Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-04

might. Mr.. Leyton could not prevent the
suspicion rising in his mind that for once
the gossips might be right. Martin Rob.
sons windfall perplexed him sorely, and
eagerly though he beat about for an ex-
pIanatiou. he could find none more probable
| than that Mr.. Robson had bartered Made
lines hand away in consideration OF re-
lease from his financial difficulties.
This thought maddened him, as he sal
ruminating upon the strange news in the
| inn-parlor, and he resolved that he would
have his doubts laid to rest by riding over
| to the Red House farm and seeking an in
terview with Madeline herself at once. Hav-
ing armed himself with this resolution he
hastily gulped down the contents Of MS
glass, and made for the door without the
formality of waiting to wish his neighbors
good night.
''GoingP" asked Mr.. Pringle, observing
the hasty movement.
But the loud slamming Of the door behind
the retreating figure was all the answer that
Mr.. Leyton Youchsafed to give.
ga hot-headed youth, that" exclaimed
John Lovatt, as the sound of footsteps died
away on the street.
''It is easy to see that he believes it, !"
added Mr.. Pringle, laughing at his own
discernment; and. then added, loosely,
''Miss Robson is not the first who has
thought it better to be an old mans darling
than young mans slave.
Mr.. Englefeld, the bare suspicion of
whose rivalry in the affections of Madeline
Robson had exercised so disturbing an effect
on Mr.. Leyton, was an elderly widower Of
60 odd years.
The late Mrs. Englefeld, who had died
soon after Mr.. Leyton settled in Chelderton,
had been an ailing woman since the birth OF
her first child, which had only survived its
birth few hours. Other children had fol-
lowed; but the poor mother had the un-
speakable sorrow of bearing her maternal
anguish in vain. When the last hope of
presenting her husband with living off
spring died away, a deep and settled mel
ancholy brooded over her gentle spirit, and
weakened her slready frail constitution.
She blamed herself for their ch1ldless state,
and she passed away at last, dying less from
the encroachment of disease than from
heart that was broken by the shattering Of
its main ambition.
These facts-at least in their broad out
lines-were known to Mr.. Leyton; and when
once the possibility of marriage between
the elderly banker and Madeline Robson
found lodgment in his mind it took root
rapidly. There was feasibility about the
idea that filled him with alarm.
Madeline Robson was lowered with great
beauty, of the sort that might tempt an even
graver man than Mr.. Engle6eld into the
indiscretion of marriage with woman who
was socially his inferior and nearly 40 years
his Junior. She was well-educated and pos
sessed of ladylike manners, qualifying her
to grace higher position than would fall to
her lot as the wife of an insignificant veter-
mary surgeon. But that which would
probably constitute her chief charm in
Mr.. Englefeld's eyes was her rude
health, and the probability that she
would become the mother of
healthy children to whom would pass the
wealth. Tom Leyton had no
reason to doubt Madeline's affection for
himself, but he was not SO confident of her |
tirmness of purpose, when the double |
was w UCdI upOu ueF- /
Of gaining for herself the high position |
that Mr. Englefeld could give her, and of |
lifting her family, and particularly her
whom she was passionately at |
the reach Of the cares Of sor-
did poverty of which she had had much
bitter experience. Mr.. Leyton believed |
that Madeline was capable of making anv
sacrifice for the sake of her father, and |
when that sacrifice came to be gilded with
he splendors of Oakhill, where the banker
lived au prince, he feared that the bait
night prove too strong.
1t was this fear that caused him to quit
he Golden Lion in hot haste to ride over to
he Red House farm, that he might learn
he truth without delay. He knew that
ong before he could reach the farm, which
ay some distance out, the household would
lave retired to rest; but he also knew that
landful of gravel thrown at the window of
be room where Madeline slept would bring
Ter to his side. Often in the long summer
lights, when returning from a distant visit.
ad he tried the same expedient, and tasted
he sweets OF stolen interview, as they
Tandered arm in arm down the lane that led
0 the homestead. It had seemed to him
hat those kisses were sweetest that were en-
oyed in this clandestlne way-stolen under