The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-08-03

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It was the voice Of her father He
had raised himself up on an elbow and
was apparently listening intently. Pol
ly drew herself back from the bedpost
and remained IS silent and motionless
as a statue She was literally frozen
with terror.
A few moments Of agonizing sus-
pense followed. and then her father
turned over on his side and quickly re-
lapsed into slumber. n.
Waiting until she was sure he was
asleep, she stopped down and recovered
the keys. Then she glided like ghost
from the room. On regaining the kitch-
en- she picked up the lantern and hur-
ried away to the cell of her lover, who
was anxiously awaiting her at the
"grief hole
"What makes you so late, Polly?'
he whispered.
"Oh, please don't ask me- she re-
piled in voice half stifed with emo
ton. II have had terrible fright but
l cannot tell you about it now. Come
let us leave this dreadful place before
we are discovered.
While speaking she turned the key
in the lock and swung the cell door
open. Robin could scarcely restrain a
cry Of delight when he found himself
once more at liberty. He followed Polly
through the corridor to the Jail door
and from thence across the yard to her
fathers stable. Close to this building
stood a stately horse chestnut tree
from which large branch had recently
been broken. On his way to the stable
Robins eye CHANGED to fall upon the
limb, and an idea occurred to him.
"Polly,' he said laughingly, lit
would be hardly fair for us to take your
fathers horse without offering him
some compensation, so I intend making
fair exchange with him.
While speaking he shouldered the dis
severed branch and carried it into the
building.
"What do you intend doing with
that broken bough, Edward? asked
the girl in tones Of wonder.
"You will see presently" he replied,
with difficulty SURPRISING his mirth.
"While I'm Harvesting the horse, Polly,
try to find me a pen and some paper.
will your"
The girl departed to do his bidding,
and, although she was gone but a few
minutes, she found everything ready
for their departure on her return. Her
lover took the writing materials she
had brought him and, making a desk
of a barrel head, proceeded to write a
letter to the jailer. When it was fin
ished, he fastened it to the chestnut
bough, tied the letter in the stall from
which he had just taken the horse and
beckoned Polly to his side.
81 want you to see what I have
written your father" he said. 'sI am
sure he will be pleased with it. -
The girl placed her lantern close to
the paper and read the following:
MY DEAR FArHER-lN-1Aw las you will be
when you read this)-Pardon the liberty I
take in exchanging horses with you. I &C.
knowledge this is horse of another color;
still there is not much difference. As yours
was chestnut horse, the exchange is but fair,
for this is a horse chestnut. 1t is the;best leg
oCJ Ce'iA AoeNo yoA dG present., coupled Win
the best wishes of EDWARD Robin.
Polly could not help laughing at this
display of humor, but she was too keen
~ alive to the danger Of their position
to indulge her merriment long.
'Come, Edward" she entreated
earnestly; "let US hurry away from this
place as fast as we can. We must not
have this elopement failure. -
''But where is the bundle you were
to bring?'' he asked. "You must not
forget that.
cit is already in the chaise,'' was
the answer
'Then we will start at once y
With these words he assisted Polly
into the vehicle, and, mounting to the
seat behind her. drove quickly out of
the stable
"And now he said, as he urged the
horse to trot "the question is where
are we to find dominica
''It would be better not to think of
that now" answered Polly, Eat least,
not until we are safe from pursuit. I
dare say we can find clergyman on
the other side of the mountains.
So toward the mountains they made
their way. driving the chestnut at a
rapid gait. At first the road afforded an
excellent opportunity for the horse to
display his good qualities, but as they
gradually drew nearer to the mountains
it became more and more rugged and
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