The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-12

the officials at Scotland Yard, and engage the |
services of some of the abest detectives in
the force.
Philip Hadane the soul of sympathetic
devotion and attended Sir John like his
shadow
The letter which Madeline had received was
found, and proved to be a forgery, for Am
brose Wilford was communicated with, and
denied having written to his sister since he
acknowledged the cheque she had sent him
a fortnight before st
With all his faults he was sincerely at
tached to Madeline, and at once threw him
self heart and soul into the attempt to trace
her Wherea bouts.
AS for Godfrey Davenant he was beside
himself with grief and despair
Morning, noon and night he was engaged
in following some fresh clue, always to be
met with the same crushing disappointment.
The weary days passed; the nights Of ap
pali1ng anxiety were lived through, but no
trace of Madeline could be found after she
to leave Waterloo Station in COM
pany with a ectably dressed woman.
The detectives had traced her thus far, and
had interviewed the cabman who drove the
two women.
The nightborhood where they alighted was
searched, but no one IN those busy thorough
fares recollected any suspicious circumstance,
or could furnish the police with any particu-
lars that were likely to be of service
Had the earth opened and swallowed her
up Madeline could not have disappeared more
utterly.
The affectionate anxiety and interest Philip
effect upon Sir John
He turned to his nephew for counsel and
advice, leaning upon him during those dark
days as though he had been his own son.
You cannot accompany me on Thursday
Philip? Why is that? 1 begin to think you
do not care for me!'' protested Portia Dupres
she had been driving IN the Park-her
phaeton and pair of thoroughbreds were
Philip Haldines lasi gift to her.
She was exquisltely dressed and looked her
loveliest.
Philips dark eyes glowed with passionate
admiration as he met her reproachful glance.
Portla, my angel, how can you talk SOP"
he said in a low voice. as he sprang in and
TOOK his seat beside her. Il only live when
am with you-the rest is mere existence!"
| Then, as you yourself planned this water
party for Thursday, What is your motive for
leaving to entertain my friends alone? It
is too bad of you'll and Portia tossed her
beautiful head with we'll simulated annoy
ance
Philips brow darkened, she bowed
and smiled to her numerous male admirers
fashionable loungers-all of whom were more
or less in love with the prma donna.
On reaching Portia Dupres' house, Philip
went in with her, and remained a few mo-
ments talking. .
II He purposey refrained from any mention
of his Cousins strange disappearance, and
this, in itself, struck Portia as a peculiar sig
7 nifcant circumstance, since the painful facts
of the case were known all over the town.
| She knew that the Madeline Haldane who
was missing Philips cousin, and was
about to ask him to tell her all he knew, when
she checked herself, and resolved to ascertain
the reason of his reserve.
While he was talking, he drew out his hand
kerchief, to polish the glass of miniature he
had purchased for her, and as he did so, a
slip of paper f1uttered to the ground
Portia stopped and picked it up; but as
Philip Haldane was unaware that he had
dropped anything, she did not offer to return
it to him.
At parting, he took her in his arms and
pressed her close to his heart his eeyes dwell
ing raptuously upon the glowing beauty of
her upturned face.
"Porta, my love, my angel, it would kill
me to lose you,' he murmured, passionately
Il should not care to live another hour if
l had not your love"
Portia, who had turned shade paler
averted her head and toyed with the flowers
on her breast.
Should you not? Are you sure you are
not exaggerating my influence upon you? Do
you, then, love me much ?"
I love you absorbingly that were YOU
to play me false l should kill you I could
not exist knowing that you had bestowed
your affections elsewhere
"A strange way of proving your devotion,
truly" she answered, lowering her ewes that
he might not read their expression. WELL
you must not remain longer now, Philip l
must be busy this afternoon; my corre-
Spondence has been getting in arrears and I
have to see my modesto
She suffered him to kiss her again and
then, unable longer to sustain her part she
dismissed him impatently, and stood listen
ing to the click of the garden gate as he
passed out.
Thank Heaven, he cannot read my heart.
or even now he would escape the VENGEANCE
which have planned!
She drew the paper from the folds of her
dress.
1t was evidently part of letter which
Haldane had himself written