Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-06-26
CARRISTON'S GIFT.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
PART /.
TOLD BY PHILIP BRAND. NJ. D., LONDON
CHAPTER v.-ooNrINuED.

ChAfTEh h-CONIlNOED.
But the thought of Madeline being alone at
that lonely house troubled him greatly. The
dead woman had no sons or daughters-al
the anxiety and responsibility connected with
Eor 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 it occupied only
by the rough farm servants. They seemed in
a. state of wonderment and volubly question:
ed Carrlston as 10 the whereabouts of Made
line. The question sent a chill of fear to his
heart He answered their questions by 9th
ers, and soon learnt all they had to communl-
cate.
Little enough it was. On the morning aft
er the old womans funeral Madeline had
gone TO Calendar to ask the advice OF an old
friend of her aunt's as TO what steps should
now be taken. She had neither been 10 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
prey to the acutest terror-an emotion
which was quite ineXplicabe 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 woHld
hear from her tomorrow. CarTiSton knew
better. Without revealing the extent of his
fears, he flew back to Calendar. Inquiries
at the railway station informed him that she
had gone, or had purposed going, TO London,
but whether she ever reached it. 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,
sleepless, and racking his brain to know
where to hook 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. l can trace
Ralph Carristons cursed hand through it
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 IL his theory
was wild and untenable one. However much
he suspected Ralph Carriston 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?" l
asked. ''To prevent your marriage? You
are young-he must have foreseen that you
would marry some day."
Carriston leaned toward me, and dropped
his voice to a whisper.
''Ths is his reason" he said-"ths Is why
/ come to you. You are not the only one
who has entirely misread my nature, and
seen a strong tendency TO insanity in it. D:
course, know that you are all wrong, but
know that Ralph Cauiston has stolen my
love-stolen her because he thinks and hopes
that her loss will drive me mad-perhaps
drive me to kill myself. l went straight to
hm-I have Just come from him-Brand,
tell you that when l taxed him with the crime
when l raved at him-when / threatened
to tear the life out of him-his cold, wicked
eyes leapt with Joy. i heard him mutter be-
tween his teeth, Men have been put in strait
waistcOats for less than this. Then 1 knew
why he had done this. curbed myself and
left him. Most likely he will try to shut mo
up as lunatic; but count upon your pro-
tection-count upon your help to find my
love-"
That any man could be guilty of such a
subtle refinement of crime as that of which
he accused his cousin seemed TO me, If MOI
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"
lpoured out an opiate. He drank il obedi-
emily. Before left him for the night saw
him in bed and sleeping heavy sleep.