Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-12-24
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
Tho Story OF an Occult and Mys-
terious Power.
The Danger 20 which Its rosscssor Was
Subject. aud How II Was Used to
Discover the Lost-Evii Machi-
nations ThwRrted.
Bv Hiiqh ConrdH duii,or Of ozark Days."
"Cdlioi Back" ctc.
PART CoNrISurD.

FAr.r !. CONTINUED
Carrision leaned toward me, and
dropped his voice tc a whisper.
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 1 know that
you arc 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 10 hill myself. / went
straight TO him-I have just come from
him. Brand. l tell you that when l
taxed him with the crime when /
ravcd at him-when threatened to tear
the life out Of him his cold. wicked
eyes leapt with JOY. ! heard him NUT.
ter between his teeth: Men have been
put in siraight-wdistcoats for less than
this Then | knew why he hal done
this. | curbed myself and left him.
Most likely he will try 10 shut II up as
n lunatc; but count on your protec-
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, il not impossible. at
least improbable. Bot as at present
there was no doubt about my friends
sanity. promised my aid readily.
"And now / said, ''my dear boy.
s..I.s
Nothing can be done until tomorrow;
then we will consult as TO what steps
should be taken. Drink this and 90 TO
bet--yes. YOU are as sane rs / am. but.
remembcr, insomnia soon drives the
strongest man out OF his senses"
poured out an opiate. He drank it
ohediently. Before LEFT him fol the
night saw him in bed and sleeping Z
heavy sleep.
The advantage OF one who writes,
not a tale Of Imagination, hut simple
record Of events, is this: lie need not
be bound BY the recognized canons Of
The Storytelling art rt-need not exercise
his ingenuity to mislead his reader
need not suppress some things and lay
undue stress on others 20 create mys-
teries TO be cleared up at the end OF
the tale. Therefore. using the priyi-
lege Of plain narrator. ! shall here
give some account OF what became OF
Miss Rowan, as. so far as l can remem-
Der. | heard 1t some time afterwarl
from her own lips.
The old Scotch woman's funeral over,
and those friends who had been present
departed, Madeline was lei. 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,
homely sympathy which was offered TO
her. She preferred being alone with
her grief-grief which, after all. was
hound TO be much lightencd by the
thought OF her own approaching happi-
ness, for the day was drawing near
when her lover would cross tho border
and bear his bonnie bride away. She
felt sure that she would not be long
alone-that the moment Carrston
heard of her aunt's death he would
como 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 ohildless, had left her
niece all Of which she died possessed
SO Madeline decided TO wait quietly un-
Ill she heard from her lover
Still, there were business matters 10
be attended 10, and at the funeral. Mr..
Douglas. Of Calendar. the executor un-
der the viii, had suggested that an
carly interview would be desirable He
offered 10 drive out 10 the little farm the
next day. but Miss Rowan, who had to
zee 10 some feminine necessaries which
could only be supplied by shops, decided
that she would come 70 the town in
stead Of troubling Mr. Douglas to drive
so 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 health. Early
hours were the rule in that humble
homo. so before seven o'clock IN the
morning she was ready 10 start on her
drive 10 the little town. AT first sho
thought Of taking with her the boy who
did the rough outdoor work; but he
was busy about something or other.
and, besides. was a garrulous lad who
would be certain 10 chatter tho whole
way, and this morning Mss Rowan
wanted no companions save her own
mingled thoughts OF sadness and Joy !
She Knew every inch OF the road she |
feared no eyil-she would be home
again long before nlghtfall the pony
was quiet and surc-iooted so away |
went Madeline In the strong primitive
vehicle on her lonely twelye-mile drive
through the ialI scenery.
She passed few people on the road.
Indeed. she remembered meeting no
one except one or two pedestrian four
l1ls. Who like sensible men, were do
Ing 4 portion of their days task Ia The
ssr'Y tnornihg. 1 have no doubt but
Miss Rowan seemed 70 them . passing
vision ni 'oYolinoss