The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-11-13

you are satisfied then?' he said.
"On this point, yes. Now tell me
what is wrong?"
Now that he had set my doubts at
rest his agitation and excitement
seemed to return. He graeped my hand
convulsively.
"Madelinew he whispered. Made
llne-my love-she is gone"
Gomez / repeated. Gone where?"
"She is gone, say-etolen from me
by some black-hearted traitor-perhaps
forever. Who can tell?"
but, Carriston, surely in so short q
time her love can not have been won
by another. If so, all can say is"
"What!" he shouted. you who have
seen her! You in your widest dreams
to imagine that Madeline Rowan would
leave me of her own free will! No, sir,
she has been stolen from me-en-
unprecedented away-hidden. But /
his hands. A sort of nervous trembling
seemed to run through his frame
Deeply distressed, drew his hands
from his face.
"Now, Carriston," / said as firmly as
l could, '1ook up and tell me what all
this means. Look up, 1 say, and speak
to me-"
He raised his eyes to mine and kept
them there, whilst a CHASTITY smile
a phantom of humor-flickered acrose
his white face. No doubt his native
quickness told him what / suspected,
so he looked me steadily in the face.
mo-" he said, mot as you think.
But let there be no mistake. Question
me. Talk to me. Put me to any test.
Satisfy yourself, once for all, that am
as sane as you are"
He spoke so nationally, his eyes met
mine so unflinchingly, that l was re-
joiced to know that my fears were as
yet ungrounded. There was grief, ex-
element, want of rest in his appear
ance, but his general manner told me
will find her, or 1 will kill the black
hearted villain who has done this"
He rose and paced the room. His
face was distorted with rage. He
clinched and unclinched his long slen-
der hands. a a
my dear fellow" I said, you ere
talking riddles. Sit down and tell me
calmly what has happened. But, first
of all, as you look utterly worn out,
will ring for my man to get you some
food"
NO" he said, 81 want nothing.
Weary l am, for 1 have been to Scot
land and back as fast as man can
ago, and after seeing one man have
come straight to you, my only friend
for help-it may be for protection. But
have eaten and have drunk, know
ing l must keep my health and
strength"
However, I insisted upon some wine
being brought. He drank a glass, and
then with a strange enforced calm, told
me what had taken place. His tale was
this:
After we had parted company on our
return from Scotland, Carriston went
down to the family seat in Oxfordshire
and informed his uncle of the impend-
ing change in his life. The baronet
an extremely old man, infirm and al
but childish, troubled little about the
matter. Every acre of his large prop
erty was strictly entailed, so his pleas
ure or displeasure could make but little
alteration in his nephew's prospects
| Still he was the head of the family
and Carriston was in duty bound to
make the important news known Ia
| him. The young man made no secret
of his approaching marriage, so in q
very short time every member of the
| family was aware that the heir and
future head was about to ally himself
to a nobody. Knowing nothing Of
Madeline Rowan's rare beauty and
sweet nature, Carriston's kinsmen and
kinswomen were sparing with Their
congratulations. Indeed, Mr.. Ralph
Carriston, the cousin whose name was
coupled with the such absurd suspic.
cions, went so far as to write bitter
sarcastic letter, full of ironical felicia.
tons. This, and Charles Carriston's
naughty reply, did not make the affec.
ton between the cousins any stronger
Moreover, shortly afterward the young
er man heard that inquiries were being
made in the neighborhood of Made
lines home, as to her position and par.
entage. Feeling sure that only hi!
cousin Ralph could have had the curl
osity to institute such inquiries, hi
wrote and thanked him for the keen in
terest he was manifesting in his future
welfare, but begged that hereafter Mr.
Carriston would apply to him direc
for any information he wanted. The
two men were now no longer on speak
ing terms.
Charles Carriston, in his present
frame'of mind, cared little whether hi!
relatives wished to bless or forbid the
banns. He was passionately in love
and at once set about making arrange
ments for a speedy marriage. Although
Madeline was still ignorant of the ex
allied position held by her lover-al
though she came to him absolutely pen
niless-he was resolved in the matter
Of money to treat her as generously
| Qo ha xuauId houa frpofod tho pnnc