Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-12-17

bound 10 make the important news
known to him. The young man
made no secret OF his approaching
marriage, so in a very short time every
member Of the family was aware that
the heir and future head was about to
ally himself to nobody. Knowing
nothing Of Madeline Rowan's raro
beauty and sweet nature, Carriston's
kinsmcn and kinswomen were sparin.
with their congratulations. lnde i
Mr. Ralph Carrston. the cousin whose
name was coupled with such absurd
suspicious, went so far as TO write a
bitter. sarcastic letter, full of ironical
felicitations. This, and Charles Car
riston's naughty reply, did not make
| the affection between the cousins any
stronger. Moreover, shortly afterward
the younger man heard that inquiries
were being npde in the neigh
borhood OF Madelines home rs to
her position and parentage. Feel
ing sure that only his cousin Ralph
could have had the curiosity to institute
such inquiries, he wrote and thanked
him for the keen interest he was mani
Testing In his future welfare, but begged
that hereafter Mr.. Carriston would APP
ply to him direct for any information
he wanted. The two men we're now no
longer on speaking terms.
(harles Carris,on, in his present
frame Of mind, cared little whether his
relatives wished to bless or forbid the
banns. He was passonately in love
and at once set about making arrange.
ments for a speedy marriage. Although
Madeline was still ignorant Of the ex-
allied position held by her lover al
though she came to him absolutely pen
niless, he was resolved in the matter of
money TO treat her as generously as he
would have treated the most eligible
| damsel in the country. There were
| several legal questions 10 be set at rest
concern ng certain property ho wished
| 10 settle upon her. These of course
caused delay. As soon rs they were
adjusted TO his own, or, rather, 10 his
lawyers satisfaction, he purposed going
TO Scotland and carrying away his beau
tiful bride. In the meantime he cast
about for residence
Somewhat Bohemian in his nature
Carr,ston had no intention of settling
down Just yet TO live the life of an ordi-
nary moneycd Englishman. His inten-
ton was TO take Madeline abroad for
some months. He had fixed upon
Cannes rs a desirable place at which to
winter, but, having grown somewhat
tired Of hotel life. wished 10 rent a fur
nished house. He had received from
an agent TO whom he had been advised
to apply the refusal OF house which,
from tho glowing description given.
seemed the one above all others he
wanted. As an carly decision was in
sisted upon. my impulsivc young friend
thought nothing OF crossing the Channel
and running down to the south of
France to see, with his own eyes. that
the much lauded place was worthy OF
the fair being who was TO be its tempo
rary m stress.
He wrote TO Madeline and told her
he was going from home for few days.
He sad he should be travelling the
greater part OF the time, so It would
be no use her writing TO him until his
return He did not reveal the object Of
his journey. Were Madeline to know
it was to choose a winter residence at
Cannes she would be filled with amaze
ment, and the innocent deception he
was still keeping up would not be car
ried through to the romantic end which
he pictured to himself
The day before he started for France
Madeline wrote that her aunt was very
unweli, but said nothing as TO her NAL
ady causing any alarm. Perhaps Car
riston thought less about tire old Scotch
widow than her relationship and kind
ness to Miss Rowan mcritcd. He start
ed on his travels without any forebol-
ings Of evil.
His journey to Cannes and back was
hurr,ed-he wasted no time on the road,
but was delayed for two days at the
place itself before he could make final
arrangements with the owner and tho
present occupant Of the house Think
ing he was going to start every mo-
ment he did not write TO Madeline at
the rate at which he meant to return, q
letter posted in England would reach
her as quickly as IL posted at Cannes.
He reached his home. which for tho
last few weeks hal been Oxford and
found two letters waiting for him. The
"rst, dated on the day he left England.
was from Madeline. 1t told him that
her aunts illness had suddenly taken a
fatal turn-that she had died that day.
almost without warning. The second
letter was anonymous.
1t was written apparently by wom-
an, and advised Mr.. Carr to look sharp
ly after his lady-love or he would lind
himself lett in the lurch. The writer
would not be surprised to hear some
fine day that she had eloped with a
certain gentleman who should be name
less. This precious epistle, probably
an emanation Of feminine spite, Carr s.
ton treated as il dessrved-he tore il up
and threw the pieces 10 tie wind.
But the thought of Madeline bein Q
alone at that lonely house troubled
him greatly. The dead woman had
no sons or daughters all this anxiety
and responsibility connected with her
affairs would fall on the poor girl. The
next day he threw himself into the
Scotch Express, and started for her
far away home.
On arriving there he found it occu.
pied only by the rough farm servants
They seemed in a state Of wonderment,
and yolubiy questioned Carristou as b
the whereabouts OF Madeline The
que tions sent chill OF fear to his
/ heart. He answered Their questions
| by others. and sOOn learned all they
had 30 communicate.
Little enough il was. On the morn
ing after the old woman's funeral
Madeline had gone to Calendar to ask
the ady,c, OF an old friend OF her aunt
as to what steps should now be taken.
She had neither been TO this friend nor
had she returned home. She hal. how
ever, sent a mes age that she must 90
10 London nc once. and would write
from there. That was the last heard
of her all that was known about her
Upon hearing this news Carriston be-
came Il. prey 10 The acutest terror an
emot on which was quite ineAplicable
| 10 the hone.t nennle. his informnnfs