The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-03-29

"IherC has been messenger mere,
inQuiring for him." continued she.
/ Roger has not been home all night,
and his mother, Mrs. Baldrick, is great
ly alarmed at his absence"
Not been home all night Miss Gil
RUTH" the baronet repeated in seeming
surprise. That is strange. He left
Ravensmarsh before midnight"
Gertrude changed color. g..
Left RavensmarSh before midnight!'
she echoed. What can have become of
him"
mo accident has happened to him,
I hope" pursued the baronet, In q
more confident manner than at first.
There was a full moon last night.
Warrington and l were quite envy
| ing his walk home"
Il sent the messenger on to Ravens
marsh. thinking he might probably hear
something of Roger there" said Ger
| trude. His absence Is very mysterious,
Sir Basil, is it nOt?'
Most mysterious, indeed" he replied.
Il am beginning to feel quite uneasy
| about him."
My grandfather made sure that ROg-
er had stayed ut Ravcnsmarsh," she
continued. Roger is very thoughtlcss
over many matters,' she added, by
way of explanation. But he is II sail
or, and that fact excuses many of his
careless acts"
Gertrude had spoken the above cold
ly enough, and with some embarrass-
ment as well; but Sir Basil had not
| remarked either the coldncSs Of her
speech or the trepidatiOn of her man.
nCr-his thoughts were at The bottom
of the lake, where the dead body of
the young sailor was lying.
Where does Mrs. Baldrick live, Miss
Gilruth?' Warrington asked, seeing his
companions face culver and grow pale,
and wishing to divert Gertrude's atten-
ton from Sir BaSil's evident perturba-
| ton.
she lives at Pearl Brook. distance
of three miles hence, in a cottage stand
| ing by the roadside, with Il green porch
over the door"
Il do not know the place, Miss Gil
| ruth, being a stranger in these parts;
| but, l dare say, l could manage to
| fiTd it out" returned Warrington.
"What say you, Sir Busil-Shall we ride
| off to Pearl Brook, lind Mrs. Baldrck' S
| house, and there make some inquiries
| about her missing SON.?
ooh. he's safe at home by this time"'
! the barOnet answered, in a hollow
| voice Good morning, Miss Gilruth, "
| he continued, in some confusion, and
| presenting his hand. Il trust, when
call here again, to have the pleasure Of
| seeing your grandfather
Il sincerely trust you will, Sir Ba-
| sill" she returned, suffering him to re-
! tain her fingers between his palms.
| He looked at her for 4 few seconds.
! His gaze seemed to fascinate her, while
| her cheeks burned, and her heart quick
ened its pulsatiOns.
shes caught Basil! The girl is head
over ears in love with YOU Warning
ton exclaimed, as they rode away frC IN
ParsOn GiIruth's garden gate.
! The young DarOnet looked round, with
| flushing cheeks, and his companion
went on.
Did you not mark her bushes, Basil,
! and her timid, doWncast look? Oh,
| l noted all!'
Sir Basil and his companion gallop-
| ped onward until they reached Pearl
| brook, and stopped in front of the gate
of widow Baldrick's garden.
Seeing two horsemenn pause before
her door the lady flew to open it, think
ing they were probably bringing her
| some tidings of her truant son, about
whom she was enduring all fond
| mothers anxieties and alarm.
"And Roger really quilted Raven
! marsh before midnight, Sir Basil" con-
| tipued Mrs, Baldrick, after he had in
| formed her 10 that effect, Dear, dear!
Where can he be? What can possibly
| have happened himY' she went on,
clasping and unclasping a pair Of thin,
trembling hands in visible agitation.
1T is very mysterious, madam he
turned the young baronet, trying to
| keep himself calm.
| Il have made every inquiry around
| Pearlbrook, but all in vain; since last
| night, Roger has not been seen by any
| one" the widow added.
"Oh, chteF I'D, my dear madam,
| put in Warrington; ''your son cannot
| have been spirited away: you will sure
| " see him ere long"
| We'll yes; / suppose l shall, sir, -
she replied, in a relieved tone. Il am,
| l daresay, foOlshly tormenting myself;
but a mother is apt to be anxious about
| her child-and Roger is my only one,
| you know"
Sir Basii's heart bounded with a
| pdlIlIuI GLilOD. anu lAlS fdSD plSStSrACO
white as any linen sheet.
ooh, well, you will see him soon,
have no doubt" he said in great dis
order. "GOod morning, madam"
Good morning, Sir BASIL curtseyed
the widow.
And the two gentlemen rode away,
one Of them being sore of mind-al-
most distracted.
Great heavens Warringtonw cried
Sir Basil, as soon as they were out OF
hearing; Il would rather this moment
be shot like dog, than have to face
yOnder woman again. Her words were
like so many stabs piercing my breast
through and through. I think, Pelham
/ shall go mad" he added, taking off
his hat and swinging it high in the air
"My brain feels bursting-fairly burst
ing!"
The worst is past now, the great Or
deal is over; and, taking everything in
to consideration you have gone through
the matter with much eclat," Warning
ton approvingly said, paying no atten
ton to the others frenzied words
you have nothing TO think of now
save your beautiful enamOrata, Cad
l am beginning to envy you, Basiii
am, upon my honor"
Sir Basil's face grew somewhat calm
err in expression, his heart relaxed Its
violent pulsations, and he pursued the
rest Of the journey home in utter 81
lence, which silence Warrington die
not attempt to- disturb.
All that day the master Of Raven
marsh was kept in state of painful
commotion, for every succeeding houl
brought a fresh messenger to inquire
after the missing Roger Baldrick: anG
finally the constables of the parish
came to learn all the particulars they
could regarding the lieutenant's mos
mysterious disappearance. s
The constables who We're not over
shrewd, We're easily deceived by the
haronets false representations.
1.-THE truth is," Sir Basil said, will
wonderful self-possession, "the lieuten
ant had been drinking wine rather free
ly. I, seeing his state, proposed send
ing him home in the carriage, accom-
panied by a man-servant; but III
| would not bnor pf cI1nh n thino and in