The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-30
HE CLUE
by CAROLYN WELLS


Mrs. Markham, who was both housekeeper and chaperon to her young charge, mourned in secret over the attitude of the betrothed pair.
 "He adores her, I'm sure,'' she said to herself, ssbut he is too courtIy and polished in his manner. I'd rather he would impulsive1y caress her, or involuntariIy call her by some endearing name than to be always so exquisite1y deferential and polite. And Madeleine must love him, or why should she marry him? Yet she is so naughty and formal, she might be a very duchess instead of young American girl. But that's Madeleine all over. I've never seen her exhibit any real emotion over anything. An, Doubtless, they're cooing doves when alone together, but their high-bred notions won't allow any sentiment shown before other people. But I almost wish she were going to marry Tom. He has sentiment and enthu- siasm enough for two, and the reIa- tionship is so distant it's not worth thinking about. Dear old Tom! He's the only one who ever stirs Made leine out of that digni1ed calm of hers.''
 And that was true enough. Made Ieine had inherited the Van Norman traits of dignity and reserve to such an extent that it was difficult for any one to be really close friend
 She had, too, a, strange little air of preoccupation, and even when inter ested in a conversation would appear to look through or beyond her com panion in a way that was discoura g. ing to the average caller.
 So Miss Van Norman was by no means a favorite with. Mapleton young people in a personal sense, but socially she was their leader, and to be on her invitation list was the high est aspiration of the village climb ers.s'
 And now she was about to marry Schuyler Carleton. the event of che wedding was the only thing talked of, thought of 1t, or dreamed of by Mapleton society.
 Madeleine, who always kept in touch with Tom Willard by cores pondence, had written him of her approaching marriage, and he had responded by coming at once to America to attend the ceremony.
 Relieved from the embarrassment of his uncle,s presence, Tom was his joviaI self. and showed forth all the reprehensib1e attractfveness which so often belongs to the scapegrace ma ture. He sometimes qtlarreled with Madeleine over trifIes, then, making up the next minute, he would caress end pet her with the privileged air of relative.
 He was glad to be back among the familiar scenes of Mapleton. and he went about the town renewing old acquaintanees and making new ones, and eharming all by his winning per sopality.
 In less than a week he had more friends in the village than Schuyler Carleton had ever made.
 Carleton, though handsome and ingnished-1ooking, was absolute Iy without personal magnetism or charm, which traits were found in abundance in Tom Willard. The friends of Schuyler Carleton attributed his reserved, almost re- pellent demeanor to shyness, and this was partly true. His acquaintances said it was indifference, and this again, was partly true. Then his enemies, of which he had some, vow ed that his cold, curt manner of speech was merely snobbishness, and this was not true at all.
 His manner toward his fiancee was all that the most exacting could re- quire in the matter of courtesy and | punctiilous politeness. He was mark edly undemonstrative in public. and if this were true of his behavior | when the two were alone, it was probably because Madeleine herself | neither inspired nor desired terms or acts of endearment.
 Toms attitude toward Madeleine angered Carleton extremely, but when he spoke to her on the subject | he was goiIy informed that the mat ter of cousinly affection was outside the Jurisdiction of fancee. | Tom. on his part, was desperately in love with Madeleine, and had been for years. Repeatedly he had begged her to marry him, and she knew in her heart that his plea was prompted by his love for herself and not by any consideration of her for tune.
 And yet, should marry another, all hope of his uncle,s money would be forever lost to Tom Willard.
 But prodigal and spendtF rift that he was. if Tom felt any regret at his vanishing fortunes, he showed no sign of it. Save for sudden and often easily provoked. bursts of temper, he was infectfously gay and merry. and was the life of the house party a1- ready gathered under Madeleine's s roof.
 l ncl,a fact Thai Tom was steyine at