The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-03-20

| h1Utys eyes were beginning TO twinkle
with amusement at her and his own em-
barrassment, when, luckily, Adam looked
in with the hare, but he forgot all about
Jacks performance in his pleasure at see
ing the cousins so friendly. "Ahar' he
cried, "but you are two sly ones-courtini
like that whenever the old mans backs
turned" and in great glee he went away
and left them.
What do you think of that now!n said
| Kitty, laughing,
81 wish it was true" said Aleck.
THAT is because you're fool,n said Kit
ty. What on earth should we be sweet
heartin' for. What kind o. life would Won
live here if you were married, Sandy2 AS
long as Adam Blacks here-and that NAV
be twenty years yet-Adam Black will be
master. And as for you, you'll toll and
MOL and mourn till the gray hairs come,
and you'll get his money when you're past
enjoying it. That's the lookout for a
woman with notion to you, my lad"
''Pll not deny you've hit it, Kitty. It's a
| poor spec at The best, keeping a country
public; the binds haven't the money to
spend. If l had fathers savings now,
wouldn't bide here past the term I'd get
a place nearer the pits-them's the lads to
spend. -
"If were a man like you, Aleck, do YOU
know what I'd do! | would make big try
to get these same savings and bolt. If you
were quick and clever enough they'd never
| cdUcP YOU, ana yOucculu cnan8e your name
! and get new start"
"Ah! I've thought o. that, but the old
ones over cunnin'. believe he wears the
key of the big chest around his neck"
''If that's all your trouble, know where
to get a key. But would you not be
frightened, Aleck! Folk might call it a
| robbery
THAT wouldn't be true. The money is
mine as much as his, for I've worked hard
est for it, and there's a lot of it YOURS,
Kitty, and he wouldn't make much noise
about it, He wouldn't disgrace the name
by making it abyword, and he likes You so
| much that he wouldn't seek to get you into
bad trouble There would be murder,
though, if he got hold of us himself"
That was the way in which the opponent
was planned. During the next Few days
the cousins were in almost constant CONVEX
sation, and even shrewd Adam was de
ceived, and thought, poor man that his
niece had forsaken Willie Allan not from
any mercenary motives, but because of the
weighty advice he had given her. Never
had he felt more serepely happy than on
the next Sunday afternoon. The hare had
been cooked exactly to his liEng-the fore
parts in soup, the hind parts in a pie-and
after dinner that might have pleased an
| Emperor, followed by taste of his fine
old brandy-brandy kept for the exclusive
use of the fox-hunting squires who would
| sometimes lunch at the Red Lion when
their meet was in the peighborhood-he
sailed forth for his usual Sunday after
noon walk, pipe in mouth and Jack and
Meg at his heels.
'If you want bit of SPORT" said Kitty
to him as he was going out, take turn in
| the forty-acre about dusk" He had no
chance of asking her meaning, for there
were others about, but he said to himself
"Ah she's a sharp one, is Kit. That means
another good dinner, or Pm cheated" and
went his way.
No sooner was he gone than a tremendous
hustle began in the public house, although
it was shut on Sundays. Aleck did not
know what to take and what to leave.
| Its four weary miles we have to walk
| into Scotland said Kitty, $50 the less we
have to carry the better, Aleck. That
box'll be weight to take in ITSELF lad"
| 'We'll have plenty of time though. Bet
| ter say we've gone for walk, and he'll be
as pleased as Punch Have you opened the
| chest?n
Eyes" said Kitty; cts all right. The
only pity is | could not open the little box,
| and you'll have to take it with u.s."
Darkness was just falling when the two
fugitives emerged from the Red Lion"
| The peaceful villagers were all within
doors, for it was bitterly cold, and the sharp
north wind had begun to drive stray flakes
they take! There could be no doubt of
that; down the hill by the foot-road, across
the brook by the single-plank bridge
| through the wood until the highway was
| reached, and then bold push to get across
the Border Many Northumbrian lad and
lass in the old times had trudged to the
| altar in that style, but few of the gallants
| carried treasure with them such as was
under Alexis arm. Many sharp look the
runaways cast on every side, lest there
should be any suspicious witness of their
! fight, but not soul did they see, and the
friendly snow dropped softly on their
| treacherous footprints. Neither said a
word till they reached the old willow, neal
which the brook was crossed by trembling
plank. Then Kittie grew nervous.
''rm frightened to cross the burn she
| said; ''go you first"
BE quick then" he answered. ''rll
hold it - and, getting swiftly to the Other
side, he seized the end of the unsteady bit
of wood.
But, instead of following at once, Kitty
screamed; There's jack your father
must be chasing u.s.
Aleck stood undecided a moment, Their
dashed the frail bridge into the water
Hide where you cam he shouted, "ht
can't jump the burn, and I'll make off witt
the money"
ooh he'll kill me-" pleaded the girl
Don't run away from me, Aleck."
"You shouldn't have been so slow" hi
retorted with the box already under hi
arm.
''Stop, you blackguardly thief Stop,
say ~ hoarSely shouted his father, running
up from where he had been looking after
some rabbits. But the son turned in terror
and hed-not far, however, for a newcomer
appeared on the scene. Willie Allan, trut
to his appointment with Kitty, though hi
hardly expected to see her, emerged from
the wood. "Hulloa,n he said, placing him
self in front of the runaway, whats up"
'Fell him deadr' yelled Adam.
LET him co. said Kitty, but so softly
that her lover could not make out what sh,
said.
YOU'D better turn back" he said t.
Aleck, but the fugitive, brought to bay wa
s'Let me be" he said, cor by - II
stab you,n drawing clasp-knife from hi
pocket.
''You scoundrel!" cried the other in
, white heat, would you commit murder!'
Willie was credited with possessing NOR
science than any other man in Black
, ford, and where will you find good boxing
| if not in North northumberland He mad
| a feint, and the vengeful blade of his adveI
sary glittered in a momentary streak o
moonlight, but to no purpose, for sid
- leap carried its object out of reach, an
t Willie landed left-hander, like a horse
: kick, just above the right eye Of his oppo
: nent, who fell all his length on the snow, an
in trice was Invested of his knife, whic
the conqueror threw contemptuously int
l the brook. "Get up and fight like a man,
t he said, but Aleck was beaten.
a Adam'was in ecstasies. Bring the DO