Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-07-05

nearly at an end, and when Virtoria re-
turned home he began visiting at Fair
lands, and | met him there without
thought of mischief.
Fairbanks was ten miles from the city
| kept favorite horse just for my drives
out there. His name was Emperor-a
glossy black, royal-looking fellow, the
white star upon whose forehead Victo-
ria's rosy lips often kissed, for he was
as gentle as fleet. There was not road
five miles around her home that Vic
toria and [ had not Travelled cozily be-
hind our favorite, and most of them
many times over.
AS have said, Victoria was pretty,
and she was an heiress. Joe Sherring-
ton was poor, and lived by his wits. 1t
never occurred to me that he envied me
my engagement to her. would as soon
thought of another man trying to win
her if she had been my wife as at that
time
But he was handsome, lively fellow,
and would have pleased many women's
fancy. l heard it remarked, too, that
bis blonde curls looked more suitable
beside Victoria's dark-tressed young head
than my gray one. But age did not
matter in this case-wo loved each other
truly, and Shcrrington knew it.
He was not so unwise as to attempt to
win her from me. He formed deeper
plot.
Our wedding-day was approaching. |
recollect, now, that on one pretext or
another Sherrngton was daily at Fair
lands. | had driven out for tea-party,
when toward the close of the afternoon
it was found that Victoria was missing
from the company.
"Shc is in her chamber" suggested
one.
"She is in the garden, perhaps" said
her Aunt Margaret.
"Or hid in the old oak chest, like the
/ lady of the mistletoe bough song" said
somebody.
But she was not in her chamber, or in
the garden, or anywhere to be found.
"Where is Joe Sherrington?" asked
; Mr.. Wheaton.
He, too, was gone, and the merry
: suggestion that they had eloped togethe
Il was raised.
paid no attention at first. Then
e became annoyed that Victoria should alb
"a sent herself from the company. As
went to one of the low French window
70 of the villa, the coachman, Archie, cam
Il upon the piazza.
= "Mr. Albin," he asked, "don't yo
know that Mr. Sherrington has gone t
try Emperor ?"
Q The young man looked at me seriously
and spoke in low voice.
"To try Emperor p replied, stepping
out at the window, and going to him. -
i "What do you mean, Archie p
n '1'm sure | thought you knew, sir
!, He came into the stable more than twc
hours ago, and said you had given hin
permission to try Emperor on the turn
pike. | harnessed him into the buggy
d and be las gone with Miss Wheaton,
"With Miss Wheaton p
. ''He asked her to 60 with him. Shc
). objected on account Of her dress, but he
. Gad they would only drive around thu
square and be gone but ten minutes S,
she consented. and he jumped out anC
= took a lot Of shawls from the hall ant
put them in the buggy ,and--and they've
been gone three hours, sir. Perhap
i something has happened" (.
e Heaven knows why the whole trutl
II flashed over me. had been unsusric
ions enough before. But | turned e.
n Aunt Margaret, who had followed me
I and said:
n 'He has run away with her J"
If She grew scarlet and white.
d Hush" said I. go back quickly
IS and invent some plausible story for Vic
o toria's absence. Say she has been callec
Y away by sudden sickness Of friend, o.
d that she herself is sick When ] an
a missed explain that the dangerous condi
a ton Of patient recalled me to the city
Archie, harness the best horse in tb'
t stable for me-"
}, doctor, whore are you going p askc(
;. Aunt Margaret.
O ITO follow them"
@ "You do not think that Victoria has
Il bhS luu away WIN uill SuG WulNISIIt
F. with chatterng teeth
r "No, he has stolen her."
But the best horse in Mr. Wheaton,
stable was no match for my thorough
' bred, Emperor. The man who mistrusted
/ the truth knew it, too, and looked at me
@ anxiously.
! II am afraid you won't get up with
: him. sir, with Black jerry. Hos fai
and lazy, like all Of Mr.. Wbcaton's
horses"
~ shall catch sight Of him that will
5 be enough ] replied, touching my side
, pocket Significantly.
"For Heavens sake don't be rash
sir y heard him cry as | dashed away
On | dashed, flying rapidly up hill and
, down. Trees and fields swept past me
| was in whitehead Of passion, and lit.
orally knew nothing but my own thoughts
for the first five miles, for the road led
straight onward. / had at first no un.
certainty regarding Sherington's course.
Ny horse was dripping with perspira.
ton, but had no thought for him, when
at last | drew rein at the end Of the
turnpike and asked for information oil
Sherrington alta cottage. The beautiful
black horse and the gentleman and young
I lady bad passed there. | was 80 far
right and pressed on.
But the sun was setting. Soon 1 M