Newspaper Page Text
10
A MISSING HERO....
By MRS. ALEXANDER. AUTHOR OF
"A CROOKED PATH.” "FORGING THE FETTERS,”’.Etc._,_Etc.
(Copyright. by Annie French Hec
tor. Ail rights reserved.)
CHAPTER XIX.
Meantime th* Ravenscleugh family
were in a state of ferment.
The same post which brought North
and Forrester the letters mentioned In
•be last chapter brought others to Erie
•nd Madeleine which changed the face
•f affairs considerably.
To Erie came a thick one with a deep
black border announcing the death of
General Blair. His widow wrote in sin
cere sorrow.
"When I married him." she said. "It
was I confess chiefly from motives of
prudence, and at first he often rubbed
m»» the wrong way. 1 ought to put it we
rubbed each other the wrong way, but
as I grew to know him better I learned
to like and respect him for h!s common
sense and impartiality. So appreciating
and understanding him better, I could
manage him more successfully. He bore
much suffering bravely and patiently,
and my best consolation is to think it
was a comfort to him at any rate for
the greater part of our married life. I
am feeling very wn tched and lonely,
but of course this will pnss. at least I
earnestly hone it will.” After some de
tails of her husband’s last moments, she
farwcvi-ded: ”1 believe, my «1« ar John,
you know it was always my wish to
adopt Madeleine, first becau. e 1 loved
the ch!l«l —’he would be a daughter to
me; secondly, be-n use she is a burden
to vou. a bun. n you >!i I not .ike. though
•
you together for many years, but I
fanev y«u cannot sympathise much, be-
* lug so di-dmilar by nature. Now that I
am alone. I am very anxious for Made
leine’s companionship, and I think I can
make h. r happy and comfortable.
Thinks to the general’s prudence and
g. management. lam (With the help
of my pension!, fairly w. II off and ho|w
t.. make savings, so as not to leave my
a<lopied daughter pennih-ss. Will you
then for.- send h-r to me ..s MKHI as pos
sible? Some friends of mine-f’..'.onel
and Mr- Sinclair—have been quarter.-*!
at Colesburg and will be coming home
al*«>ut the .nd of July. They will. I know,
be pleas.-! to take charge of Madeleine
If you will take h. rto th- m. I will
* write to Mrs Sinclair by this post—you
will find a check inclosed, etc., etc Why
d» you not send Holly, too? I should
h. Ip you to place her at a g.xs! school
•nd take care of her. Shall you send
Jim to school in «’.ipe Town? As he is to
b>- a south African it might be as well.
Giv. th»- irrhw d to Madeleine and toll
h» r to cofw* *non, soon.”
To her sister Mrs. Blair wrote with
more emotion, and tears of gratitude
sprang to M id- leine’s eyes as she read
her affectionate invitation.
"I suppose you will accept. Made
leine?” said John Erie when he watch d
her reading h- r |e;ter in silence until she
dr--pt--i the liat.d which held it in her
lap.
"Yes. of course, ft Is my duty to go
and I shall le- very happy with dear
Kitty, but oh’ it is hard to part with
the children. Will you let Dolly come
with me. John’ It would be delightful
for m--. and good for her”’
Erie di-l not answer fmm- liately. and
th- ■ he ■ iM. not very patiently:
"Yon are * good girl. Madeleine, your
head may be wrong, s •mefimes. and full
*
Madeleine’s Improv. 1 prospects threw
<
»al qualities, mor-ver the pr «<pect of
?.-«!nr h»r opened her brother’s eyes to
her value as a companion ami teacher.
"Bu’ no.” resumed Erie aft. r a pause. “I
cannot I-1 mv little Dolly go vet awhile.
A girl’s education is not of so much im
portance! Mr*. Sutton will teach her to
he useful, which !s th* great obj.’ot of .*.
w oman's life out here—no! M id.-|« ine. I
cannot part with dolly yet. Tut we must
ns-ertaln what these friends of Kitty’s
are g ir.g to do—l mean what time they
"They will write, r.o doul t. Now I mils*
g>> away and think. John! for I feel rpiito
diary, and unable to r- gulate my thoughts.
Do n-»t tell the children today. If th-v
ar-- sorry, and I think they will be. I shall
n->- know how to tear myself away."
"That is m.-re sentimentality." he re
turn, d hastily. "Such an offer is not to
b- had .-very day. and it means a pro
vision for life. 1 could not allow you to
h< irate f»r a mom-nt. go and write to
K.:ty at once and fix the matter—we’ll
say nothing to I*ol| and Jim at present!”
Such was the condition of things when
.
disgust he had been obl!g«-d to spend two
•ighta ->n th-- rami between the "happy
hunting gr aind” where In- had left
N -r.h. an-l th-- abode of 111 * lady I -ve.
lie muld not account for the feverish
eagerness to pref: «-n. and the overwhelm
ing fs-rio- of fatigue which al’« rna’-’ly
tired him to « x- r:.-.-t and -I prraaed h!-n
to feeblenesuu
During th- se three weary days of travel
n-> news of any k.n-l r»e<-lt--i him from
Ms phasant genial comrade, and imagi
nation torment. I him wth an - ver chang
ing wwssion of pictures—N-rth stn;-l
fie-l. I--fore h-- was well awake—North
struggling with s- mi-consciousness of
danger t-revented from following th- in
stinct of self-pr -serration by the inabil
ity .to move, the dilli-ulty of breathing
furth- r -leadening his faculties.
\v r. ■ • awaited h:m (Forrester) in th*
future* should he hear at Ravenscleugh
that his hated rival had been swept from
his path bv an untoward aos-l -t-t? an-l
that the future lay tv-fore him steep*.)
In the sunshine of sttect-ss—glowing with
the splendor of wv-lth. luxury, distinc
tion?" How was it that h. f-1- so irrita
ble. so infernally rest;. « and. depressed?
He was surely n«-‘ going to be a weak.
I enit nt idiot at this time of day?
In this un -•m-ortab!-- nioxl h- r- ached
Ravenscleugh. where he learned that
Nuirj.iLi had air- ady start.-d on h!s
return j—urr» y to hia master —that i-aas
and tlial r.o one was in the house but
vroti Sutton.
Forrester was by n-> means disposed
to endure h- r company. but a desperato
n- --1 for a nip of brandy drove him In
doors, where he found the active housc
k»»-|»-r in the kitchen inspecting the
cleaning of some copper saucepans which
had been n gleet d _____
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"Bless us and save us. Mr. Forrester!
What has happened tb ye? You look as
bad as if you had a touch of malaria, or
had seen the devil!” she exclaimed, with
a scared expression, as her eyes fell on
him.
"You must have ads-op of brandy;
come along to the dining room.”
"I don't feel quite right, Mrs. Sutton,
and was going to ask you for a restora
tive.”
"The sooner you swallow It the better,
and there's nothing like brandy,” and
: <i
41 / ‘ 7 Matt ? '
CITI
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v// fO
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iF' - • - v 7
. * A 7 *•*
Ycu Must Have ft Drop of Brandy. Conte A.lonp to the Dining Room.
she led the way to an old curiously
carv.d oak cuplioard. where she kept
her most highly prized treasures.
"Sit down." she said. Forrester obey
ed. while shte selected a huge wrought
iron key from her bunch, unlocked the
rec* ptaclc and poured out a very large
"drop" of her favorite restorative. “There
now! drink It slow, it will bring back
th. life to your heart.”
"It certainly does,” he said, after swal
lowing the "drop."
"And where have you been?”
I cannot tell you the name of the
place, but It was a long day's ride be
yond the I.akahari kraals. However, we
have btigged two or three lions.”
"Haven't we heard of all that! Mr. St.
Maur gave us a full, true and particular
account of how he saved Mr. North s
llf«—to say nothing of--”
IF re the sound of approaching foot
steps cniqjht her ear and she paused;
then the door/waa flung open. Dolly and
Jim rush d in, followed by Madeleine.
"Oh! Mr. Forrester, we saw your horse
being led to the stables. How tired it
look'd!" cried Jim.
"Jim said it was not yours, but I knew
it was!” exclaim«sl I tolly. "Won't Mr.
St. Maur be glad you have come. He has
Inn quite cross because you stayed
away so long."
"Yes! he Is eager to begin your return
Journ y." added Madeleine. “I hope you
escaped safe and sound from your en
counters with the lords of the forest.
Mr St. Maur gave us startling accounts
of your adventures.” She stopped and
looked wistfully around as if seeking
for some one or sorviMing.
"She misses North!” thought Forrester,
bitterly.
"Oh. whore Is Bui”—asked Dolly. "Why
haven’t you brought him back?'
Forrester pleased to fee] himself equal
to the occasion mentally blessed the “nip"
of brandy. -
"oil. your friend the ’Elephant Smash
er’ nearly smashed himself." and he pro
ceeded to describe how North f< il on ''
the tangled roots of a hush and sprain-d
Ids ankle severely. "I should not have
left him save at his own request, for he
knew the reason of my great anxiety to
catch the steam* r for Southampton on
the 4th at <’apetown. My mother is very
ill. and anxious 1 should be with her.
“You must. Indeed, bo anxious to get
away.” said Madeleine kindly
“Yes. it’s very trying, and the difficulty
of getting over the ground in this coun
try Is so great. 1 have ridden hard today
hoping to persuade St. Maur (If we can
arrange matters) to start t* morrow, so
if you w .I! excuse me. I'll go to my room
till supp'-r time," returned Forrest, r. feel
ing more and more com;»osed as he han
dled the difficult task of accounting f>r
things ami saw that they were fitting in
as ho intended they should,
"Maybe its fretting about his mother
that makes him look as if he had se< n a
ghost." said Mrs. Sutton, as the door
closed behind him. "He does look bad.
but 1 wouldn’t have thought It of him.
"You are terribly prejudiced against Mr.
Forrester, Grannie? I believe he is very
fond of his mother, and I dare say eno
thinks him an angel."
"Mothers are great fools,” remarked
Mrs Sutton.
"Fortunately for their rnildren. Isn't
is fortunate that Numjala went off yester
day? Mr. North will want his help
very much."
“Faith the poor dear gentleman has
bad no luck at all lately!" ejaculated Mr-.
. Sutton. “I wish we had him down here
f.-r its little comfort he had In a but
like that which Mr. Forrester describes.
I The men are qim creatures. The son
1 of a duke will go hunting about In the
wilds, sleeping under rocks and trees,
and hob-nobbing with savages of al! sorts,
while at home he’d bo crying out thun
der and turf if there was a wrinkle In his
••That is rather to their credit.' Gran
nle.” .-aid adeleine. and she also went
away to her room. for she was always
fflad of a chance to sit al<»n* and think
of the great change awaiting her.
This sprained ankle of North’s was pe
culiarly unfortunate. Suppose it d< tam
ed him till she had left Ravensclcugh?
I Perhaps she might never ftee him again.
True, he said he was going to England.
I tut a thousand and one things might
| occur to prevent him. and then wh< re
■ would be the jov she had anticipated
from a future passed with her bright,
kind sister? Never to see North again!
Never to hear his d«s-p, melodious voice,
i She shuddered at the thought of such
desolation, while she flushed with shame
for having thus given her heart and soul
to one who had never asked for either.
What a cruel misfortune ft was to be
weak and loving! Why was it she could
not resist the charm which North pos
sessed? Yet he certainly liked her—
liked her as a lonely little girl, who evok
ed his compassion when a child and now
Interested him because of their having
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1900.
drifted together In so peculiar and unex
pected a fashion.
"Well, he shall never guess from my
manner how sillv I have been,” reflected
Madeleine, exaggerating her own culpa
bility in the matter of self betrayal like
msny a warm-hearted, high-spirited girl
before her. who. i*i the effort to mask
her real feelings assumes indifference so
successfully that the admirer who was
warning Into a lover is repelled and two
people lose th - - rare chance of liappin-ss.
It Is a dlfllcult question how to act and
seem at such a crisis to be self-rcspcct
l»ig and yet not too cold.
St. Maur proved rather unmanageable
as to the question of starting on their
homeward journey.
"To st out tomorrow was ridiculous,
by Jove! and downright uncivil to their
good host. Th' y might as well stay and
see Miss Erie off; In fact, ride as far as
Kirktoun with her, where Mactier and the
wagons were waiting for them and where
their ways parted.”
"Don't mind me," sajd Erie, who was
present al the dispute. "I do not know
when we may set out. 1 have not heard
from Colonel Sinclair yet. and until I
know their plans I can make none. Then
I don't care to leave Mrs. Sutton and
the children alone with only native ser
vants. I'd like to persuade either North
or Dr. Elliott to take charge of the place
tn mv absence."
Forrester, however, being the stronger
of the two. was able to effect a compro
mise. and Hi ■ morning of the second day
after his return to Ravcnscleugh he man
aged to carry off St. Maur. Erie rode
w th them as far as Kirktoun, hoping to
gat In r some news of the doctor there and
also to find letters.
Forrester had grown exceedingly anx
iom for news. If Numjala had found his
master dead, he would most certainly
have returned to tell the baas, his mas
ti r's friend. It lie still lived but was hurt
or dying from the Injuries he had re
ceived in tile tire, Numjala would not
leave him In cither ease. Forrester was
anxious to be away on his journey before
there was anything decided known re
speciing .North, and callous though ne
was. he shrank from the idea of meet
ing him face to face. Besides these con
siderations he was eager to reach l.oll
don at*! lay the first stones of an editice
he was resolved to construct, videlicit a
mlnnie for disproving .North's identity
should lie leaupear an i < ndi avor to m ike
go >d ills claim to 1>" Marmaduke Usle’s
in ir. 11» < ven lio n d to p< rsuade Ixidy
Itamborough to espouse his cause, know
ing the lengths that lady would go to
aemeve success in anything she under
took.
"Well, Miss Erie, 1 must stay goodby
and 1 tn awfully sorry awfully sorry, by
Jove! to say it, though you have been
cruel an<l cold, positively refrigerating!”
• xelaiined St. Maur in the face of the
assembled family when the moment of
parting came. "Hut you see 1 am a
sort of fellow that never despairs. I’ll
see you in lamdon liefore long. You’ll
write and kt me know where you’re
to be found, eh? Mv address is the Con
servative Club! Hut when 1 got home
I'll go in lot the Traveler's now you
won’t forget? Shall i write it down for
you'.’ ’
“Oh. no, thank you! The Conservative'
Club is very easy to remember.”
"Awfully sorry not to see North again.
Tell him 1 said so."
"I will if 1 see him, which I may
not.”
’’Very unkind of you not to ride to
Kirktoun with us.”
"1 should only 1 am too busy making
’auld clues look amaist as wed’s the
new!’ "
"Clothe;-! Oh. by Jove! What an Ely
sium of . hopping you'll find yourself in.
once you reach London! Goodby. It will
seem an awfully long time till 1 see
you!”
"Time’s up.” said Erie Impatiently,
loudly. St. Mam- wrung Madeleine's
hand ami blew his nose in a red silk
pocket handkerchief
"We shall meet again,” Forrester al
most whispered. ami there was threat
ening as wdl as admiration in the lin
g< ring glance lie cast upon her.
"1 liope you will have a prosperous
journey. Mr. Forrester, and find your
mother well again.”
They were gone Mr< Sutton sat down
with a sigh that was almost a groan.
"Well. 1 am sorry to see that poor
fellow St. Maur go off in that broken
hearted sort of away. As to Forrester,
1 begin to doubt he is such a black divil
as 1 thought, since 1 saw how troubled
he is about his mother. Faith, there's a
bit of good in every one, but he hates
North and I'd like to know the reason
why.”
"1 think. Grannie, that Is your fancy.
I never saw any sign of it.”
"God Indp you, jewil! Sure you neither
think evil nor see it.” and Mrs Sutton
took tip her needle work, for she was
slaving early ami late to put Made
leine’s wardrobe in order, and making
the most of scant materials, occasionally
Iwdewing them with tears when she
spoke of the wearer's approaching de
parture.
“You'll write to me, mo darlln', won't
you? And I’ll tell you all our news. It's
not much you’ll get from th" master—
sure he must send that erature Dolly to
school somewhere ami he's just cracked
not to send her with you. For what am
1 to teach a young lady,” etc., etc., and
the bouts slipped away in work and
talk, the latter chiefly on Mrs. Sutton's
side, for Midelelne's heart was too full
to say much.
The day was closing In when Erie re
turned. vet it was considerably earlier
than he was expected. He camo in quick
ly ami, looking round, exclaimed. "oh!
Id CUtti WMtnt ML tLS£D ILS. Q 3
Ljj host tough Syrup. Tii-tes Good. Use
Dd In ti'"e S>l<l by <ln>ggl<tii. —CI
IwtffiKtf Mi?
there you are, Madeleine! you’ll nave to
hurry up your preparations! I found a
letter from Colonel Sinclair. He wants
you to join them at Colesberg not later
than the 7th of July, as they are to em
bark at Port Elizabeth, and that's near
ly 200 miles. Sinclair has been on detach
ment duty at Coiesberg, rather conven
ient for me. 1 think we may do the jour
m y in four or live days, with the light
cart and a pair of stout horses, after
Colesberg. there are great facilities for
traveling.” Erie paused after this unusu
ally long speech and drew a letter from
his pocket. Madeleine being somewhat
stunned by the imminence of the parting
before her.
"Colonel Sinclair writes very civilly,
and his wife adds a 'postscript.' ”
The letter was frank and kindly, and
very soothir ■> Madeleine's depressed,
strained ner. ..
"Then we must leave on Monday at
latest!" s' said tremulously.
"Better It Sunday, If the weather
is line," e-j Erie.
“Bless id save us!” ejaculated
Mrs. Hutt that only gives us three
days to finish up everything and pack,
and—"
"Just so. you must pack everything
Unlshed and unfinished, and prepare us
provisions at any rate for the last two
days, we'll pass some farms at tile out
set! I wish 1 knew where Elliott la: 1
want to .see him badly. His people say
he is away in the marshy country north
w< st from Ixikahari. but do not know
when he will return.”
brom this evening there was no time for
thought; everyone was busy, and so far
the excitement of the scramble kept the
children from tears or teasing and Mrs.
Sutton was too hurried to weep. "Time
enough for that when you’re gone.”
Eate on Saturday, to John Erie's great
satisfaction. Dr. Elliott rode up and was
very cordially welcomed.
"Did you hear that 1 particularly want
ed to see you'.’” ask, d Eric, when greet
ings had been exchanged.
"No, I have heard nothing!”
"Where have you come from, then?”
"l-’rom North, on whom 1 stumbled
partly by accident, fortunately for him!
1 had been very successful in finding
specimens, rather remarkable specimens,
when a native 1 met on the edge of the
big Karo (dry desert) told me that baas
was hunting Hons not far off to tho
south, so I rode on to try anil meet him,
and after nightfall the next day reached
that stretch of mil and forest jdst below
the swampy district, where you often find
lions. Suddenly 1 noticed the glare of a
big tire against the sky, and pushing on,
1 came to an open space where a big hut,
all grass ami leaves and branches, such
as file Eakahari men make so quickly, all
in a blaze, so 1 thought it just possible
that North might be within stupifled with
the sle-p of a fatigue, so 1 dashed in and
found th- 1 poor fellow in the very nick of
time. My boy and I between us dragged
him out. Jiaif an hour, nay, quarter oi an
hour later, would have been too late, as
It is his left hand and arm are badly
burnt."
J). tn Elliott recapitulated North's ac
count -if how the tire had occurred and
what led up to it, outside at a little dis
tance two empty calabashes lay or) the
ground, evidently dropped by the native
after-rider wli > had gone in search of
w..ter and fkd in terror from the burning
hut.
"1 have li’ft Numjala and my Malay
with North. They are traveling slowly
down and 1 have ridden ahead to give
you notice."
Madeleine could not speak! What cu
rious crisis of fate impended over North.
Twice lie had nairowly escafied death,
w. tilt! a third br< ak the spell which had
hitherto preserved him? Whatever might
be hidden behind tile curtain of the fu
ture she must leave without seeing him,
without meeting those caressing eyes of
his which affected her as no other eyes
ever had; should she ever meet hint
again?
M;:- h talk between Erie and the doctor
er.sued, th-' latter agreed to remain in
< 1. rrge of the nous'- and household till the
Master returned, tho' Elliott did not think
n .liter.i looked so threatening as his h ist
did. In fact it was some years later
than the date of this story before the
real troubles be?an.
Next morning - ar ly the cart, provision
ed ami provided with a thick canvass trit,
was broad to the door, a spare horse was
ti- <1 to the end and Ghamba, one of the
bm si keepers, attired and armed for ac
tive service to ae ■ impany. next appeared,
and then Madeleine accompanied by a
ti arful procession, Mrs. Sutton, Dolly, an
old Kaflir woman who cleaned the sayce
pans, and two girls who assisted in the
liotise anil wore somewhat grimy petti
<•>;:!* hiving 'til ■ said) embraeid t In-
< hrist'an religion; th' y w -re deeply mov
ed and howled aloud. The mastiff seem
ed to know he was losing a friend and
stuck close to Madeleine with an ex
pressive dr top in his tail. She was quite
past speech, the Kaillr girls kissed her
hatul and Mrs. Sutton and Dolly embrac
ed Iter with abundant tears—Jim permlt
ti r her to kiss him and actually kissed
her back am! she even put her arms
round Dr. Elliott's neck. Then she
n minted the cart, looked round at tho
well-known charming scene visible from
the entrance and kissed her hand re
p- atedlv to the group on the st -ps. John
Erie took the reins ami crack'd his for
midable whip, and Madeleine was swept
away from the homo where if sim had
known some sorrow she had also tast-'d
si me mon mtn of exquisite pleasure.
Which she felt she sh mid never age again.
Mts. Sutton sut down on tho doorstep
ami bin ving her face In her handkerchief
solibed aloud, fmi -ilm. hitherto stoical,
bloke down and rolling his pocket hand
k-rchlef into a hard ball thrust it into
each me alternately, his shoulders heav
ing. Mrs. Sutton suddenly dropped hers,
am! gazing sternly at tho little culprit,
v Imm she susi ccte l of mocking her, said
in dignified rebuke, “.vou nasty, hard*
hearted, mt eking little unbelieving heath
en. I 11 b.'ivo ye to know."
' Grannie'” whispered Dolly, "he is cry
ing really.”
"Eh! What? Well he Is so! Come to
mo arrums mo poor darlin! Shuro I'm
a least to mistake ve. We're all desolate
afther th- Io; s of her. the sweet kind
ature! It'll be long before we see her
Dont' mind me. Doctor, dear!
. c. mo ami I'll nutktt you a fresh
hot cup of tea.. Mir sorrow is bitter cold
nt anv si cun of th- year. Ay my bles
sin' go with you wherever you are, Mad
eleine. my heart!"
CHAPTER XX.
Eondon, dim. multitudinous, laborious,
In. xh al tilde Eondoti, who that has dwelt
Within Its bounds ami imbibed its strong
j. spirit does not return to It with profound
I interest, even if it has not won affection.
I Madeleine, though her experience was
I limited to the prison-like precincts of a
suburban school, with Us largo but wall
i ed In garden, an-l a monotonous existence,
varied by occasional visits to panoramas
ami entertainments at tho polytechnic of
the improving order, always thought of
tile mighty metropolis as tho most won
derful place in the world. A drive through
its crowded streets in the "humble 'bus”
excited her Imagination and suggested
endless ideas to her active brain, for
she was that very uncommon typo of
girl, that enjoys .thinking, as much as the
more ordinary loves talking.
Then the prosi>eet of seeing her sister
once more, the sister she loved with such
hearty, grateful affection, made her heart
beat almost painfully as the train in
which she accomplished the last portion
of her long and sometimes trying journey
approached Waterloo station. She would
l.e sorry, too, to say goodby to her kind
escort. Colonel and Mrs. Sinclair, with
whom’ she had become friendly and inti
mate. Os those left behind, she had
heard little or nothing, a brief letter
from her brother awaited her at Port
Elizabeth, which told her that all was
well at Ravenscleugh. and that North
had hail a narrow escape of being burned
In his hut. He was all right again,
how. ver. and was staying with them at
present. He desired his kind regards to
Madeleine, ami hoped to see her in Eon
don before long.
This had cheered Madeleine for awhile,
but the mists of uncertainty had soon
withered over her again, and she told
herself she must not hope, for everything
cunneeted with North was vague and
mysjerlous.
Her reflections were interrupted by
Colonel Sinclair, who began to strap up
bundles and lift bags from the nettings
overhead, a note of preparation which did
not t aint Madeleine's nerves; a few min
utes more, the pace slackened and they
were gliding alongside tile platform.
"There she is!” exclaimed Colonel Sin
clair W'lio l. iii thrust ills head out of the
window. "There’s your sister, my dear!”
and Madeleine saw a lady in deep mourn
ing. who was in the act of throwing back
her veil to scan the carriages.
"Oh, yes; it is Kitty! How ill she
looks T' cried Madeleine, and the next
minute they stopped, the door was open-
ed, and Madeleine found herself In Mrs.
Blair’s kindly embrace.
"So delighted to have vou once mere,
my sweet Sissy! Your train is quite ten
minutes behind time. You have more
color than you used, and the sea air
has tann-’d you! Dear .Mrs. Sinclair, so
glad to see you! A thousand thanks for
bringing this child to me safe and sound.
Ah! Colonel, how goes it!*’ Brief greet
ings exchanged, the colonel burned off to
collect their luggage, while Mrs. Blair,
having drawn Madeleine's arm within her
own and held it close to her side, asked
after mutual acquaintances and answered
friendly inquiries until Colonel Sinclair,
with the success and celerity o£ au old
campaigner, gathered the baggage, called
cabs and did the needful in ail directions.
Then “au revoirs" were exchanged, tho
Sinclairs drove off to their hotel, and
Madeleine and her sister found them
selves descending the steep slope to—
"I somehow did not expect to ilnd you
so completely grown up, dear,” said Mrs.
Blair. "You were quite babyish for your
years when I was last at home—and that
reminds me—where do you think 1 have
taken ro>ms. for I ant obliged to stay
in town some time longer, as there is so
much to be done? At the old place
where you stayed with me before I mar
ried the dear general—where poor Geof
frey Usle gave you that pretty necklet
the day lie disappeared, and no one has
ever heard a word of him since!”
“How strange it will be to see the old
place again!” said Madeleine, who felt in
some unreasonable way that go-ng there
was a good omen.
“And tell me how is John? Is he really
succeeding with -the farm? You know
Low little he ever tells in a letter. 1
suppose it is a ghastly place to live in, and
I am airaid John is not very sympathetic
to you. Madeleine!”
“Well, no; but he could not help that!
Dolly and Jim uro dear children. L do
wish John would have let Dolly come witi)
me. It Is time site began to learn more
than 1 can teach.”
By such fragmentary talk the long drive
to Westbourne Park, was shortened.
Then, who does not know the mixture
of pain and pleasure in such a meeting,
when one of the friends has just seen
the grave close over the companion whose
needs occupied her whole life, and whose
loss -est it bare and empty, the confusion
of question and answer, and the quiver of
light from the dawning possibilities of the
future, creeping over the. edge of present
depression? Madeleine felt really for the
first time in her life the delightful sense
of being at home, of being of real impor
tance to her sister, who looked worn and
a good deal oiler than when last they
parted. She had grown thinner, too, and
the brightness had faded from her red
gold hair: still the face was pleasant to
look upon, and a touch of sadness about
tho mouth and eyes mado It more Inter
esting.
The train from Southampton arrived in
time to allow tho travelers a necessary
change of dusty garments before dinner,
which was most refreshing on a sultry
evening nt the end of August. Madelein-',
as she took her seat opposite his sister,
could not help contrasting the neatly
spread table, the flowers, the extreme
cleanliness and prettiness of everything
“With the solidity ami largeness of all the
appliances at Ravenscleugh, yet how lov
ingly site remembered the rugged ampli
tude of that homely dining room, with
its grand outlook over the veldt to the
snow-capped mountain range beyond!
Time flew swiftly by, for the sisters
had much to tell each other. But deeply
enjoying th' ir sympathetic talk and free
ly pouring out her heart to her recovered
friend, Madeleine kept' the curtain of
silence over one experience, the most
important of all. She had promised
North never to betray her knowledge of
his identity, and she would be faithful
whether they ever met again or not.
At last Mrs. Blair exclaimed, as a
neighboring church clock struck, “Oh.
Madeleine! can that be 12 o'clock? XVe
must to bed, child. You must be very
tired.”
"Indeed, I am not; I could talk on for
ever."
“So could I. However, we shall have
many a day tb exercise our tongues to
gether. What a comfort to have you
with me. my little Sissy. But I must drop
that childish name; what a mistake on
the part of nature to condemn me to
childishness. How I should have de
lighted in boys and girls of my very
own; but I am thankful to have so good
a substitute as yourself, only you’ll mar
ry some horrid man and leave me. Now
go away to your bed and sleep sound.
We have a severe day’s shopping before
us tomorrow. I promised to meet Mrs.
Sinclair at Shoolbred's at 11 She is
in a great’ hurry to rig herself out. as
they are going to stay with some grand
relations in Scotland—there we must get
your mourning, so—-to bed, to bed, to
bed!”
The last of August Is not a good time
for shopping. The heads of firms are
taking their holidays, so are their prin
cipal assistants. The summer stock is
marly sold out and the new autumn
goods have not come in; moreover, what
remains of the forrmr supply is dusty
and creased from irtuch turning over.
Nevertheless activity and resolution en
abled Mrs. Biair and her friend to ac
complish their herculean undertaking,
and in a surprisingly short time Mrs.
Sinclair was equipped for moor and
I mountain.
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"You must give me your last day In
town.” said Mrs. Blair to the cornel. I
shall not see you again lor some time.
You'll be ready and packet! up on lues
dayJfliS: with me? I shall not keep you
late and you can get' off by the 9.30 for
Edinburgh next morning. <, inc Hir
"Delighted, I'm sure! Mrs. Sinclair
p^nU ly to W ta>k S Ab f o° U r t
tU ’T enjoy this happy hunt
Ing ground of shops and fashions after
your long fast « u S h . i
Colonel Sinclair to Madeleine. Still 1
fancy you have a soft spot in your heart
for Ravenscleugh.’ h ,
”1 should bi very ungrateful if I had
11 "Then you had a good deal of excite
ment In the way of visitors, ad«le< 7-
Slnelair. "I assure vou all the ladles in
Durbin were enchanted with the. Hon.
Ton St. Maur and his distinguL bed sec
retary. and th y were your guests at
Ravenscleugh for some time, were the)
ni "They camo to and fro a good deal and
made themselves very pleasant. ’ . ..
"By the way.” resumed the colonel
"vou’ met that remarkable man they call
Bui N' Zau who is such a mighty hunter.
He is a great friend of your brothers,
I’ve been told."
“Yes. he is often there.
"I always wish d to meet him. but he
avoids the towns and oniy forgathers
with men of his own tastes and pursu ts.
What is ho like? semi-savage, I sup
’’ "Oh. no! TTe is just like any other Eng
lish gentleman-very quiet and Kfntle.
1 “What an extraordinary name Mho Is
this mysterious personage? asked Mrs.
name was given him by the na
tives. He has killed so many elephants
they call him ’The Elephant
which Is the translation of **’’ l
, but who or what he is nobody * no '\ '
! The governor of Natal told me there was
; a fellow In tho Rifles out th. r e some six
or seven vears ago who did know all
I about him. They hunted together for
■ somn time, bvt no one could e'er p t •
word from Verner as to the
1 Smasher's story. They say the natites at
1 most worshiped him."
”1 dar say there is many a~r
tale lost to sight au.l the >r^ lr * M n
that strange unexplored land, said Mra.
Blair “Were T younger I should Hko to
go Out there. Now I cling to comforts and
easf--I always feel so tired.
“That fe ling will leave, you., now jeu
hale time for a thorough rest.
Then tho conversation turned on the
prospects of the colony, and the absurd
ideas some men held that it warn rich in
mineral tn asur s ami } h at the Boers
might some day prove e foes
They parted in high g-iod humor wi.h
themselves and each other, having spok n
vaguelv of meeting somewh re in Italy
and wintering together somewhere on the
1 After a few more days of dust and
suffocating sultriness Madeleines gar
ments were completed and for l ’j% r . f
time ir. her life she knew the delight of
being v.ell. though by no means' extrava
gantly fln ssed. Mrs. Blair smiled kind
ly though a little sadly at her giil.sh
pleasure. ,
••This hug* place is growing quitein
tolerably airless and baking,’’ said Mrs.
Blair one afternoon when she return* <1
fn m one of her many visits to her > aw "
vi r "Mr Lowe says nothing more can
be done till the law people begin to
gather for Michaelmas term. Ireally th.nK
we must get a wav for a month or six
weeks at tho seaside. 1 pine for a breath
of the soft salt sea air!”
"You look dreadfullv white." responded
j Madeleine. “I t iink a change would do
I you a great deal of good.” .
' “There is a primitive little place on the
Northumbrian coast, between I'lyth and
Alnwick, which would tone us both up.
General Blair was verv fond of It. but we
were there only for a short time. There
Is a small river there running into the
sea- the tide makes quite, a wide, stream
of ft when it is high. It is called Witham
rrv. I'll write and inquire whether
■ we can have room at the inn there. Ito
-1 man remains ami splendid thr«‘atemng
' rocks give it a picturesque aspect, yye
! will take down a lot of books and make
i a lot of plans. Do you like the idea,
' Madeleine?"
"Yes immensely. I have seen so little
of English coast scenery.”
"I shall write as soon as I have fin
ished my coffee and talk to Stenner about
it Stenner is much more crotchety than
he used to be. His wife is a great loss
to him. She had a good deal more sense.
Do vou renumber her. Madeleine?"
1 "Hardly. She used to give me sweeties,
I think, which ought to have secured a
Dlacn on mv memory.”
Mrs. Blair did not let the grass grow
under her feet and preliminaries were
soon settled Four days later Mrs. Blair
and her adopted daughter were flying
north to an obscure little station, whence
a ramshackle old wagonette and pair of
cart horses conveyed them up and down
precipitous hills to Witham Ferry, which
nestled under the cliffs some six or seven
miles further from civilization.
Facing tile east, the wild winds sweep
ing m ross the North sea, permitted small
growth of foliage or the natural decora
tions of ferns and grass or wild flowers.
The beauty of the grand, picturesque
cliffs was of th« sternest—nevertheless,
they were beautiful—changing from hour
to hour In the varying light right and
I left of the stream which had worn its
; wav down to sea level, the rocks rose
I straight up out of the water, which sorne
-1 times lashed them with fury and some
times rippled along their dark length with
caressing playfulness, kissing their rugged
faces with white, foamy lips.
The inn, a quaint rambling old place
much added to in the course of its exist
ence, was perched among the rocks, and
accessible by a steep patli with occasional
steps to aid the pedestrian; a sort of
■ garden pleasure ground surrounded tho
> inn, wherein the more sheltered nooks,
' roses and fuchsias and heliotropes re
-1 warded the careful gardener with loveli
; ness and perfume.
i "The Anchor.” as the old hostelry was
I called, did a fairly good business, yachts
frequently put into the little hay and
their crews and passengers found a
welcome and excellent plain fare at the
wdl-known inn.
The sitting room occupied by Mrs.
Blair and Madeleine looked south The
trend of the coast *at this Mae was
eastward, so the huge beetling
rosy in the morning light, blue and_K°'l
cabled the past or anticipated the fu
tUTen days had past away pleasantly,
varied bv boating or making excursions
In a little pony ca 7 iage t £! lo ."! l " l s a “ J
X' q ? r t£“i!i'S»:'«S 85
them a number of letters to their general
6 'Yhave one from John, and ‘bls. thi«
must be from Mrs. Sutton. Oh! she wlh
tell me all the Ravenscleugh news,
have told you About her, Kitty.
"Sillv woman”’ said Mrs. Blair
an affectionate look at her young sister,
but Madeleine was absorbed in her let
ter
Mrs. Blair watched her for a minute
and then gave her attention to her own
correspondence. ••
"Mrs. Sutton writes a capital tetter,
said Madeleine. laying it on her wot a
basket. "Though an uneducated woman,
she is shrewd, sensible and quite tn earn
est about things. She says they all missed
me dreadfully, even Jimmie, and I never
thought Jim cared for me! Lake most
boys, he does not show bis feelings. I
dare say even John has forgiven me for
existing, now you have taken me off h »
hands. That is a horrid speech, isn't it,
Kitty? for, after all. I owe everything to
John, and it was only natural to dis-ike
a burden you did not bring on yourself,
and he was always reudy to give ad I
want, only he never understood me.”
"He lid not. certainly, ai d 1 can see
he made you unhappy! Det's turn over
the page ami say no more about it’”
"Bv all means!” replied Madeleine. "It
seems," sne resumed, taking up her letter
again, "mat Mr. North was badly burned
when his hut took li?e. and could not
travel for a week or two. but he had gene
xlitn she wrote.”
"Mr. North? Oh. that is your elephant
smashing friend! What is he like, Made
leine!*’
Madeleine thought for a moment and
said: "He is tall and very brown, and
wears a long mustache, lighter than his
hair, which is quite dark. He has kind,
honest eyes, a little sad an<L nothing
very remarkable about him except that
in spite of his rough hunting clothes, he
looks like a gentleman.”
"I fancy you liked him better than the
other men."
"Yes I did: he was more companionable,
more
Mrs. Blair only said "ah” and kept si
lent for a few minutes.
“He told Miss Sutton to say that he was
greatly vexed not to see me,” continued
Madeleine. "But that he had not for
gotten mv lion's claws.”
"Dion's claws! What were they for?"
“To make a brooch.”
"Yes, I have seen a brooch of tigers
claws. Come, Madeleine, let us go out
for a ramble. I am afraid from this
letter that I shall not be able to stay
here much longer! Dock' There is that
beautiful yacht we saw this morning,
she m tacking, she is going round I
What a lovely, graceful creature! She
walks the water like a thing of life. I
wonder who she belongs to? We must
U Madeleine turned a large telescope with
which the window was furnished, upon
the little vessel.
"There is a lady on board: two ladies.
I think." said Madeleine, after gazing for
a minute. "Oh, she is gone! for the
yacht had caught the light breeze and
glided away narth, where Madeleln. s
field of vision was obtruded by a head
la“Come along, dear! The air Is quite de
liciously fresh. Det’S walk to that bar
row which they say was an ancient I>r.,-
Ish burial place. The view will be very
n *Anfour’s delightful stroll brought them
to the mound. Mrs. Blair was full of
the memories of her first visit to the
neighborhood, and talked a good deai. yet
she noticed that her sister was very- silent
and preoccupied. Arrived at the barrow
which covered tho grass wherein many
big iK>wlder-llke stones !ay scattered, they
sat down for awhile, gazing oiit on de
w ide -tr’tch of blue sea lying below them
sn-irkiin” and rippling in the sunshine.
’ P A\>ar e a not ?he only people here!” ex
claimed Madeleine, suddenly. I near
V ®!v7«- SO do I what Friday 1s coming
to break in upon our Robinson
S A« U shc”spoke a party of ttedestrtans
camo around from the other '^ a
I.irrow Two ladles, one tad. aortly up
vebt with handsome. large features
which looked al! the larger for the-S™ l "
who Madeleine, sprang for
exc la’mlng: Erie! Can it ba
£,%n»le?" an.l
uneasiness she recognized Forres.erl
(To Be Continued.)
A Medical View.
From Dtfe.
Scene (Butler’s pantryV Aunt Mary dis
covers Reginald, who has been kept from
school by slight Illness, eating mines pie.
Horrified Aunt Mary: Why. Reggie,
what would Dr. Brown say If he could see
you now?
Reginald (complacently): He’d be pleas
ed. Aunt Mary; he likes to have his pa
tients well nourished.
"■ ■ ■ ' • HI
Love’s Long Lease.
From The Philadelphia Bulletin.
"They have been engaged for eight
years, and are still in love.”
"How wise of them not to end It all
by getting married!”