Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-09-20

"eso"'NhJ chtaiieu, so MS pleasure or dis
pleasure could make but little alteration in
MS nephew's prospects. Still, he was the
mead OF the family, and Carriston was In duty
pound 70 make the important nevis known VI
nm The young inah made no secret of his
approaching marriage, so in a very short time
every member Of the family was aware that
ue heir and future head was about 10 slly
himself TO q nobody. Knowing nothing uf
madeline Rowan's fare beauty and sweet
MANURE, Cafriston's kinsmen and kinsyssmen
were sparing with their congratulations. In
oeed, Mr.. Ralph Carriston. the cousin whose
ua'ho was coupled with such absurd suspi-
.ions, went so far as to write 4 bitter sarcasE
uc letter MI Of iionssal Solicitations. This,
snd charles Carriston's naughty reply, did
not make the affection between the cousins
any stronger. Moreover, shortly afterward
the younger man heard that inquiries were
being made In the neighborhood OF Made
lines home as 10 her positidh aid bafentage.
Feeling sure that only his cousin Ralph could
have had the curiosity TO institute such in
qniries, ne wrote and thanked him for the
Keen interest he was manlfesting In his fut-
nre welfare, but begged that hereafter Mr..
GARRISON would apply to him direct for any
Information he wanted The Two men were
now nc l0hger on speaking terms.
Charles Carriston In his present frame of
mine cared little whether his relatives wish
ed to bless or forbid the banns. He was pas
slonately in love, and at once set about max
ing arrangements for a speedy marriage. Al
though Madeline was still ignorant OF the ex-
allied position held by her lover-although
she came 10 him absolutely penniless-he was
resolved ~ The matter Of money 10 treat her
rs generously as he would have treated the
most eligible damsel In the country. There
were several legal questions to be set at rest
concerning certain property he wished 10 set
tie upon her. This of course caused DELAY.
As soon as they were adjusted to his own, OF,
rather to his lawyers satisfaction, he pur.
posed going 10 Scotland and carrying away
his beautiful bride, In the meantime he cast
about FOL a residence.
Somewhat Bohemian in his nature, CARTS
ton had no Intention OF settling down just yet
to live the life Of an ordinary moneyed En-
gllshman. His intention was IN take Made
line abroad for some months. He had fixed
upon cannes as a desirable place at which to
winter, but having grown somewhat tired of
hOtel life wished to rent a furnished house.
He had received from an agent to whom he
had been advised to apply the fefusal of a
house which. from the glowing description
given, seemed the one above all others he
wanted. As al early decision was insisted
upon my impulsiye young friend thought
nothing Of crossing the Channel and running
down to the south of France 10 see. with his
own eyes, that the much.lauded place was
worthy OF the fair being who was TO be its
temporary mistress.
lie wrote to Madeline. and told her he wac
going from home for a few days. tie said
he should be travelling the greater part Of the
time, 50 it would be no use of her writing 10
him until his return. He did not reveal the
object of his journey. Were Madeline to
know il was to choose a winter residence at
Cannes, she would be filled with alnazement.
and the innocent deception he was still keep
ing ur would not be carried through to the
romantic end which he pictured 10 himself.
The day before he started for France Made
line wrote that her aunt was very unwell, but
said nothing as TO her malady causing any
alarm. Perhaps CaTriston thought less about
the old Scotch widow than her relationship
and kindness 10 Miss Rowan merlted. He
started on his travels without any forebod-
ings of evil.
His journey to Cannes and back was hur-
fied-he wasted no time on the road, but war
delayed for two days at the place itself be-
fore he could make final arrangements with
the owner and the present occupier of the
house. Thinking he was going 10 start every
moment he did not write 10 Madeline-at the
rate at which he meant to return a letter
posted in England would reach her almost as
quickly as II posted at Cannes.
He reached his home, which for the last
few weeks had been oxford, and found two
letters waiting for him. The first, dated OH
the day he left England, was from Madeline.
II told him that her aunt's illness had sud-
denly taken a fatal %tuTn-that she had died
that day, almost without warning. The sec
ond letter was anonymous.
Ii was written apparently by a woman, and
advised Mr.. Carr TO look sharply after his
lady-love or he would find himself left i'm the
lurch, The writer would not be surprised to
hear some fine day that she had eloped with
a certain gentleman who should be nameleS.
This precious epistle, probably an emanation
OF feminine spite, Carriston treated as it de-
served-he tore It up and threw the pieces to
the wind.
Bat the thought Of Madeline being alone at
that lonely house troubled him greatly. The
dead woman had no sons or daughters-all
the anxiety and responsibility connected with
her affairs would fall on the poor girl. The
next day he threw himself into the Scotch
Express, and started for her PARKWAY home.
On arriving there he found il occupied only
by the rough farm servants. They seemed In
a state OF wonderment, and yolubly question
ed Csrriston as to the whereabouts of Made
line. The question sent a chill of fear TO his
heart. He answered their questions by otlr
ers, and o o learnt all they had to communi-
cate.
Little enough il was. On the morning aft
er the old woman's funeral Madeline had
gone TO Calendar to ask the advice OF an old
friend OF her aunt's as 10 what steps should
now be taken. She had neither been to this
friend, nor had she returned home. She had,
however, sent a message that she must go to
London at once, and would write from there.
That was the last heard of her-all that was
known about her.
Upon hearing this news Carriston became
a prey TO the acutest terror an emotion
which was quite inexplicable TO the honest
people, his informants. The girl had gone,
but she had sent no word whittier she had
gone. True, they did not know the reason
for her departure, so sudden and without lug
gage of any description true, she had not
written as promised, but no doubt they would
hear from her tomorrow. Car sion knew
better. Without revealing the extent of his
fears, he flew back 10 Calendar. Inquiries
at the railway station informed him that she
had gone, or had purposed going, to London,
but whether she ever reached il, or whether
any trace of her could be found there, was, at
least, a matter of doubt. No good could be
gained by remaining in Scotland, so he trav-
eled back at once TO town, half distracted,
~sieepIess, and racking his brain TO know
where 10 look for her.
.'She has been decoyed away" ne said In
conclusion. 'She Is hidden imprisoned some
where. And l know, as well as II he told
me, who has lone this thing. l can trace
Ralph Carriston's cursed hand through 1t
ALL"
l 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 1t his theory
was wild and ~untenable one. However much
suspected Ralph Carriston of longing TO
stand in his shoes, l could see no object for
the crime of which be accused him, that OF
decoying away Madeline Rowan.
q ns .