The Newtown bee., 1904-01-29

 ments, and the people were beginning to go home. Kendrick looked at his 1 watch. It lacked 10 minutes of being 10 o'clock. ''I hope they will be up," he thought, uneasily. "People in the country do go to bed at such early hours"
 He was very silent on the two-mile drive. The minister spoke of the beauty of the night, and as he looked up at the stars, doubtless thought of the Star at Bethlehem.
 "Ah, they are still up," Kendrick said, with relieved sigh, when they came in sight of the house.
 He fastened the horse to the hitch ing-post while the minister covered her with one of the robes, and then they walked up to the door.
 The curtains were not drawn, and as they waited for some one to answer his knock Kendrick saw the woman he loved. She was sitting so that she faced the window, her cheek resting against her hand, and was not joining in the conversation of the others. He fancied that there was pathetic droop to the sensitive mouth and a sadness in the eyes. Was she thinking of him and that this was to have been their wedding day? His heart thrilled at the thought. It seemed to him as he gazed that he had not fully realized till now how dear she was, Then the hired girl came and ushered Kendrick and his companion into the lighted parlor.
 Whata beautiful color came to Ra- chels face, and how true were her eyes as they looked into his! Ii any one felt surprised at the strangeness of this visit, no one showed it, though when Kendrick introduced his com panion as ''the Rev MT Campbell" !" Rachel sent him startled glance of inquiry. When they had removed their great-coats, saying that their call must be of the briefest, Kendrick felt that the crucial moment had ar rived. He hesitated for an instant, then made the plunge.
 He blurted out about the patent, then-"I start for California to- night-I am going to catch the mid night express at, ,Leaming-and want Rachel to go with me-"
 There was dead silence. Kendrick
 looking at the faces about him thought
 the Dearborns seemed amused, Mrs
 Ames frightened and MT Ames angry.
 Rachel rose to the situation and re-
 deemed it. Quickly, yet with no ap- pearance of haste, she came and stood
 beside Kendrick. ''I will go with you,
 Edson," she said quietly.
 There was cry from Mrs Ames, and
 she cast herself on her daughter. "Oh
 Rachel, dear!" she walled. "Without
 any wedding-and so far-and such
 short notice?' Oh, I can't let you
 go so!''
 MT Ames came and put his hand on
 her shoulder. "Come, come, mother ,
 he said soothingly. "Perhaps this is
 the best way, after all. If you had a wedding, you'd both wear yourselves
 out getting ready for it, and you would
 feel worse at the last than you will
 now. Besides, the only objection we had is removed, and you remember this was the time they had original, : intended to be married. Rachel is {
 good girl and gave into us, and WI ought to let have her own now" "Yes, I.suppose we had," sobbed Mir Ames.
 "Then, MT Campbell, I think the
 sooner you marry them the better, i they are to catch the train," said M
 Ames briskly, though his voice was little husky.
 As soon as the service was over-ant in spite of it's briefness the young min ister had made it impressive,-th bride flew to her mother who was weep l ing still, and with careSSes and endeai ments endeavored to console her, ant Mrs Ames finally wiped away her tears ] and the three ladies went upstairs t help Rachel get ready. "I will b. down in 10 minutes," she called ove her shoulder.
 ] Kendrick devoted the time of he ) absence to questioning MT Dearborn
 about the road to Leaning, so as t get it straight in his mind. The two men had their overcoats ol and hats in hand when Rachel cam down, but the leave taking took som
 time, and at the last moment som 2 one went upstairs again to get an ex tra wrap for Rachel.
 Q MT Dearborn had found some rice ,. and threw a generous handful over tn bridal party as they started, so ther Q was laugh at the last.
 "Quarter of eleven,-and hour and '- half," said Kendrick. "We ought t e make 10 miles easily in that time." Well, not easily, perhaps" sai | the minister, dubiously. "This hors : doesn't impress me as being particular k ly swift.''
 r They talked and laughed and wer merry the first few miles, then as thu a extreme slowness of the horse becam o more apparent they fell silent, an D Kendrick gave his whole m1nd to tn s driving.
 a The moon had arisen, the air wa d crisply but not disagreeably cold, an - the snow squeaked beneath the run |, ners. Rachel said it was a perfec : night for ride, if there were only n, /? need of haste.
 The horse logged clumsily alon , | when llrped. when nOt urped she i'm