Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-06-19

himself to nobody. Knowing nothing Of
Madeline ROwan's rare beauty and sweet
nature, CarristOn's kinsmen and kinswomen
were sparing with their congratulations In
deed, Mr.. Ralph Caniston, the cousin whose
name was coupled with such absurd suspi-
cions, went so far as 10 write bitter, sarcas-
tic letter, full of irOnlcal fluctuations. This,
and Charles Carriston's naughty reply, did
not make the affection between the cousins
any stronger Moreover, shortly afterward
the younger man heard Earthquakes were
being made in the neighborhood of Made
lines home, as to her position and parentage.
Feeling sure that only his cousin Ralph could
have had the curiosity to institute such in
quiries, he wrote and thanked him for the
keen interest he was manifesting inehis fut-
ure welfare, but begged that hereafter Mr..
Carriston would apply to him direct for any
Information he wanted. The two men were
now no longer on speaking terms.
Charles Carriston in his present frame of
mind cared little whether his relatives wish
ed to bless or forbid the banns. He was pas
siOnately In love, and at once set about max
ing arrangements for speedy marriage Al
though Madeline was still ignorant of the ex-
allied position held by her lover-although
she came To him absolutely penniless-he was
resolved in the matter of money to treat her
as 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 to set
tie upon her. This of course caused delay.
AS soon as they were adjusted to his own, or,
rather TO his lawyers satisfaction, he pur-
posed going TO Scotland and carrying away
his beautiful bride In the meantime he cast
about for a residence.
Somewhat Bohemian in his nature, Carris-
ton had no intention of settling down just yet
TO live the life of an ordinary moneyed En-
gliShman. His intention was to 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 furnished house.
He had received from an agent to whom he
had been advised TO apply the refusal of
house which, from the glowing description
given, seemed the one above all others he
wanted. AS an early decision was insisted
upon my impulsive young friend thought
nothing of crossing the Channel and running
down to the south of France to see, with his
own eyes, that the much-lauded place was
worthy of the fair being who was to be its
temporary mistress.
He wrote TO Madeline, and told her he was
going from home for a few days. lie said
he should be travelling the greater part of the
time, so ii would be no use of her writing to
him until his return. He did not reveal the
object of his journey. Were Madeline to
know it was TO choose winter residence at
Cannes, she would be filed with amazement,
and the innocent deception he was still keep
ing up would not be carried through to the
romantic end which he pictured to 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 GARRISON thought less about
the old Scotch widow than her relationship
and kindness to Miss Rowan merited. He
started on his travels without any forebOd-
ings of evil.
His journey to Cannes and back was hur-
ried-he wasted no time on the road, but was
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 to start every
moment he did not write to Madeline-at the
rate at which he meant to return letter
posted in England would reach her almost as
quickly as if posted at Cannes.
lie reached his home, which for the last
few weeks had been Oxford, and found two
letters waiting for him. The first dated on
the day he left England, was from Madeline.
1t told him that her aunts illness had sud-
denly taken a fatal turn-that she had died
that day, almost without warning. The sec
ond letter was anonymous.
1t was written apparently by woman, and
advised Mr.. Carr to look sharply after his
| lady-love or he would lind himself left in the
lurch. The writer would not be surprised to
hear some fine day that she had eloped with
a certain gentleman who should be nameless.
This precious epistle, probably an emanation
OF feminine spite, GARRISON treated as it de-
served-he tore 1t up and threw the pieces TO
the wind.
ITO BE- Continued