, 1900-10-01

asking Tor his daughters hand. And
for gold-next to his love for pretty
Mistress Marget-old Simeon would do
more than most of us would do for the
sake of life.
That evening l happened to be
walking in the lane just as old Simeon
also came out to take the air. And a
note passed between us. Old Simeon
also instructed me as to where | could
find certain implements and tools-a
ladder n a stout stave among them
which l might need later on, per-
chance. And l gave to Simeon the
package of a certain drug, which my
friend, the c%hirugeon, had given me.
Mistress Marget was to see that this
drug was dropped into the fagon of
ale sent up for the Lady Eleanor's
supper. Then. later, she was to lean
out of her easement and signal to me,
waiting outside in the lane. And lat
er still Parson Dabney, who loved us
both and sympathized with us rather
than with Sir Reginald, was to make
pretty Mistress Narget my wife.
And so it all happened, without let
or hindrance, saw when my body SER
wants horse was mired in the slough
back of the lane. He should have
waited in the lane proper, but he
thought he heard voices and sounds
Of horses hoofs coming. and, knowing
that he must not be found there. he
leaped his own steed over the hedge
and into the slough. We had to wait
some minutes for him, when we
would fain have hurried onward. But
this was after | had placed the ladder
underneath my lady's window, mount
ed it, pried off the guarding bars with
the stout stave which old Simeon had
furnished me, and received m darling
in my arms. My heart beat so in go
ing down the ladder hat / feared she
would hear it and think me timid.
Yet had | courage to claim a kiss as
we neared the bottom, insisting that
she pay 1t me before | set her down;
and l do not think she noticed the
rapid beating Of my heart after that,
even had she noticed it before. Her
own heart beat rapidly then. as the
bright color coming and going in the
face which looked so fair and sweet
in the moonlight testified clearly.
At the foot of the ladder | set her
down, and hand in hand we raced
across the greensward, over the foot
bridge old Simeon had managed to
leave open and ~unguarded for us, and
out into the lane. There, lifting her
dear form in my arms, I swung her up
before me, and away we galloped,
after the short interval of waiting for
my servant, of which l have spoken.
Half an hour later we stood before
Parson Dabney in the gray old vicar
age, and a few moments afterward |
had the right to call pretty Mistress
Marget my wife. Then, a hurried kiss,
a tear or two on Mistress Marget's
part, n we were on our way back
to the hall, where Mistress Marget was
to live on. the same as ever in all
things save that slender gold band on
her finger, until my return from the
wars. And then-ah! sad for a man
to leave his wife IN the wedding eve
my body servan had summoned my
varlets and they waited for me out
side in the lane. I could but kiss my
darling once more, ah me! but so ten
derby and lovingly, see her safely up
the ladder, withdraw it from beneath
her window, wave her a last tender
farewell-and now. beshrew me, but
mine own eyes were wet and take
my departure. But before l crossed
the foot-bridge once more I threw the
stout stave that had served our turn
so well far from me into the thick of
the hedge, and I once more clinked
gold with old Simeon in order that
he might be properly ~forgetful of all
that had happened Thai night. Then
the soft darkness of the lane, with the
moon well under a kindly cloud, a
sharp command to the waiting varlets,
a tearing gallop until morning, and
we were well up with Sir Reginald
and his men, and nothing but wars
and fighting before Us for many long
months.
But my heart was brave and light
some within me, even though l had
left my dear wife of an hour behind
me. For 1t is easier, perhaps, to leave
ones wife than ones sweetheart, espe-
cially when the sweetheart's father
favors a richer man, and I knew, also,
that was a brave and skillful fight
er, and l hoped that before Sir Regi-
maid or l saw pretty Mistress Marget
again his heart would have warmed
toward me on this account. For Sir
Reginald loves a brave man and a
good fighter always. And in the end
1t all turned out ever as l had hoped.
Chicago Tribune.