The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-23

DAY, DECEMBE
popular sentiment in language which could
be neither mistaken nor enjoyed
"a man for husband rather than a lad,
she said; 'and only parcel of twaddlers |
would think differently
'Neither man nor lad seems to have
fancied you, was Dave Brands reply |
Ellen was a spinster, and in Lundley there
was no tendency to take the edge Oft re-
partee, however unpleasant the fact might |
be which the rejoinder contained.
Elton Fossbrook was kinsman of the
Squire; bright, handsome young fellow,
whose sunny ways eontrasted in a marked
manner with the quiet and thoughtful
humor which was natural to the master of
Guestwick Hail.
If the Squire was ever jealous, he care
fully and successfully hid it from view, and
his young wife was always lively and
pleasant when Elton was present. Per-
haps the Squire knew that he had a ten
dency towards jealousy, as all his family
had, according to report, and being wiser
man than most of his ancestors, he may
have set himself to live down any feeling
of distrust within his own nature. lie
knew that it was like insanity to suspect
his pure and childlike wife, and he could
not help regarding it as dishoner to harbor
ANYTHING like distrustful feeling towards
Elton Fossbrook.
But one day he returned from a meet
ing of county magistrates to find that his
home had been deserted by his wife and
his kinsman There was no note, or any
thing giving an explanation. The child
was left behind, but the nurse was utterly
bewidered, and unable to throw any light
on the mystery. Alice Rayner, Mrs.
Guestwick's maid, had also disappeared;
and, as might be expected, Jim Travis,
Mr.. FossbrOoks s man, was nowhere to be
found.
CHAPTER III.
Men who are wise enough to have dis
covered that they are not perfect, and who
have learned to distrust their first impulse,
are often perplexed when disagreeabe cir
cumstances arise. They seem to hear two
voices within themselves calling loudly for
them to act in opposite and contradictory
directions; and they know by experience
that they cannot obey both voices at once,
:, and they are afraid lest they should do what
! is not only unwise, but what will render a
!, better plan forever impossible.
! Terrible thoughts passed through the
/ mind of Coverwood Guestwick when he
/ discovered that his wife was missing, and
that Elton Fossbrook was missing also
4 but he controlled himself sufficiently to
h betray nothing by word or look which
4 would rankle in his memory after the
! mystery was explained, as he hoped would
e be the case.
1t was almost midnight when the Squire
. returned from Eastford. Mrs. GuestwicE
4 and Mr.. Fossbrook, he learnt, had gone
Il out for walk at about two o clock. Then
If Jim Travis had come to the Hall, saying
4 that his master had met a messenger from
Eastford, which was the nearest telegraph
+ station; the messenger had a telegram fo
. him. which compelled him to start fo
E London at once.
n II was Just coming from Lundley at tn
time, said Jim, "and he told me he woult
,e ride with the messenger, as there was nj
,r time to lose, for he must catch the fas
It train at Eastford. and am to follow witt
Il his things tonight, Mrs Guestwick ha
zone to Newton Lodge, and Woods is t
ia take the carriage for her | will take tn
: dog-cart to Eastford, and leave it at tn
,e Dog and Partridge y
" All was hurry and confusion. Jim pack
TO ed his masters things and put them in tn
rs dog-cart The butler wanted to sen
's somebody with Jim, to bring the trap back
III but there was not room, for Alice Rayne
+ said she had to 60 as far as Four Ian
. Ends, which was on the way to EastforC
and she could not walk the distance, bC
70 cause she had to take Il parcel which he
o mistress was sending to Miss Percival.
,r '.It will be all right, said Jim; 18th
he horse will be well looked after at the Do
10 and Partridge, and must be off. S,
70 before any further objections could be raj
as ed, he cracked his whip and started.
ed Woods, the coachman, had taken tf
carriage to Newton Lodge, according
st. instruction, but had learnt there that Mr.
nd Guestwick had not called. That was lit
ad the only puzzling circumstance, for tt
Squire always rode from Eastford whe
ot- he happened to be alone, and, as usual, h
e. horse was stabbed at the Dog and Partridg
Id When he started from Eastford, SON
est hours later than Jim Travis ought to ha'
20 reached the town, nothing was said abol
the dog-cart being there. The Squi
"a knew there was only one explanation
ay that; Jim had not done what he said w
his intention; either he had not gone
Die Eastford, or he had taken the horse al
,e- trap to another house.
Alice Rayner did not return, and WHIT
a messenger was sent to -Four Lane I'm
90 the next day, nobody was much surpris,
70 to learn that Alice had not been near, al
Ia Ia that Miss Percival had expected no pare
III III from Mrs Guestwick.
- 70 The discovery, however, which caus
g oe the Squire most agony was that Nj
~. l.. tSuestwick's Jewels had all been taxi
- - away, and various other valuables, besid
~ ~ considerable sum of money, which "
"a kept in small safe in the bedroom, viii
~, nv also usually contained the jewels.
its 1t caused no surprise when a note W
received from Doncaster to any that
he horse and dog-cart which had been left
or the Swan were recognized by visitor
the property of Mr.. Guestwick. The Ian
aid lord humbly waited Mr.. Guestwick's
structions in the matter.
nd The Squire started for Doncaster
mes once. When he reached the Swan, he s;
of his own horse there and his own dog-ca
ra- but nobody could give any explanati
which afforded either clue or satisfactic
as A boy had led the horse into the stab
ks yard and had ordered tito be put up, sayi
,st- i'the gent himself" " would be there in