cture--it was worse than torture,
worse than madness to him. Oh, blindness and frenzy; why had he not
thought of these dangers so likely to beset her solitary path? Why had
he so recklessly exposed her to them? Vain questions, alas! vain as was
his self-reproach, his anguish and despair!

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE MISSING MARIAN.

In the meantime, how had the morning broken upon Dell-Delight? How upon
Luckenough? and how at Old Field Cottage?

At Dell-Delight the old man had expired just before the sun arose. The
two physicians that had been summoned the night previous, but had been
delayed by the storm, arrived in the morning only to see the patient
die. Many inquiries were made and much conjecture formed as to the cause
of Thurston Willcoxen's improper and unaccountable absence at such a
juncture. But Melchizedek, poor, faithful fellow, having followed his
master's steps, did not appear, and no one else upon the premises could
give any explanation relative to the movements of their young master. He
had left the bedside of his dying relative at nine o'clock the night
before, and he had not since returned--his saddle-horse was gone from
the stable--that was all that could be ascertained. Dr. Brightwell took
his departure, to answer other pressing calls. But Dr. Weismann, seeing
that there was no responsible person in charge, and having elsewhere no
urgent demands upon his time and attention, kindly volunteered to stay
and superintend affairs at Dell-Delight, until the reappearance of the
young master.

* * * * *

At Old Field Cottage, Edith had sat up late the night before waiting for
Marian; but, seeing that she did not return, had taken it for granted
that she had remained all night with Miss Thornton, and so, without the
least uneasiness at her prolonged absence, had retired to rest. And in
the morning she arose with the same impression on her mind, gayly
looking forward to Marian's return with the visitor, and the certain
happy revelation she had promised.

She had breakfast over early, made the room very tidy, dressed Miriam in
her holiday clothes, put on her own Sunday gown, and sat down to wait
for Marian and the visitor. The morning passed slowly, in momentary
expectation of an arrival.

It was near eleven o'clock when she looked up and saw Colonel Thornton's
carriage approaching the cottage.

"There! I said so! I knew Marian had remained with Miss Thornton, and
that