The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-01-09
CHAPTER XIX.

were wise and honest and true; ard
the engagement entered upon beside
my mothers deathbed. So | held on,
Vixen-yes. / will call you by the old
pet name now; henceforward you are
mine, and shall call you what like
| held on, and was altogether an ex-
emplary lover, went wherever / was
ordered to go. and always came when
they wlistled for me, and, in a word,
did my duty in that state of life to
which it had pleased heaven to call
me; and my reward has been to be
Tilted with every circumstance of
ignominy on my wedding morning."
''Jiltedi" cried Vixen, her big brown
eyes shining in pleasantest mockery.
Why, l thought Lady Mabel adored
you?"
so did l." answered Roderick naive
ly, "and pitied the poor dear thing for
her insatuation. / still believe that
Mabel vas fond Of me once, but Lord
Mallow bowled me out. The scoundrel
brought a marriage certificate I'm his
pocket when he came to stay at Ash
bourne. and had the art to engage
rooms at Southampton, and sleep there
a night en- PEASANT. He left a port
manteau and hat box there, and that
constituted legal occupancy; so, when
be won Lady Mabel's consent to an
eIopement he had only to ride over to
Southampton and give notice to the
parson and clerk The whole thing
was done splendidly. Lady Mabel
went out at s O'Clock, under the pre-
tense of going to early church. NAL
low was waiting for her with a fly,
half mile from Ashbourne. They
drove to Southampton together, and
were married at 10 o'clock in the old
church of St Michael. While the dis
tracted duchess and her won zen were
hunting everywhere for the bride, and
all the visitors at Ashbourne were ar
raging themselves in their wedding
finery, and the village children were
filing their baskets with flowers to
strew upon the pathway of the happy
pair, mathematical of the flowers which
did not blossom in the highway of life,
the lady was over the border with Jock
of Hazeldean, Wasn't it fra. Vixen?"
AT half past ten there csme tele-
gram from my runaway bride:
ASK Roderick to forgive me, dear
mamma / found at the last that my
heart was not mine to give, and l am
married to Lord Mallow. I do not
think my cousin will grieve very
much
THAT last clause was sensible any
how. was it not, Vixen?"
II think the whole business was
very sensible" said Vixen, with a
sweet, grave smile.
"She will be very happy as Lady
Mallow," said Roderick. Mallow will
legislate for Ireland, and sic will rule
him.
But how did you come here?" asked
Vixen, looking up at her lever in SIM
PIE wonder. "All this only happened
yesterday morning."
"Is there not steamer that leaves
Southampton nightly? Had there not
been one, / would have chartered a
boat for myself. / would have come
in a cookie shell; would have come
with a swimming belt; l would have
done anything wild and adventurous
to hasten to my love. I started for
Southampton the minute I had seen
that too blessed telegram; went to ST.
Michaepg, saw the registry with its
entry of Lord Mallow's marriage,
hardly dry, and then, went down to the
docks and booked mE berth. Oh, what
a long day yesterday was--ths longest
day of my life."
land Of mine," sighed Vixen, be-
tween tears and laughter, lin spite of
the shepherd kings"
,"Are those Jersey people yoI have
picked up?" Rorie asked snnocently.
This turned the scale, and Vixen
pulrst into u joyous peal or laughter.
How did you find me hsre?" she
asked
Every easily. YOU. cus.odiaa-what
a grim looking personage she is, by
the way--told me WHERE you were
gone and directed me how 10 follow
you. I told her had a most import
ant message to deliver 10 you from
your mother You don't hi1d that art
less device, 1 hope?"
mot much. How Is dear mamma?
She complains in he. letters of not
feeling very we'll"
Il have not seen her lately. When
I did. thought her Looking ill and
wor n. She will get well when you go
back to her, Vixen
- h.1 30
House
YES, you will; for one fortnight, at
least After that your fomc will be
at Briarwood You must be- married
from your fathers house.
who said / was going 20 be mar
ried. sir?" asked Vixen, With delicious
coquetry.
Il said it, say It. Dc ron think /
am too bold, darling? Ouyht / to go
on my knees, love, and rake you a
formal offer? Why, have loved you
all my life; and think yot have loved
me as long"
$50 I have, Rorie," shel answered
softly, shyly, sweetly. Il always loved
you; there was no stage vt my life
when you were not dearer u re than
any one or earth, except my sasher."
Dear 1--we. l am ashamad of my
happiness" said Roderick teadsrly Il
have been so weak and UNIV or%hy i
gave away my hopes of bliss In one
foolishly soft moment, to crafty my
mothers dying wish-a wish that had
been dinned into my ear for the last
years of her hfe-and I have done
nothing but repent of my fosly ever
since. Can you forgive me, Wren? /
shall never forgive myself"
Let the past be like dream that
we have dreamed. 1t will make the
future seem SO much the brighter"
"Yes."
And then under the blue August
sky, fearless and unabashed, these
happy lovers gave each other the kiss
of betrothal