The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-05-09

making toward them in little starts and
runs followed by stopages, during which
it would sit with its long ears pricked up
to listen to or scent danger. Could any
Blackford man look on that sight unmoved ?
1t might have turned the old minister him
self 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
very curious thing. Running to her own
apartment, she hurriedly produced big
gish bunch of old Keys, and 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 at
all disappointed. Without touching any
thing in the box, she let the lid fall care
fully locked it, and put. her keys 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 firt, 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 have made him quick to
take the hint. Kitty's eyes were begin
ming 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 so friendly. "Aha !"
he cried, "but you are two sly ones
courtin' like that whenever the old man $
back S turned" and in great glee he went
away and left them.
"What do you think of that now p said
Kitty, laughing.
II wish it was true" said Aleck.
"That is because you're fool, said
Kitty. "What on earth should we be
sweetheartin' for? What kind O life
would you live 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
lookout for woman with notion to yop,
my lad.
''I'll not deny you've hit it Kitty. It's
poor spec at the best keeping a country
public; the hinds haven't the money to
spend. If | 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 man ike you, Aleck, do
you know what I'd do? | would make a
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" p"
"Ah I've thought o that, but the old
ones over cunnin'. 1 believe he wears
the key of the big chest always around his
neck"
"If that's all your trouble, | know
where to get key But would you not
be frightened, Aleck? Folk might call it
robbery"
THAT would't be true. The money is
mine as much as his, for I've worked
hardest 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
into bad trouble There would be muir
der, 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 were in almost constant
conversation, and even shre.d 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, Never
had he felt more serenely happy than on
the next Sunday afternoon. The hare
had been cooked exactly to his liking
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 neigh
borhood-he sailed forth for his usual
Sunday afternoon walk, pipe in mouth,
and Jack and Meg athis heels.
eff you want bit of sport, said Kitty
to him as he was going out, stake a 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 sharp Oue, is Kit. That
means another good dinner, or Tn cheated, -
and went his way.
No sooner was he gone than a tremen-
dous hustle began in the public house,
although it was shut on Sundays. Aleck
did not know what to take aud 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, Aeck. 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 ?"
ayes, said Kitty, ''it's all right The
only pity is | could not open the little box
and you'll have to take it with us.
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 aaket
of snow in front of it. Which way should
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 high
way was reached, and then bold push to
get across the Border. Many Northum
brian lad and lass in the old time had
trudged to the altar in that style, but few
of the gallants carried treasure with them