to the city and commenced his task. He sought for
Elizabeth in every place where there was a possibility of her having
taking refuge, but without avail. He used every means in his power to
make some discovery, but they were ineffectual.

When night came he returned home, only to hear Elsie's mad shrieks and
laughter echoing through the desolate house, to pass the night with
those sounds ringing in his ears, and feel that terrible remorse tugging
at his heart.

The next morning he started again on his errand. He was told in the
village that the man was dead. The story had gone abroad that he was a
daring burglar, and that the officers had surprised him breaking into
Mellen's house. He had found no strength to tell his story, so fear of
open disgrace perished with him.

In the madness of his grief, Mellen had forgotten that Tom Fuller was
his guest. The young man's chamber was in another wing of the building,
and he heard nothing of the wild turmoil that distracted the family. Tom
was not a very early riser, and when he came down in the morning,
sauntering lazily into the breakfast-room, expecting to see Elsie there
in her pretty blue morning-dress and flossy curls, he found the room
empty, no table spread, and no human being to greet him.

"Well, this is strange," said Tom; "but when Bessie is away things will
go to sixes and sevens, I dare be sworn. And Elsie isn't well, poor
darling! Hallo! there goes Mellen, riding like a trooper! What on earth
does all this mean? I am getting hungry, and lonesome, and----"

Here Tom gave a jerk at the bell, and cast himself into an easy chair.

Dolf presented his woe-begone face at the door.

"What's the matter, Dolf? Isn't it breakfast-time? Where is your master
going--and--and--Well, Dolf, can't you tell me why Miss Elsie isn't
down?"

"Miss Elsie, oh, sah, she am sick."

"Sick, Dolf! You don't say that?" cried Tom, starting up, with his face
all in a chill of anxiety.

"Yes, I mean just dat, and nothing else."

"No, no; not very sick, Dolf," cried Tom, trembling through all his
great frame, "only a little nervous, a headache, or something of that
sort."

"She's just ravin'--crazy--ask Vic if you don't believe me. The doctors
come in before daylight; I went after 'em myself. Robbers broke into de
house last night, sah, and frightened our sweet young lady a'most to
death."

"Robbers, Dolf!"

"Yes, sah. A gemman, too, as has been a visitor in dis dentical house.
Ma