Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-03-01
CAlsRIS1'ON'S GIFT.
Tho Story OF an Occult ana Mys-
terior1s Power.

"Whatr' he shouted. "You who
aave seen Eer! You in your widest
dreams to imagine that Madeline
Rowan would leave me of her own free
will No. sir. she has been stolen from
me-entrapped-carried away-hidden.
But will find her, or l will kill the
black-hearted villain who has done
this"
H, rose and paced the room. His
face was distorted with rage. He
clinched and unclinched his long slen-
der hands.
"My dear fellow" said, "you are
talking riddles. ST down and tell me
calmly VIVA; has happened But, first
of all. as you look utterly worn out 1
will ring for my man to get you some
food"
No" he said. 81 want nothing.
Weary am, Tor I have been to Scot
! land aud Lack as fast as man can
travel l rca he'd London a short time
ago, and after seeing one man have
come straight to you. my only friend.
| for help it may be for protection. But
| have eaten and I have drunk, know
ing l must keep my health and
| strength"
However insisted upon some wine
being brought. He drank glass, and
then, with strange, enforced calm,
told me what had taken place His
tale was this:
After we had parted company on our
returR from Scotland, Carriston went
down to tho family seat in Oxfordshire
and informed his uncle of the imperd:
ing change in his life The Baronet.
| IL ;,,Er Nd oil
but childish, troubled little about
tho matter. Every acre of his large
property was richly entailed, SO his
pleasure or spleasure could make but
| lit y teration in his aephew's pros-
poets. Still, he was the head Of the
| family, and Carriston was in duty
bound 10 make the important news
known to him. The young mrh
made no secret of his approaching
marriage. so in a very short time every
member of the family was aware that
the heir and future head WAS about to
ally himself to a nobody. Knowing
nothing of Madeline Rowan's IA 0
peau'y and sweet nature. Carriston
kinsmen and kinswoma4 were sparing
with their congratulations. lAdsed,
Mr.. Ralph Carriston, the cousin whose
name was coupled with such absurd
suspicious, went SO far as to write q
bitter, sarcastic letter, full of ironical
Fluctuations. This, and Charles Car
riston's naughty reply. did not make
the affection between the sous MS any
stronger. Moreover, shortly atterward
the Younger man heard that inquiries
were being NJ de in the neigh-
borhood Of Madcline's homo as to
her position and parcntage. Feel
ing sure that only his cousin Rail h
could have had the curiosity to inst ute
such inquiries, he wrote and thanked
him for the keen interest he was mani
Testing In h IS future welfare, bHt beggc
that hereafter Mr.. Carristoh would APP
ply to him direct for any information
he wanted. The two men ere now no
longer on speaking terms
harles Carriston, in his presen,
frame of mind. cared lite whether his
relatives wished to bless or forbid the
banns, He was pass onat"ly in love
and at once SGT about baking arrange,
ments for a speedy marriage. Although
Madeline was still ignorant of the ex'
allied position held by her To- err al
though she came to him absolutely pen
nless, he was resolved in the matter Of
money to treat her as generously as he
would have treated the most elgihl,
|
several legal questions to be set at rest
concerning certain prope, ty he wished
to settle upon hcr. These of course
caused delay. AS soon as they were
adjusted to his own, or. rather, to his
lawyers satisfaction, he rurposcd goino
to Scotland and carrying away his beau
tiful bride. In the meantime he cas-
about for residence.
= Somewhat Bohemian in his nature
D Carristop had no intention of settling
2 down just yet TO 1.-Two the life Of an ordi
a nary moneycd Englishman. His inten
. ton was to take Madeline abroad fol
r some months. He had fixed upor
Cannes as a desirable place ut which t.
winter. but. having grown somewha
tired of hotel life. wished to rent a FUR
nished house. He had received from
an agent 10 whom he had been advised
from the glowing description given
. seemed the one above all others h
wanted. As an early decision was in
sisted upon, my impulsiye young frien'
# thought nothing of crossing the Channe
d and running down to the south Q
France to see, with his own eyes, tina
the much lauded place was worthy o
the fair being who was to be its tempo
rary mistress.
= He wrote to Madeline and told he
he was going from home for few days
u He said he should be travelling tn
greater part of the time, so it woul
be no use her vr' ting to him until hi
It return. He did not reveal the object {
his journey. Were Madeline to kno,
it was to choose winter residence 6
Cannes. she would be filled with amaze
ment, and the innocent deception b
was still keeping up would not be ca
ried through to the romantic end whic
he pictured to himself
The day before he started for Francs
Madeline wrote that her aunt was yer
unwell. but said nothing as to her ma
ady causing any alarm. Perhaps Cal
riston thought less about the old Scotc
widow than her relationship and kline
ness to Miss Rowan mcrited. He star
| cd ON his axala Without anX forahoi