The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-12-18
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
The Story Of an Occult and Mys.
FERROUS Power.
The Danger to Which Its Possessor Was
Subject. and How 1t WAS Used to
Discuver the Lost-Evil Machi-
nations Thwarted.

nations Thwarted.
By HuGa Coatray. author Of "Ddr:s Ddw. -
"CaIlcd Back etc.
PART l. CoNrINUEo.
Carriston leaned toward me. and
dropped his voice tC whisper.
.'This is his reason" he said-sth;s
Is why l come to you. You are not the
only one who has entirely misread my
nature. and seen strong tendency to
insanity init Of course I know that
you are all wrong. but l know tina.
Ralph Carr:ston has stolen my love
stolen her because he thinks and hopes
that her loss will drive me mad-per-
haps drive ME to kill myself 1 went
straight to him-I have Just come from,
him. Brand. l tell you that when l
taxed him with the crime when
raved ut him-wnen threatened to tear
the life out of him-his cold. wicked
eyes leapt with JOY. I heard him NUT
ter between his teeth: Men have been
put in straisit-waistcoats for less than
this Then l knew why he had done
this. l curbcd myself and left him.
Most likely he will try to shut ne up as
a lunatic: but count on your protcc-
ton count on your help to find my
love"
That any man could be guilty of
such q subtle refinement of crime rs
that of which he accused his cousin
seemed to me. ii not impossible, st
least improbable But as st present
there was no doubs about my friend S
sanity, promised my aid readily.
"And now" l said, '.my dear boy. I
won't hear another word tonight
Nothing can be done until tomorrow;
then we will consult rs to what steps
should be taken. Drink this and 20 to
bed-yes. you are as sane rs an. but.
remember, insomnia soon drives the
strongest man out of his senses"
poured out an opiate. He drank it
obe6iently. Before I left him for the
night / saw him in bed and sleeping q
heavy sleep.
The advantage of one who writes,
not tale of imagination, but q simple
record Of events, is this: He need not
be bound BY the recognized canons of
the STORYTELLING art-need not exercise
his ingenuity 10 mislead his reader
need not suppress some things and lay
undue stress on others to create mys-
teries to be cleared up at the end OF
the tale. Therefore. using the privi-
lege of plain narrator, l shall hero
give some account of what became of
Miss Rowan, as, so far as can remenl-
Der, heard it some time afterward
from her own lips.
The old Scotch woman's funefa over,
and those friends who had been p-csent
departed. Madeline was left in the
little farmhouse alone, save for the
presence of the two servants. Several
kind bodies had offered to come and
stay with her, but she had declined the
offers. She was in no mood for COM
pany. and, perhaps. being of such
different race and breed, would not have
found much comfort in the rough,
homeiy sympathy which was offered 70
her. She preferred being alone with
her grief-grief which. after all. was
bound to be much lightensd by the
thought of ner own approaching happi-
ness. for the day was drawing near
when her lover would cross the border
and bear his bonnie bride away. She
felt sure that she would not be long
alone-tdat the moment Carriston
heard of her aunt's death he would
come to her assistance In such q
peaceful, God-fcaring neighborhooi she
had no fear of being left without pro-
lection. Moreover, her position in the
house was well defined. The old
woman. who was childless, had left her
niece all of which she died possessed.
So Madeline decided to wait quietly un-
til she heard from her lover.
Still. there were business matters to |
be attended to. and at the funeral. Mr.. |
Douglas, of Calendar, the executor I'M
der the will, had suggested that an |
early interview would be desirable. He |
offered to drive out to the little farm the |
next day, but Miss Rowan. who had to |
see to some feminine necessaries which |
could only be supplied by shops. decided
that she would come to the town in |
stead of troubling MIR. Douglas to drive
10 far out.
Madeline. in spite OF the superstitious
element in her character, was a brave
girl, and, in spite of her refined style of |
beauty, strong and healthy. Early
hours were the rule in that humble
home. SO before seven o'clock in the
saorning she was ready to start on her
irive to the little town. At first she
hought of taking with her the boy who
lid the rough outdoor work; but he
vas busy about something or other,
and, besides. was garrulous lad who
vould be certain to chatter the whole
way. and this morning Mss Rowan
wanted no companions save her own
Mingled thoughts of sadness and Joy.
'he knew every inch of the roadside
cared no evil-she would be home
gain long before nightfall tine pony
vas quiet and sure-iootcd-so away
rent Madeline in the strong. primitive
'ehicle on her lonely twelve-mile drive
Trough the fair scenery.
She passed few people on the road.
indeed. she remembered meeting no
me except one or two pedestrian tour
,ts, who. like sensible men, were do
ng portion of their days task in the
arly morning. l have no doubt but
ii3s Rowan seemed to them q passing
ision of loveliness.
But when she was a mile or two from
'allendar she saw boy ON q pony.
he boy, who must have known her by
ight. stopped and handed her a telc-
ram. she had to pay several shilling,
d the delivery, or intended delivery,
{ TIE message so far from the station.
he boy galloped away. congratulating
imself on having been spared . long
idc, and Miss Rowan tore open the
nvelope left in her hands.
The message was brief: mir Carr is