Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-06-09
cd up to follow him, seemed to see chance
of sport in his looks.

very curious thing. Running to her own
apartment, she hurriedly produced big
gish bunch of old keys, and began trying
the leck of Adams chest until she got one
to fit. Then she opened it, and looked IN.
But no pile of gold met her eye. Adam
had second box within the big one. and
it, too, was locked. Kitty did not seem at
all disappointed. Without touching any
thing in the box, she let the lid fall, care
fully locked it, and put her kegs back where
she had found them.
Had Willie Allan been there to watch
her next proceedings he would have been
hurt and surprised, for the little fiirt, after
smartening herself up before the mirror,
proceeded to the kitchen, where Aleck was
busy polishing the harness of the doctor 8
horse which happened to be kept at the
Red Lion. Ensconcing herself snugly in
the armchair in the corner, she plainly said
by look and movement, "Come, WOO me" !"
Th ough Aleck, her cldmsy lcver, did not
lack the inclination to respond, he possess
ed none of that spirit of gallantry which
ought to have made him quick to take the
hint. Kitty's eyes were beginning to
twinkle with amusement at her and his
own embarrassment, when, luckily, Adam
looked in with the hare; but he forgot all
about Jacks performance in his pleasure at
seeing the cousins 80 friendly.
''Aha," he cried, ''but you are two sly
ones-courtin' like that whenever tho old
mans backs turned" and in great glee he
went away and left them.
"What do you think of that, now ?'
said Kitty, laughing.
I wish it was true" said Aleck.
"That is because you are fool" said
Kitty. "What on earth should we be
sweetheartin' for? What kind O. life
would you lead here if you were married,
Sandy? As long as Adam Blacks here
and that may be twenty years yet-Adam
Black will be master. And as for you,
you'll toll and moil and mourn till the gray
hairs come, and you'll get his money when
you're past enjoying it. That's the look
out for a woman with notion to you, my
lad"
'1'll not deny you've hit it, Kitty. It's
poor spec at the best, keeping country
public inn; the kinds haven't the money to
spend. If I had fathers savings now l
wouldn't bide here past the term. I'd
get place nearer the pits-them's the lads
to spend"
'If were man like you, Aleck, do you
know what I'd do? 1 would make big
try to get these same savings and bolt. If
you were quick and clever enough they'd
never catch you, and you could change
your name and get new start"
"Ah, I've thought O. that, but the old
one's over cunnin'. believe he wears the
key of the big chest always around his
neck"
eff that's all your trouble, I know where
to get key, But would you not be fright
ened, Aleck? Folks might call it rob-
berry,"
"That wouldn't be true. The money is
mine as much as his, for I've worked hard
est for it, and there's lot of it yours,
Kitty, and he wouldn't make much noise
about it. He wouldn't disgrace the name
by making it byword, and he likes you so
much that he wouldn't seek to get you in
to bad trouble. There would be murder,
though, if he got hold of us himself.'
That was the way in which the elope-
ment was planned. During the next few
days the cousins we're in almost constant
conversation, and even shrewd Adam was
deceived, 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.
'If you want bit of SPORT" said Kitty
to Willie Allan one day, ''take turn in the
forty acre about DUSK
He had no chance of asking her meaning,
for there were othors about, so he said to
himself.
"a she's sharp one, is Kit That means
a good dinner, OF I'm cheated" and went
his way.
No sooner was he gone than tremendous
hustle began in the public house, although
it was shut on Sundays, Aleck did not
know what to take or what to leave.
'It's 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
can say we've gone for walk, and he'll be
as pleased as Punch. Have you opened the
chest?''
"Yes," said Kitty, 'it's 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
Which way should they take There could
be no doubt of that; down the hill by the
foot road, across the brook by the simple
plank bridge, through the wood until the
was reached, and then bold push
to get across the border. Neither said a
word till they reached the old willow, near
which the brook was crossed by trem-
bling plank. Then Kitty grew nervous.
'Tm frightened to cross the burn," she
said, ego you first"
"Be quick, then" he answered s'I'll
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 chas-
ing u.s.
Aleck stood undecided a moment, then
dashed the frail bridge into the water.
Glide where you can," he shouted. ssHe
can't jump the burn, and I'll make off with
the money;
''Oh, he'll kill me-" pleaded the girl.
'sDon't run away from me, Aleckp'
''You shouldn't have been so Slow" he
retorted, with the box already under his
arm.
"Stop, you blackguard 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 fled-not far, however, for new conner
appeared on the scene. Willie Allan, true
to his appointment with Kitty, though he
hardly expected to see her, emerged from
the wood.
"Hulloap' he said, placing himself in
front of the runaway. "What's upe''
"Fell him deadP' yelled Adam.
"Let him co." said Kitty, but so softly
that her lover could not make out what she
said.
'FYou'd better turn back" he said te
Aleck, but the fugitive, brought to bay,
was desperate.
'Let me be-" he said, ''or I'll stab you, u
drawing a claspknife from his pocket
'fYou scoundrel!' cried the other, in a
white heat, "would you commit murderp
Willie was credited with possessing more
s'science" than any other man in Black
ford, and where will you find good boxing,
if not in Northumberland? He made feint,
and the vengeful blade of his adversary gilt
tered in momentary streak of moonlight,
but to no purpose, for side leap carried
its object out of reach, and Willie landed a
left-hander like horses kick just above
the right eye of his opponent, who fell al
his length on the snow, and in a trice wai
divested of his knife, which the conquerol
threw contemptuously into the brook.
sect up and fight like a man, he said
but Aleck was beaten.
Adam was in ecstacies.
tsYOu'v stunned q hit n up1v work Tn