The Atlanta constitution., 1900-08-27
A MISSING HERO.


roster, looking at her intently. You look
pale and weary. as II you had had bad
time Of II since saw you. You have not
been Ill. have yOu?"
"Well, Forester! you are nice sort
Of fellow to tell a young lady she Is lock-
ing i'll. Is that the way to please her,
doye think?" said st. Maur.
"I think the young lady 1 speak to will
understand that care too much whether
she looks well or i'll to make up polite
speeches." returned Forester, setting
chair for Madeleine beside mis- own.
''Well parried!' she said, taking 1t, you
certainly know how to turn corners quick
ly. Mr.. Forester
Forester did not reply, he sat looking
at her from under his straight black eye
brc ws, as II unconscious of everything but
herself. to her great annoyance.
II have letters for you both from
North" said Erie. rising and going across
the room to his bureau. returning with
two letters.
''They reached me yesterday. North
sent mo an epistle also. He wants you
to join him as soon as possible. for the
weather Is very fine now. but will not
last, he thinks, and as soon as this expe-
dition is over he will trek away to the
Cape, 1 believe he wants to go to Eng
| land"
I'VE might go together" said st. Maur.
ct like North. He is quite a gentleman.
IL. make my mother ask him to Bam-
borough"
"pon't!' exclaimed Forester, "or peo-
pie will say its to atone for your desper-
ate attempt on his life"
Cont talk such bosh!' returned st.
Maur, In an angry tone. at would be
well IL you had as little to do with
North's accident as 1 had"
Forester laughed contemptuously. but
Madeleine noticed the deadly glance
which accompanied the laughter. 81 wish
they would both go away" was fer re-
Election. they really hate each other and
they put unpleasant thoughts into Johns
head.
Both men now gave their attention to
Ncrth's letters. and a discussion of plans
ensued in which Erie Joined. and Made
leine listened in silence, a vision of North
before her eyes all the time.
At last feeling tired and dispirited. she
rose softly. intending to steal away. but
Forester was too quick for her.
You are very unkind. Miss Erie, to de-
| sert us. when we have not had the pleas
ure of seeing you for more than a month.
a good deal more than a month, an age.
by Jove! 1t IS only 10 o'clock"
''Ten o'clock is very late in this remote
region. and 1 can be Of no use in your
discuson-your terrible conspiracy
against their majesties of the forest. so
as I am tired and sleepy 1 shall say good
night"
Persuade your sister to stay, Erie"
said Forester.
"Oh! she only wants to be asked" he
returned. land she knows very well that
L will not encourage her in her coquettish
nonsense" said Erie. harshly.
Forester noticed that Madeleine grew
red and then white as if wounded. ''She
is not too happy here" he thought, "all
the better for me-
"You are quite right, John, II that Is
your opinion" she said. with a little de-
fiant smile, Good night. sleep well!" and
with bow to all she went swiftly away.
"You have not been bullying your
charming sister, l hope?" said Forester.
In a jesting tone. ''she Is really not look
ing half well. What's the matter, Eth?
Not hankering after North, L hope"
North, oh! nonsense. North is not a
marrying man. 1 fancy Madeleine han
kers after London. or rather Europe, thea
ters and balls. and picture galleries. and
all sorts of things she cannot get here.
a husband and home of her own would
soon cure all that"
well, I am not so surei' said st.
Maur, miss Erie is deuced clever and
what dye call It, she would have great
success in London. Lay you long odds
she would. But she isn't easy to please" ="
IT'S impossible to say and not worth
speculatng about!' returned Erie short
| ly. and seeing he was not In an amia BILE
temper. they dropped the subject and re-
turned to their hunting pIdns.
|
The succeeding couple of days spent by
Forester at Ravenscleugh were anything
but agreeable.
data fO g., tato
tete interview with Madeleine. and she
was disposed to avert II by all and any
means. She noticed that her brother fire.
ouently asked ST. Maur. who bored him
very much, to accompany him In his rides
round the farm and outlying property and
not unwisely came to the conclusion that
he wished TO give Forester an oppor-
tunity such as he desired. After strug-
gle with herself she came to the con-
clusion that her best plan would be to
give Forester the opportunity he evil
IDENTIFY sought, and let him understand
there was no hope for him.
It was an immense effort for Madeleine
to act on this conviction: to give any one
pain was most trying to her. and her de-
cided want of sympathy for Forester In
no way lessened her reluctance to distress
him.
"Are you going to ride. Miss Erle?" he
asked. after the early dinner, the day or
two before they were to start for their
tryst with North.
mot today! Dolly is going out with
her father, and your
"I am going to gather some flowers to
decorate the house. That IS my way Of
honoring the Sabbath"
"And an excellent way. too. Can I car
ry the basket?'
THANK you. yes"
Madeleine kept a brave front but she
would gratefully have mounted Hazel
and galloped out of reach. Forester
waiting for her while she went in search
of basket and her shady hat. lit a cigar
to soOthe his nerves and congratulated
himself.
No doubt she, too. saw that North was
not marrying man. and like a sensible
girl, had written him off to profit and
loss. She felt that her brothers house
was not exactly a home for her and
would gladly secure one of her own, but
besides these prudential motives why
should she not listen to his wooing?
Though on the whole rather Indifferent to
women Forester had never found them
hard-hearted to him when he did trouble
about them. Doubts respecting his own
! powers in any direction had rarely chilled
his energies and he had persuaded him
self that gracious acceptance awaited