The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-01-17


When, three weeks later, veal
from fever, l employed my first con
scious minute in inquiring after my
companion, the nurse told me thai
she had driven the horses into Bren
ton at gallop. Not knowing about
the two roads, she had naturally
enough followed the straight one
and SO for fourteen miles had driver
alone through the forest, with me
lying unconscious at her feet. The
hostler of the only hotel that Bren.
ton boasted was at TIE door looking
for the mail-stage when he saw {
team coming down the forest roac
at terrific pace, a woman stand
ing in the sleigh and plying the
whip with all her strength. She hac
drawn rein before the door, ano
springing out, exclaimed
Never mind me see to him! anc
pointed to where l lay. They car.
rled me into the house and put me
to bed, while the lady fell before
the fire in faint, caused halt by
WEAKNESS and half by the reaction O.
her nervous power. Strange to say,
she was not really much the worse
for her terrible experience but
had walked up in a fever, and tor
three weeks had been out of my
mind.
Where is the lady now? l asked,
but added: OF course, she has gone.
l would like to have seen her.
The nurse stepped aside without
replying | looked up for some ex-
planation, when my eyes rested on
the face OF Katie Macdonald.
Katie! was all l could say.
Aleck! she replied, and took my
outstretched hand in hers.
Katie, 1 asked, after a moment
of happiness too deep for words,
is it possible that you were my
companion and savior.
She smiled in her old, sweet way
as she answered.: l do not know
about my being the last, but l GER
tainly was the first.
And l did not know.
But 1 did, she said, with merry
laugh. And, what is more, l knew
you after you first spoke to me.
l looked at her hands. There was
no ring upon her small white
finger.
Katie, l said, they tell me you
saved my life ; but you had better
have let me lose it unless you
promise to share it with me.
She did not speak; but the look
in her eyes was enough, and l did
not press Tor an answer. After a
few moments, she said:
You must not talk about foolish
things, but hurry aud get well.
The horses are ready, the roads
are good and l want to get you
safely on your homeward journey.
Then for the first time, my busi-
ness came into my head, and I
spoke about it.
Never mind about that, she said.
1t was very impe1tinent Of me; but
| looked at your papers, found out
what you had to do, and did it for
you.
Seeing my look OF astonishment,
she added:
Oh, it was easy enough. You
see, We came upon the same busi,
ness. The gentleman whom you had
come 10 see was my uncle, aud he
had written me 10 be sure to be here
on the day we arrived, as it was i'm
portant that 1 shonld sign some
papers in his presence. They were
about property which comes to me
when l am twenty-one, she explained,
and you had the papers. AS it turned
oui, it did not really make much diff.
ference whether l got there that day
or not. My uncle thought it did, but
it seems he was wrong; so 1 need mo-
have compelled you to take an unwel'
come companion for a sleigh-drive
And now, to answer your question
If you are satisfied to trust your future
happiness to person who insists Or
going where she is not wanted, ane
who looks over peoples papers with
out permission, why, Aleck, you cal
have me.
What ensued does not concern an,
one but ourselves.