted villain who has done
this"
He rose and paced the room. His
face was distorted with rage He
clinched and unclinched his long slen-
der hands,
MY dear fellow" l said. "you are
talking riddles. Sit down and tell me
calmly what has happened But, first
of all. as you look utterly worn out, 1
will ring for my man to get you some
food"
No" he said. 81 want nothing.
Weary am, for l have been to Scot
land and back as fast as man can
travel. l reached London a short time
ago, and after seeing one man have
come straight to you, my only friend,
for help-it may be for protection. But
L have eaten and | have drunk, know
ing L must keep my health and
However, insisted upon some wine
being brought. He drank glass, and
then, with strange, enforced calm,
told me what had taken place. His
tale was this:
After we had parted company on our
return from Scotland, Carriston went !
down to the family seat in Oxfordshire !
and informed his uncle of the imperd- |
ing change in his life. The Baronet.
an extremely old man. infirm and all |
but Childish trnllhlnd lttln nho,,t