The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-17

This is his reason" he said-''this
is WHY come to you. You are not the
only one who has entirely misread my
nature, and seen a strong tendency to
INSANITY in it. OF course | know that
YOU are all wrong. but | know that
Ralph Carriston 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. | went
straight to him have Just come from
him. Brand. | tell you that when l
taxed him with the crime when L
raved at him-wnen threatened to tear
the life out of him--his cold, wicked
eyes leapt with JOY. l heard him NUT
ter between his teeth: Men have been
put in slraig for less than
this. Then | knew why he had done
this. curbcd myself and left him.
Most likely he will Try to shut II up as
a luratic; but count on your protcc-
ton count on your help to find my
love"
That any man could be guilty of
such a subtle refinement of crime as
that of which he accused his cousin
seemed to me. if not impossible, at
least improbable. But as at present
there was no doubt about my friend s
sanity, promised my aid readily.
And now" said, 'imy dear boy. l
won't hear another word tonight.
Nothing can be done until tomorrow;
then we will consult IS to what steps
should be taken. Drink this and 90 10
bed-yes. you arc as sane as l am. but.
remember, insomnia soon drives the
strongest man out of his Senses
Ipoured out an opiate. He drank it
obediently. Before | left him for the
night saw him in bed and sleeping a
heavy sleep.
The advantage of one who writes,
not tale of Imagination. but a simple
record of events, is this: He need not
be bound bv the recognized canonS of
the STORYTELLING art-need not exercise
his ingenuity to 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 here
give some account of what became of
Der, / heard it some time afterward
from her own lips.
The old Scotch woman funCf raj over,
and those friends who had been present
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, perhars, being of such a
different race and breed, would not have
found much comfort i'll the rough,
homely sympathy which was offered to
her. She preferred being alone with
her grief-grief which, afIer all, was
bound to be much lightened 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
alonc-that the moment Carristou
heard OF her aunt's death he would
come to her assistance. In such a
peaceful, God-fearing neighborhood 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 I'M
til she heard from her lover.
Still, there were business matters to
be attended 10, and at the funeral, Mr..
Douglas, of Calendar, the executor I'M
der the will, had suggested that an
=. i l.
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 Mr.. Douglas to drive
so far out.
Madeline. in spite of the superstitious
element in her character, was 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
Iaorning she was ready 10 start on her
drive to the little town. At first she
thought of taking with her the boy who
did the rough outdoor work; but he
was busy about something or other,
and, besides. was garrulOus lad who
would be certain to chatter the whole
way. and this morning Miss Rowan
wanted no companions save her own
mingled thoughts of sadness and Joy.
She knew every inch of the roadside
feared no evil-she would be home
again long before nightfall the pony
was quie: and sure-footed-so away
went Madeline in the strong. primitive
vehicle on her lonely twelve-mile drive
through the 1aiI scenery.
She passed few people on the road.
Indeed, she remembered meeting no
one except one or two pedestrian tour
lists, who. like sensible men, were do
ing portion of their days task in the
early morning. | have no doubt but
Mss Rowan seemed to them q passing
vision of loneliness.
But when she was mile or two from
Calendar she saw a boy on a pony.
The boy, who must have known her by
sight. stopped and handed her tele-
gram. She had to pay several shillingS
for the delivery, or intended delivery,
of tie message so far from the station.
The boy galloped away, congratulating
himself on having been spared a long
ride. and Miss Rowan tore open the
envelope left in her hands.
The message was brief: "Mr Carr is
seriously i'll. Come at once You will
be met in London
Madeline did not scream or faint.
She gave one low moan of pain, set her
teeth. and with the face of one in q
dream drove as quickly as she could to
Calendar, straight to the railway sta
ton.
Fortunately, or rather unfortunately,
she had money with her. so she did not