San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-01

slcepIess, ED racking his brain TO know
where TO look for her.
she has been decOyed away" he said in
conclusion. she is hidden. imprisoned some
where. And know, as well as if he told
me, who has done this thing. | can trace
Ralph CaTTiSt0n's cursed hand through ii
ALL"
! glanced at him aSkance. This morbid
suspicion of his cousin amounted almost TO
mOnomania. He had told the tale of Made
lines disappearance clearly and terSely; but
when he began to account for Il his theory
was wild and untcnabIe one. However much
he suspected Ralph CariSt0n of longing to
stand in his shoes, ! could see no Object for
the crime of which he accused him, that of
decoying away Madeline Rowan.
But why should he have done this?'' |
asked. ITO prevent your marriage? You
are yOung-he must have fOrescen that you
would marry some day"
CarristOn leaned toward me, and dropped
his voice TO 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 strong tendency to insanity in il. 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-perhapS
drive me to kill myself | went straight to
him have Just come from him-Brand |
tell you that when taxed him with the crime
when | raved at him-when | threatened
TO tear the life out of him-his cold, wicked
eyes leapt with joy. heard him mutter be-
tween his teeth. Men have been put in strait
waistcoats for less than this. Then | knew
why he had done this. | curhd myself and
left him. Most likely he will try 10 shut Inc
up as lunatic: but | count upon your pro-
tection-count upon your help to find ny
love"
That any man could be guilty of such
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 friends
sanity promised my aid readily.
And now" said, me dear boy, | won't
hear another word tonight Nothing can be
done until tomorrow; then we will consult
as to what steps should be taken. Drink this
and go to bed-yeS, you are as sane as am,
but, remember, insomnia soon drives the
strongest man out of his senses"
PouLeu out an oplate' lie ur'iik IL oOedl-
enuy. belore lei' nun LOT the night saw
hiIil Ill Deu anu Sleeping hea'y steep.
"
-,
;.,'.;,'s; :" ",.' "io VI 'eo' no' a
~''' Vi ',''''7 '''''''' "''' '''''io ie'oiu Vi
events, Is this; He need not he bound by the
recognized cannns 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 privilege of a plain mar
nat0r, shall here give some account of what
became of Miss Rowan, as, 50 far as | can re-
member, heard it some time afterward from
her own lips.
The old Scotchwoman's funeral over, and
those friends who had been present departed,
Madeline was left in the little farmhouse
alone, save for the presence OF the two ser
wants. Several kind bodies had offered to
come and stay with her, but she had declined
the offers. She was in no mood for company,
and perhaps being of such different race
and breed would not have found much COM
Tort IN the rough h0mely sympathy which
was Otfered 10 her. She preferred being alone
with her grlet-grief which after all was
pound 10 DE much Hghtened by the Thought
OF her own approaching happiness, for the
day was drawing near when her lover would
cross the Border and bear his b0nny bride
away.-She felt sure that she would not be
long alOne-that the moment CarrlSton heard
OF her aunts death he>wOuld come to her as
ISSUANCE In Such peaceful, GOd-teaTlng
nelghborhOOd She had no fear OF being left
WITHOUT protection. Moreover, her position