The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-23

ANCE.
 Carberry Canon is small town in the
 mining region of California, and is situ-
 aled in the midst of a romantic and Lict-
 uresque valley, on either side of which tall, jagged cliffs arise, Ike lofty and ,ondexous wall.
 It's inhabitants are mostly miners, or of that adventurous class of beings who commonly comprise the population of a newly-settled place in the vicinity of the eold-mines. Crimes were of frequent occurrence in that neighboFhood. IL re- quired an episode of unusual importance to attract public attention.
 But Caroerry Canon at last had sen sation. It was first cautiously whispered about town, from one to another, but later it began to find expression in aud ible words, and on every hand the curious question was asked:
 Have you heard of the mysterious disappearanceP ?"
 Every town of consequence has its prominent chars cters, and to their acts and words arc attached a certain amount of importance. The interest of the com. munity seems to centre about them, and their doirgs, both public and private, are closely watched and commented upon. When anything relating to them tram spires, out of the common course of human events, 1t is very apt to create quite local ser sation. Carberry Can on being no inconsiderable town, there fore had its prominent individuals, and when anything extraordinary happened to them, it furnished that young and enterprising town with an item of inter est.
 Something had happened in one Of Carberry Canon's oldest and most re spectable families, therefore it had agen- uine sensation.
 In that remote region, where women were scarce, and where feminine beauty was not likely to be held at a discount, there was no one person more popular or more generally admired, than Linda D'Estelle, the only daughter of Judge D'Estelle, of Carberry Canon.
 She was dark-eyed brunette, and, even in more enlightened locality than that mining region, she would have been called handsome woman. Her com plexion was of clear, rich, olive hue. Her features, though not classic in their mold, were of unusual regularity and comeliness. Her figure was we'll fash toned, and her movements free, unaf- fected and graceful She usually wore her hair uncon6ned by a comb, and brushed back from her forehead, hang. ing down over her shoulders, and below her waist, in black, shining waves. Her voice was pleasant and agreeable, and she possessed certain freedom and in- dependence of manner that was particu. larly pleasing to the young men of Car terry Canon, who drank her health at every favorable opportunity, and praised her beauty both in public and private. She was kind and friendly toward all who approached, her in respectful man. ner. She had many suitors for her hand, but she seemed to encourage none of them, evidently preferring the free and easy life which she was living to that of and quietly settling down.
 It will, therefore, be understood that she was a much-admired, much-respected, and much. spoken-of, person in Carberry Canon. A hundred men in tn at vicinity, at least, would have risked their lives in defense of her honor; and had any one, by act or word, attempted to do or say anything that would be likely to injure or annoy her, venture to say that he would have found existence hardly tolerAble in the Canon.
 When 1t was announced that Linda D'Estelle had suddenly and mysteriously disappeared from her home, the matter at once became one of great public in-
 
 aught against the fair fame of the lady in question. Whatever individual opin. ions the people had concerning the af- fair, they cautiously kept them to them- selves.
 Upon investigation, the following were found to be the circumstances of her flight or abduction
 She had been last seen late on the pre- vious evening by the immediate mem- bers of her family. They had poticed an unusual nervousness and festlessness in her manner she had complained of not feeling -ell, and, after bidding her people goodnight, she had gone to her room, evidently with the intention of re- tiring. In the morning, she failed to ap- pear at the usual hour :; her door had been found slightly ajar. The apart ment bore no evidence of having been occupied during the past night; the bed was undisturbed. Her wardrobe was jn- tact. The most of her valuable jewelry Lay in an open casket upon the dressing. table there was no sign or indication of any premeditated flight upon her part.
 The first question that naturally arose, in the mipds of those who were inter- ested in her, was, whether her flight had been voluntary or involuntary.
 Ii voluntary, it had been the result of a secret understanding with some party unknown to her relatives and friends. She had always beea frank and open hearted in her manners and 1i,position. she was enc who invariably opposed all manner of deceptien, her friends, there fore, could not su5fect her of being a party to any mysterious plot or project. She was not one likely to take any im- portant step in life without consulting them, nor would she be apt to leave her