The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-24

effort, taking every obstacle in her stride
neck and neck with him. Fond of hunt
ing as he was, gallantly as the hounds
were running, he could not help diyid
ing his attention. Those were not the
days in which women rode so much OF
so well as at present, and he had never
seen anything like it. Less and less
was his attention bestowed on the
hounds, and more on Cicely, as the
chase sped onward. Their companions
dropped to the rear one by one; he no
ticed it not. AS it appeared, instructive.
ly picking the tirmest ground and most
practicable places, she sailed along as il
by magic, while old Swallow nobly re-
paid the confidence reposed in him.
at length Hinton became conscious
that the pack were disappearing momen-
tarily from view, to emerge dripping
wet on what seemed merely level sur
face. "Good Heavens !" cried he,
there's the brook. You must not at
tempt it. l know ford close at hand. "
And still with lingering eye on his
pack, he reluctantly turned away.
A quiet smile was Cicely's only an
swer, rs she patted Swallows neck, and
then setting him sl1llfully at it cleared
the water at bound. She heard the
beat of Hinton's horses feet as he turn
ed to follow her-heard the thud as he
pitched and the splash and struggle that
followed when the bank gave way and
horse and rider slipped back into the
water, but she never turned her head.
When he once more gained terra tirnl0
Swallow was more than a field ahead,
and still going straight rs his name I'M
piled. The water had shaken off the
few remaining stragglers, and Hinton
struggled on the line of the flying pack
and their fair attendant alone, in hope
less stern chase. At last crashing into
field he found the hounds snarling
over the remains of their fox, and was
just in time to save the head for him
self and the brush to present to Miss
Burnett.
"Really, Mr.. Hinton, fear / have
been most imprudent in deserting my
companions in this fashion, but / could
not resist when the hounds went away Sc
beautifully. Am 1 very far from Eldon
HallP"
"Nearly twelve miles but see my
whips in the distance. When | have
delivered the hounds into their charge,
YOU must allow me TO assume the office
of guide and escort you thither, for the
route is somewhat intricate. Nay, l can
take no denial, and as l am already en-
gagged to dine there this evening, you are
really comforting a favor by saving me a
lonely ride"
What passed during that long twelve
mile journey has never transpired.
Cicely was quiet, nay almost absent dur
ing dinner. Nor was there any confer
ence between the friends that night in
Evelyns boudoir. The latter chlded
her friend gently for running such des-
perate risks the next day, and told her
that Hinton had spoken so highly of her
riding that she really feared she had
come there to steal her sweetheart.
Cicely smiled, and told her Hinton was
more likely to be chagrined because she
had fairly ridden away from him. And
when church was over and dinner dis
cussed next day, she entered into the
Christmas gambols more gayly than any
child present-and their name was le-
gion-and declared when she kissed Ev-
elyn, and departed a few days subse-
quently, that il was the jolliest Christ
mas she had ever spent.
Within a month of that she was a
bride at the altar-Hinton was her bride.
groom-and poor Evelyn, ere another
year came round, was in the church
yard, whittier the old Squire soon fol
lowed her. And Eldon has long since
ceased to hold merry Chrlstmastide.