The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-12
proprietors of one of the largest private
asylums in the shires!'
CHAPTER w.
Treacllery.

lHpIOVeu since MS return TO Bell1nlilSlef,
though the insidious nature of his complaint
left no hopes of his complete recovery.
One of his oldest friends, Colonel Pember-
ton, who lived some few miles from Cumnor
Towers had been ordered abroad and was
to join his regiment at Southampton.
He was too busy arranging his affairs to
make farewell call upon Sir John, the
later had decided to drive over, with Philip
Haldane-who was staying with him-on the
morning of the day previous to the colonePs
departure.
It was Philips suggestion that Sir John
should stay the night at Colonel Pemberton S
house, lest the drive home in the evening
should prove too exhausting for the invalid.
You are sure you do not mind being left
with only the servants, darling" said Sir
John at breakfast, glancing across the table
at Madeline, who was reading her letters.
She looked up quickly.
Il do not mind in the least; think Philip
is right
Did you sleep we'll last night, child? You
look ill. Does she not, Philip? Have you
had any disqueting news?'' asked her father,
anxiousv
I-I-no-I am quite WELL" faltered Made
line evasively, thrusting the letter she had
been reading into her pocket, and commence
ing to pour out the coffee.
Philip Haldane looked at her furtively from
time to time, though he conversed in desul-
tory way with Sir John about the dsaffec-
ton in India, the probable effect it would
have upon stocks and shares, and other alb
stract subjects which served to pass the time.
AS soon as Sir John and his nephew had
driven away, Madeline ran upstairs to her
own room and drew out the letter which had
so disturbed her at breakfast
The envelope bore the postmark "Chelsea,'
and was addressed in a different handwriting
to the enclosed letter:
Dearest Madeline-I have got into a most
awful fix, from which I can never hope to ex-
tr1cate myself without your help. | must see
you, when will explain, which l dare not do
by letter, lest it should fall into other hands.
Il have. no friend in the world but you
dear-you have always felt kindly to me, for
poor mothers sake. though I know I must
have wearied out even your love and pa
tience.
Meet at Waterloo Station tomorrow,
Thursday. You can catch the eleven thirty
from Bellminster. Let the governor think that
you have to pay visit to your dressmaker-
anything in the world but the truth-for he
would never allow you to help me.
You can catch the return express at three
fifteen, and will be home again in time for
dinner.
For Heavens sake do not fail me! If you
do 1 shall blow my brains out, for only you
intervention can save me.
"On second thoughts, 1 do not think it
would be advisable for me to meet you, so 1
will persuade my landlady, Mrs Andrews
respectable widow-to do So. She will
hand you a letter from me- which will be
signed 'Fidus Achates.'
You may safely trust yourself to- her She
will escort you to 14O, Desborough Road
Dearest Madeline. pray-pray accede to
my reconstructed, you cannot guess how
much hangs in the balance Your unfortunate
brother, AMBROSE MILFORD"
Madeline read this letter through twice her
heightened color and compressed lips show
ing how painfully the missive had effected
her.
There is nothing for it but to co. she
thought, feverishly pacing the room. ct is
cruel OF hlm-cruei, after my remonstrance.
He knew that father would not assist him
again.
/. She felt she dared not refuse to go, lest, in
his desperation, he might commit suicide.
Knowing him she did, she thought it was
not at all improbable that he might by forg-
cry have placed himself in danger of the law.
Reluctant as she was to take the step he
urged upon her, she knew not how to refuse
and, rejecting that she would be back again
at Bellminster before evening" and that Sir
John would remain the night at Colonel
Pemberton's, she decided to go up to London
by the II 80 train, as specified by Ambrose
She dressed hastily, and was on her way to
the station at a little after eleven
She had left word with the servants that
she was going to town, but should be home
early in the evening.
1t was not until she was in the railway
carriage that she suddenly bethought her of
AmbroSeS letter.
1t was too late to turn back, for as she
made the discovery that the letter was not
in her pocket, the train steamed out of the
station.
Her only hope was that she might have
thrust it away out of sight; but the unfortu-
nate circumstance filed her with disouietude
and rendered her journey additionally unde-
srable.
| She reached the London terminus at half
past 1 o'clock, and almost before she had
time to alight a. quietly dressed, elderly
woman, with grey hair approached
Are you Miss Haldane? l have letter
for you." she said, handing Madeline a sealed