The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-30


now more than half way to Lovel, and
that he could not hinder her much.
Were you going to fetch me news of
Dody?" she said, turning young face
full OF relenting over her shoulder.
We'll, I'm going to fetch some myself.
and you can go back and tell Mr.. Eyre!"
Then he does not know!" exclaimed
Frank.
Are mildle-aged people ever waken-
ed up by the sun shining in on themY'
she said inconsequently; then colored
vividly, and added
"If they will let me go-my sweet
hearts, mean--perhaps III be back to-
night in time for dinnern
But Frank, alive to the fact that he
was Unexpectedly placed on guard, and
must not lose sight of her till she was
safe in her husbands hands, was too
perpleXed to reply. If he turned back
Immediately, he could hardly arouse
Mr.. Eyre and bring him on before Mad
cap should have reached home, where
i'll luck might possibly contrive that
meeting with Hester which Mr.. Eyre
dreaded; but as he elected to go for
ward with her, he knew that scandal
would follow at their heels.
''Madcap!" he said desperately,
your husband and will take you home
this very morning, to stay at home or
not, just as you like; it is not suitable
that You should return in this way, or
Or polite to the Duchess" he added.
"Oh, she will be happy enough with
Mr.. Eyre" said Madcap, turning her
head aside.
"Madcap!" he cried, "you cannot be
so foolish as to be jealous of her?"
Madcap hung her head a moment,
then looked round with little smile
lowering about her lips-pretended
jealousy always ends in mirth, as real
jealousy in tears.
4, "Have yon been plying me, too?"
she said. "You need not, for if 1 had
only crust of bread, and a drink of
milk, ! should be the happiest woman
on earth at this moment!"
II will get you both, Madcap," he
said, "if you will let me take you to a
farmhouse, and leave you there while
l go back for Mr.. Eyre"
: ibid ever you play truant, Frank?"
she said, considering him gravely; land
just as you were beginning to enjoy
yourself, did you run back to your
schoolmasterY l wonder people don't
give their balls and have their junket-
ings early in the morning, when they
are fresh, and feeling and looking their
very best, she added, meditatiyely, as
she shifted at flower here and plucked
a blossom there; ''and if one took COW
-look!n she cried. suddenly, "there is
one cOming;" and to Franks delight,
he perceived that behind the animal
there walked n woman.
She was rather promising specimen
of her class, and when Frank begged a
draught Of milk for Madcap, she sat
down without more ado and sent the
milk foaming into the pail, then lifted
her stout arm and cOntrived that Mad
cap should drink it, so that Frank, who
dropped behind, imagined that he was
not missed.
But when Madcap had thanked the
woman and moved ON, she turned her
face to the hedgerow and smiled, for
being less hungry, her spirits were now
returning.
Prank" she said, when little out
of breath with running he overlook her,
"Im going to pick you a nosegay, but
you mustn't look round, and you're to
walk straight Oh and not turn your
head once"
Misled by the innocence OF her tone,
he promised. and walked ahead. where
upon she slipped nimbly off the ass,
and ran noiselessly over the grass to
where, in bend of the road, she saw
the milkmaid standing, looking down
ut something she held in her hand, and
talking to herself aloud.
1.-The bit of gold ii buy me a new rig
out for the fair" she muttered, land
I'll beat Sukey yet, and p'r'aps Garge'll
fancy me now, and all for just taking
a bit of letter up to his Grass S."
Madcap pounced on the scrap Of pa
per like swallow who takes his sip of
water flying. then with her slender fin
GERS closed the astonished woman's red
hand over the gold. and ran back to the
ass, who waited where she had left him;
while Frank, honorably disappearing,
had not once turned his head round, if
the back of it might be trusted to speak
the truth.
LIT is pleasanter walking," she said,
when she called him back. and he ac-
copied unsuspiciously the apology for a
'buttonhole she gave him, and fora mile
he led the ass happily enough, while she
walked beside him, and they talked of
everything but the subject nearest to
the hearts of botl--IIester.
But at the crossroads the ass created
an unexpected diversion by refusing to
bulge save in the direction of Marmi-
ton, so that the contest ended in Franks
lifting the animal bodily and carrying
him good step down the road to Lowell,
along which he presently logged, sad
der If not Il wiser beast.
But when, in the distance, Madcap
saw the morning sun shining on her
home, she was in such haste to be there
that, having mounted her steed, she
felt each step a WEAKNESS till they reach
ed the village, which was already awake,
and hurrying to its doors to see the
young mistress riding by in white
gown and garden hat, on donkey,
with young Lord Lowell to hold its
bride, and not a sign of Mr.. Eyre visi-
bic either before or behind.
Never was there more unsupported
elopement, never sedater home com
ing, than this famous one, which was
destined to set the county in blaze of
controversy, and give birth, in time, to
q tragedy that froze all hearts.
But Madcap had no foreboding as she
assembled the hill; her whole soul was
on stretch To get to the children, and
her face (pale now from fatigue) be-
came radiant as, alighting, they cross
ed the courtyard and heard Dody's
voice above.
IL