The Forrest City times., 1892-03-04
CARRISTON'SG GIFT.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
PART l.
TOLD BY PHILIP BRAND, NJ. D.. LoNDos
CHAPTER y.-coNTINuED.

dead woman had no sons or daughters-all the anxiety and responsibility connected With Ter affairs would fall on the poor girl The next day he threw himself into the Scotch Express, and started for her far-away home. On arriving there he found it occupied only by the rough farm servants. They seemed in a state of wonderment, and volnbly question ed Carriston as to the whereabouts of Made line The question sent chill of fear to his heart. He answered their questions by ot'l- CTS, and soon learnt all they had to communl- cate.
 Little enough it was. On the morning aft CT the old woman's 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. SEe 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 Garrison became a prey to the acutest terror-an emotion which was quite inexplicable to the honest people, his imformants The girl had gone, but she had sent no word whither 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 mol written as promised, but no doubt they would hear from her tomorrow. Carriston Knew better. Without revealing theextent ol ms fears, he flew back to Callendar 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, matter of doubt No good could be b.r inf, i'm, Scotland he tTaX- eled back at once to town, half distracted sleepless, and racking his brain to know where to look 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. 1 can trace Ralph Carristons cursed hand through 1t all"
 I 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 it 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 bis voice to whisper.
 'sThis is his reason" he said-"this is why I come to you. You are not the only one who has entirely misread my nature, and seen strong tendency to insanity in it. O: I tl,atx aIl bfIt | know that Ralph Carriston has stolen my love-stolen her because he thinks and hopes that her loss will drive me mad-perhaps drive me to kill myself I went straight to him-I have just come from him--Brand, l tell you that when taxed him with the crime when raved at him-when I threatened to tear the life out of him-his cold, wicked eyes leapt with joy. l 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. l curbed myself and left him. Most likely he will try to shut ms up as a lunatie; but 1 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 not 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 lone until tomorrow; then we will consult IS to what steps should be taken. Drink this md go to bed-yes, you are as sane as l am, put, remember, insomnia soon drives the strongest man out of his senses" ;ota 10. d,.o, A ,ntly. Before left him for the night f~saw i'm in bed and sleeping heavy sleep.
 The advantage to one who writes, not ale of imagination, but a simple record of vents is this; He need not be bound by the 'ecognized canons of the storytelling art leed not exercise his ingenuity to mislead lis reader-need not suppress some things md lay undue stress on others to create mys- cries to be cleared up at the end of the tale. Therefore, using the privilege of plain mar aator, shall here give some account of what pecame of Miss Rowan, as, so far as l can re- member, heard it some time aftefward rom Ter own lips.
 The old Scotchwoman's funeral over, and hose friends who had been present departed, ! iuhtiliC Ndo iVlt III tiiC iittft
 lone, save for the presence of the two ser ants Several kind bodies had offered to ome and stay with her, but she had declined
 ie offers. She was in no mood for company,
 nd perhaps being of such different race
 nd breed would not have found much com ort in the rough homely sympathy which yas offered to her. She preferred being alone gith her grief-grief which after all was
 ound to he much livhtened by the thought
 f her own approaching happiness, for the
 ay was drawing near when her lover would
 ross the Border and bear his bonny bride
 She felt sure that she would not be ng alone-that the moment Carriston heard
 [ her aunts death he would come to her as-
 stance. In such peaceful, God-fearing
 eighborhood she had no fear of being left
 'ithout protection Moreover, her position
 the house was well defined. The old wo
 nan, who was childless, had left her niece
 I ot which she died possessed. So Madeline
 ecided to wait quietly until she heard iron fer loyer
 Still there were business matters to he at
 ended to, and at the funeral Mir. Douglas, o
 ,allendar, the executor under the will, hat
 iggested that an early interview would b'
 sirable He offered to drive out to the little
 rm the next day, but Miss Rowan, who ha6
 see to some feminine necessaries whicl
 ould only be supplied by shops, decided tha
 he would come to the town instead of roub
 ng Mir. Douglas to drive so far out.
 Madeline, in spite of the superstitious ele
 nent in her character was brave girl, an'
 n spite of her refined style of beauty, stronl md healthy. Early hours were the rule il
 hat humble home, so before seven o'clock il | ha x,nrnipg cha xraS rpady ta start on he