, 1886-03-19


his habits might have thought him
wrapped in contemplation Of tho winters
sunsets reddening clouds, or the snowy
landscape. The window commanded
a view OF a forty-acre field
which stretched away from the village
gardens TO a great thick wood,
from which IL was separated by a brook.
In the middle OF 1t stood, a solitary tree,
the boughs of which shone like dark
tracery in the evening light. Look yon-
der said Adam, pointing to the foot Of
this tree. A timid. limping, hungry hare,
probably tempted by the remembrance Of
the vegetables 1t had sometimes on moon-
light nights found in the gardens,
was making toward them in little
starts and runs, followed by stoppages;
during which 1t would sit with its long
ears pricked up to listen TO or scent dan
ger. Could any Blackford man look on
that sight unmovedi 1t might hav
turned the old minister himself into a
poacher, and the temptation was quite
too strong for Adam. The very dogs, by
the eager way in which they started up to
follow him, seemed to see a chance Of
sport in his looks.
He was no sooner gone than Kitty did a
very curious thing. Running TO her own
apartment, she hurriedly produced a big
gish bunch OF old keys, II began trying
the lock 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 a second box within the big
one, and It, too, was locked, Kitty did not
seem Mt all disappointed. Without touch
ing anything in the box, she let the lid
fall, carefully locked it, and put her keys
back where she had found them
Had Willie Allan been there 10 watch
~ - -
hurt and surprised, for the little flirt, after
smartening herself up before the mirror,
proceeded to the kitchen, where Aleck
was busy polishing the harness OF the doc
tors 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" Though Aleck. her clumsy lover,
did not lack the inclination to respond, he
possessed none Of that spirit of ~gallantry
which ought to nave mad him quick to
take the hint. Kitty's eyes were begin
ming to twinkle will amusement at her
and his own embarrassment, when,
luckily, Adam looked In with the hare;
blu he forgot all about Jacks perform
ance in his pleasure at seeing the cousins
80 friendly.
AHA" he cried, "but you are two sly
ones-courtin' like that whenever the old
mans back IS turned and in great glee he
went away and left them.
what do you think Of that, nowf" said
Kitty, laughing.
l wish IL was true,p said Aleck.
"That is because you are a fool, y said
Kitty. "What on earth should we be
sweetheartin' fori What kind O. life
would you lead here il you were married,
Sandyi AS long as Adam Blacks here
and that may be twenty years Set-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 a notion to you,
my lad"
"Iu not deny you've hit IL, Kitty. It's
a poor spec at the best, keeping a country
public; the kinds haven't the money &c
spend. II | had fathers savings now
wouldn't bide here past the term. I'd get
a place nearer the pits-them's the lad t.
spend"
@fI were a man like you, Aleck, dc
you know what I'd doy l would make q
big try to get these same savings and
bolt. II you were quick and clever enough
they'd never catch you, and you could
change your name and get a new start.
"Ah, I've thought o. that, but the old
Oht . OmGA 0NAlllAn 4 tAlGNb hG MtAl1
the key Of the big chest always around his
neck"
@n that's all your trouble, l know
where to get a key. But would you not
be frightened, Alecki Folks might call it
robbery
THAT wouldn't be true. The money is
mine as much as his, for I've worked hard
est for 1t, and there's a lot OF 1t yours,
Kitty, and he wouldn't make much noise
about 1t. He wouldn't disgrace the name
by making It a byword, and he likes you
so much that he wouldn't seek to get you
into bad trouble. There would be muir
der, though, II he got hold of us him
self"
That was the way in which the elope-
ment was planned. During the next few
days the cousins were 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 be-
cause OF the weighty advice he had given
her.
III you want a bit sport, " said Kitty to
Willie Allan one day, take a turn in the
forty-acre about dusk"
He had no chance OF asking her mean
ing, for there were others about, so he
said to himself:
"A she's "a sharp one, is Kit. That
means a good dinner, or I'm cheated, - and
went his way.
No sooner was he gone han a tremend-
GUS hustle began in the public house,
although il was shut on Sundays. Aleck
did not know what to take and what to
leave.
sits four weary miles we nave to walk
into Scotland, " said Kitty, so the less we
have to carry the better, Aleck. That
box'n be a weight to take In itself, lad"
"We'n have plenty Of time though. Bet
can say we've gone for a walk, and he'll
be as pleased as Punch. Have you opened
the chestiH
YES" said Kitty, tits all right. TIT
only pity is l could not open the little box.
and you'n have to take it with us.r
Darkness wal just falling when the
two fugitives emerged from the Red Lion.
Which way should they takei 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
a bold push TO get across the border.
Neither said a word till they reached the
old willow, near which the brook was
crossed by a trembling plank. Then
Kitty grew nervous.
arm frightened to cross the burn she
said, "go you first"
"Be quick, then" he answered. an
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:
W. T.-N ..- NL- ....t -.