The Dillon tribune., 1885-09-26

| thanked MN Tor the Keen MVeIeSI ue was
manifesting in his future welfare, but
begged that hereafter Mr.. Carriston would
apply to him direct for any information he
wanted. The two men were now no longer
on speaking terms.
Charles Carriston, in his present frame of
mind, cared little whether his relatives
wished to bless or forbid the banns. He was
passionately in love, and at once set about
making arrangements for q speedy marriage.
| Although Madeline was still ignorant of the
exalted position held by her lover-slthough
| she came to him absolutely penniless, 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 to be set at
rest concerning certain property he wished
to settle iron her. Thee OF course caused
delay. ~ soon as they were adjusted to his
own, or, .ather, to his lawyers satisfaction,
he purposed going to Scotland and carrying
away Jus beautiful bride. In the meantime
he cast about for a residence.
Son What Bohemian in his nature, Carris.
ton ha. no intention of settling down just
yet to live the life of an ordinary moneyed
Engl. nan. His intention was to take
Madeline abroad for some months He had
fixed upon Cannes as . desirable place at
which to winter, but having grown some.
what tired Of hotel life. wished to rent
furnished house. He had received from an
agent to whom he had been advised to apply
the refusal of house, which, from the glow
ing desert" ion given, seemed the one above
all others ne wanted. As an early decision
was insis' upon, my impulsive young
friend th hit nothing Of crossing the chan
mel and lining 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 temporary mistress.
He wrote to Madeline and told her he was
going from home for few days. He said
he should be travelling the greatest 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 winter residence
at Cannes, she would be filled with amaze.
ment, and the innocent deception le was
still Keeping up would not be carried
through to the romantic end which he pic.
turel to himself.
The day before he started for France,
Madeline wrote that her aunt was very
unwell but said nothing as to her malady
causing any alarm. Perhaps Carriston
than her relationship and kindness to Miss
without any forebodings of evil.
His journey to Cannes and back was hur-
ried-he wasted no time on the road, but
was delayed for two days ut the place itself
before he could make final arrangements
with tho owner and the present occupier of
the house. Thinking he was going to start
every moment, he did not write to Madeline.
At the rate at which he meant to return, q
letter posted in England would reach her
almost as quickly as If posted at Cannes
He reached his home, which for the last
few weeks had been Oxford, and found two
letters waiting for him. The first, dated ON
the day he left England, was from Madeline.
It told him that her aunt's illness had sud-
denly taken fatal turn-that she had died
that day, almost without warning. The
second letter was anonymous.
It was written apparently BY . woman,
and advised Mr.. Carr to look sharply after
his lady love, or he would find himself left
In the lurch. The writer would not be sur
prised to hear some fine day that she had
be nameless. This precious epistle, probably
an emanation Of feminine spite, Carriston
treated it ~ it deserved-he tore it up and
threw the pieces to tho wind.
But the thought Of Madeline being alone
at that lonely house troubled him greatly.
Tho dead woman had no sons or daughters
all the anxiety and responsibility connected
with her affairs would fall on the poor girl,
The next day he threw himself into the
Scotch express aud started for her far.away
home.
On arriving there hs found it occupied
only by the rough farm servants. Thew
seemed in a state OF wonderment, AMI vol
utly questi ned Carriston as to the where
abouts of Madeline. The question sent a
chill Of fear t his hsart He answered their
questions by others, and soon learned all
they had to communicate.
Little enough it was. On the morning
after the old woman's funeral Madeline had
gone to Calendar to- ask the advice of an
old friend Of her aunt, as to what Stems
should now be taken. She had neither been
to this friend, nor had ste returned nome.
She had, however, sent a message thet she
must go to London Mt once. and would write
from there. That was the last heard of her
all that was known about her.
Upon hearing this news Carristop became
prey to the acutc>t terror-an emotion
which was quit, in"xplicable to the honest
people. his in -ormauts. The girl mad gone.
but she had sent wo:,i whittier sh, had Rona.
True, they did net know the reason for her
departure, SO sud len and without luggage
Of any descr p,ion-true. she had not writ
ten as prom sed Tut no doubt they would
hear from her tomorrow. Carriston knew
better. Without revealing the extent Of
his fears he few back to Calendar In.
quiries Mt the railway station informed him
that she had gone, or had purposei going
to London. but whether size ever reached r.
Or whether any trace of her could be found
there, was at least matter of doubt. No
good could be gaisei by remaining in Scot
land so he travelled back ut once to town
half distracted, sleeple:s and racking his