The state herald., 1896-01-31

"Gone!" cried Ruthven.
"Ah! Mr.. Ruthven, forgive me. 1t
happened years ago, and 1t was but
tiny infant. but can not recall that
mysterious loss to this day without
emotion. Yes. 1t was gone! stolen from
,hc cradle! disappeared! No one knew
how-when-sr by whom, All was
wrapped In. mystery. OF course; We
selrehed and inquired high and 10y, Eut
"i'ho'it effect, The sad news could not
long be kept frcm my poor wife, who
hau terrible relapse in consequence,
Before. she was out of danger. my
brother George burst into the room in a
state OF frenzy, to tell me that his wife
had Zone f,ndr.
How shocking! Really and truly
mad?"
Completely so. And she never re-
covered her senses again. She had
been out for an unusually long time.
ana when AZ last she returned. he,
speech was perfectly incoherent. In
her rawlings We discovered that 1t was
shc who had stolen my poor infant
during Its nurses sleep, and carried 1t
away some distance. where she had
dropped and left 1t. Her doctor. how
ever, always believed that in her mania
abe had killed the child. and so also I
lad come d. Believe. We made every
Inquiry. possible, but nothing was Ever
heard OF Il again. Lady Flower never
recovered the shock. She died about a
year afterward, and have remained as
] am since her death"
And your brother. Sir Frederick"
He did not long survive my Fer
ehcer Wheh he found his wife was
hopelessly insane he placed her under
medical care. and went abroad with his
child. In his last illness. however. he
sent for me to take charge OF Carmen.
lie was then haunted by the idea that
bis wife would recover OF her malady.
aai wake up, rs II were. to find him
gone. He exactcd Of me. therefore. that
MS soon as he was dead should remove
her from the asylum In which she was
then residing and bring her home to
Abbotsvillc. As / had no intention OF
marrying again, md Carmen was
hrifcss TO all the property, considered
poor George had n right TO dictate In
the matter. and readily undertook to
carry out his wishes"
"Hartr' exclaimed Ruthven, sud
denly. What is that2"'
Both men started to their feet rs
cries OF distress became plainly audi
BILE, together with the sound OF flying
footsteps coming toward them down the
board staircase. Ruthven rushed to the
door. and opened It Just In time to re-
cclye In his arms the form OF Margaret.
who. with golden hair streaming down
ter hack and face pallld with terror.
cluny to him with grip of agony.
He was about to demand the cause OF
her alarm, when nm exclamation from
Sir Frederic caused him TO look up, and
encounter one OF the s,rangcEt figures
he had ever seen. Before hlm-stoppod
there evidently whilst In the act OF
bIssa,ns his poor little wnrd-was 4
womnn, tall and powerfully built, with
eoal-black eyes. set In Il white, sonBoloBs
rountcnanoc. and black hair falling over
Ter brow and shoulders. She was clad
IN n ion-. white garment, like a dfcas-
ing-gown, which was dramatically
adorned with punches OF eolorcd RIB.
hons. rnd her face was painted TO cor.
rcspond with strcakB OF blue and red
and yellow.
"Ruthycn-Ruthycn. save mc'" cried
MARGARET. HISTORICALLY.
ssst 1ststlan Ia -
Ruthycn. Ms his quick mind guessed at
once the solution to the mystery.
"wharc Is Brown?" exclaimed tba
hnrcnot. anrrily. what Is he about to
let this woman leave her roomsr'
Florence came TO see mel" screamed
the maniac. "apd brought her back 10
You, Scot there she IL. with her golden
halr. but where's tho ehild1-whcrc's
the chiid1 II can't be far OF. for you
wouldn't have como back without it.
would your" she continued. addressing
Margaret. who shiycred at tho sound OF
her voice. you thought 70 much OF
the ehild-you did. with your golden
hnir; but mine got tho moncy--mlnc
rot the money" and she began to dance
round the library. TO tho eminent dis.
ecmnturc of tho barono,. who never
ccnsod 10 pull the bell.
Soon appeared Mr.. Brown and Mrs.
bryant. with faecs full OF pcrpicsity.
and mouths full Of apologies, but Sir
Frederic cut their excuses short.
Take your patient back TO her apart
mcn,n,' no said; "nnd tho next time she
leaves them you loro your plneoa,"
Tho attendants were doing their best
10 porAnnio. or force the unfortunate
creature 10 quit tho room when Carmen
and Hamilton Shore were added TO the
company.
what on earth In this MI nhout7" OK
claimed tho girl. In n voice Of disgust.
when she raw what II was about.
Itu,hycn expected she would look dis
ircHned OF compassionate but not nj all,
ehc coiored. II Ia true, but only with
annoy M she attempted 10 conceal
tho presence Of the mad woman from
her companion.
Come. lot liz 70 into the drawing
room" nhe said 10 Hamilton Shore, and
he oboycd her mechanically
In few minutes the room was
cleared. and the voice Of the poor pa.
tlont, raised In esposiulaiion. was NJ.
ready dying away In the distance.
~ am sorry you should have been
frightened aud annoyed, my dear" said
Sir Frederic TO Margaret, "bu, there
really wns no danger. That unfortunate
lady. though insane. Ia harmless she
n Carmonn mother All YOU may we'll