The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-12-11
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
tho Story of an Occult and Mys-
torious Power.
Tho Danger to which Its Possessor Wa
Subject. and How It Was Used to
Ei.csver the Lost-Eyu Macni-
nations ThwartOd.
~ Euca Conruv. 4frtaor Of "Dari; cdys. "
''Cdlied Brct," exc.
ART I-CoyrrNUEp.

ART I-CoyrrNuEp.
When once his wife, felt sure that Il
lie cared for her to win social success,
her lcoss aud bearing would insure it:
and from the great Improvement which.
as have already said. noticed in his
health and spirits. believed that his
marriage would make his lie longer,
happier and better.
Now for NV objection. which seems
almost { lauehab.e one. objected on
the score of the extraordinary resenl-
blance which, so far as man may re-
semble woman, existed between
Charles GARRISON and Madeline Rowan.
The more l saw them together, the
more was struck by it A stranger
brother and sister. The same delicate
features. drawn in the same lines; the
same soft, dark. dreamy ewes: even the
same shapd heads. Comparing the
two. it needed no rhreuo ogiss or
phys;Ognomist to tell You where one
excelled, the other exceeded; where one
failed, the other WAS wanting. Now,
conld have have selected 4 wife for
my friend. l would have chosen one
with habits and constitution entirely
different from his own. Sne should
have been a bright busting woman.
with lots of energy and common-sense
one WHO would have ratified him
about. and kept him going-not love-
~, darI-eycd. dreamy girl. who could
Tor hours at a stretch make herself SUI
pre,nely happy if only sitting at her
lovers feet and speaking no word.
Yet they were handsome couple, and
never have seen two people so utterly
devoted to each other as those two
seemed to be during those autumn days
which [ spent with them.
soon had clear proof of the close
ness of their mental resemblance. One
evening. CarristOn. Madeline and I
We're sitting out-of-doors. watching the
gray mist deepening in the valley at
our feet Two of the parry were. of
course. hand in hand, the third seated
at a discreet distance-not SO far away
As TO preclude conversat on. but far
enough off to be able to pretend that he
saw and heard only what was intended
for his eyes and ears.
How certain topics, which l would
have avoided discussing with Carriston,
were started hardly remember. Prob
ably some strange tale had been passed
down from wilder and even more soli-
tary regions than ours-some rid culous
tale of Highland superst ton. no doubt
embeilisheI and augmented BY each
one who repeated it to his fellows.
From her awed talk soon found that
Madeline Rowan. perhaps by reason Of
the Scotch blood in her veins. was as
firm : believer in things visionary and
beyond Nature as ever Charles Carris-
ton in his silliest moments could be.
As soon rs could stopped the talk.
and the next day, finding the girl for a
few minutes alone, told her plainly that
sub .cts OF this kind should be kept as
fac IS possible from her future hus-
bands thoughts. She promised obedi-
ence. with dreamy eyes which looked
as far away and full of visions as Car
riston's.
'.by the by," said, .'has he ever
spoSen to You about seeing strange
tningss''
''Yes; he has limited at it,
{, "And YOU believe him."
''Of course do-he told me So"
This was unanswerable, "A pretty
pair they will maker l muttered. as
Madeline slipped from me to welcome
her lover. who was approaching. They
will see ghosts in every corner, and
COLLINS behind every curtain"
Nevertheless, the young people had
no doubts about their coming bliss.
Everything was going smoothly and
Pleasantly for them. Carriston had st
once spoken to Machines aunt. and
obtained the old Scotchwomen's ready
cons mt to their union. l was rather
veNed at his still keeping TO his absurd
whim and concealing his true name.
He sad he was afraid of alarming the
aunt by telling her he was passing
under an alias. while if he gave Made
line his true reason for so doing she
would BE- miserable Moreover. l found |
he had formed the romantic plan of |
her without telling her in
what an enviable position she would |
be placed so far as worldly gear went. |
A kind of LORD of Burleigh surprise no
doubt commended itself to his magma
tive brain.
The last day of nv holiday came. 1 |
babe long and sad farewell to lake |
and mountain. and. accompanied by |
Carriston. started for home did not |
see the parting proper between the |
young peop,e-that WAS far too sacred |
q thing to be intruded upon-but even |
when that protracted affair was over. l |
waited many. many minutes while Car |
riston stood hand in hand with Made |
line, comforting himself and her by re- |
lterating Only six weeks-siS short |
weeks, And then-and them" 1t was |
the girl who ST last tore herself away.
and then Carriston mounted reluctantly |
by my side on the rough vehicle.
From Edinburgh we Travelled by the |
night train The greater part of the
way we had the compartment to our
selves CarriSton. as lover will. |
talked OF nothing hut coming bliss and /
his plans fer the future. After awhile 1 |
grew quite weary of the monotony of /
the sub; ect. aud at last dozed of, and /
for some little time slept. The shrill /
whistle which told Us tunnel was at /
hand aroused m-. My companion was
sitting opposite 10 me, and as l glanced ,
across i: aim NV attention WAS arrested
oy the same strange intense look which
had On previous occasion az Bettws
Coed noticed in his eyes-the same
fiNed sta-e-the same obIiyiousne>s to
ali that was passing Remembering his
request. / shook hI-u. somewhat rough
". back 10 his senses. He regarded me
tor . moment yacant!y. then said:
as.Nnvr ha,a F1,-J I