The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1911-08-31
began to reason. Either Hank
Col1;ne m,ct not get to the old home

him. But now! men lHe lhouSh' ~
how his spirited team exactly
matched my own lame ard tired one
flashed through my mind and my
plans were laid in an instant.
pat" | said, after the driver had
returned with Hanks team and sta
bled it. Have you had your SUPPER
Mary Bit
60 and get it as soon as you have
rubbed down the team. And-here's
S. for saying nothing
Sure l can do that easy
Il must get on to Elmdale tonight.
The lady and gentleman who were
with me will come in the morning.
Say nothing about it, but after you
get your supper come out and hitch
up for me-"
But that lame horse!"
"The hours rest will make him all
right" He mumbled little, but the
SIS bill was wonderful argument.
AS soon as he was gone l changed
the location of those two teams, so
that the lame horse was in Hanks
stall and his fresh team standing
where Pat had left my own weary one.
This job safely accomplished, [
went in to my own supper, recalling
as l stepped inside the house that, in
a moment Of forgetfulness, l had
signed my true name, Mark Hatha-
way, on the register, and there was
my hated rival standing at the desk
reading the list of guests
Whatever scheme might be on foot,
| soon noticed that the nephew was
making a successful attempt to avoid
the uncle, who chung persistently to
my side At length, however, we cor
nered one another at the hall en-
/ trance, and to my amazement the
Younger man was embarrassed at
meeting his relative.
You here?" was his only greeting
IS Uncle Silas grabbed him by the
hand and fastened to introduce me as
Mr.. James Lacey, of Springfield
Mr. James Lacey, of Springfield"
repeated Hank, open-mOuthed in as
constituent. why, I thought"
Il am glad to learn" l hastily
broke in, that you have been able to
arrange your trip to Canada"
Hank shot CLEAN of hate at me
as his uncle exclaimed:
Going to Canada? You don't mean
to say"
l withdrew, and Is minutes later
Pat and l were on our way to Elm
dale, conscious that if Hank followed
he would have an all-night job with
a lame horse. Before midnight | had
told the whole story to Uncle Tom
and early in the morning we drove
over to Marian's.
Hank was not there, bat his father
was, and he glared at ne in such q
helligerent manner that I Immediately
took Marian in my arms and kissed
her
Young man." he said, spreading g
pious mask over his face, "dO yoT
mean to say that you have come III
here to take this innocent girl away
from her home and friends and marry
her against their wishes?"
Il certainly intend to marry her."
replied, taking Marian's little hand il
mine.
ooh, Marian, Marian, continued
Pa Collins; oh, little Marian, who ha:
been in my Sunday school class an(
grown up under my eye, kin you,
ask, kin you so far forget yourself a!
to marry this man?'
81 certainly can and WILL" came
firmly from little Marian
Then" spoke up Uncle Tom, "th'
:, laws Of the country having been com
piled with, as clerk Of the county O
Wooster certify that you are man ant
wife"
They - are - man - and - wife!
asked Pa Collins
: Il am glad to hear you pronounc
them so,'' Uncle Tom flashed back be
fore any one else could speak. '"Tha
was all that could possibly be neces
sary to make the marriage regular
Valid it was, anyway"
What 90 you mean?" demande
both of Marians parents in on
breath.
What do l mean? l mean jus
this: That Mr.. Collins being a jus
tice of the peace, having asked eac
one-of these young folks if they woul
have each other, and both answerin
g. yes, ne Has FIOlOuHCeu tU0lu ma
and wife, and l as clerk of the count
> court will be obliged to make out
certificate for them to that effect"
That's So" Pa Collins calculated
:. sinking back under the weight of tn
- Glow. "But l never thought Of it."
What more might have been sal
c. done no one can conjecture, fC
Just then there was jingling {
, sleigh bells and Uncle and Aunt Gle
: burst into the room.
. DO you know what that scoundre
Of son of yours has done?' Uncl
Giles cried, shaking his fist in Pa Co
u Inns face. II sent him $4,000 to i,
vest in the Canadian Muff1er compan,
l. with a written agreement that if b
. should ever wish to sell out he woul
notify me so that I could protect NJ.
self. Last week he made a fraud,
q lent assignment without mentionin
me as creditor, and today he was t
> have gone to Canada with the thre
men he assigned to, where the asset
d we're to be turned over, and l woul
d have lost my money. But Providene
d was on the side of right, for by mi
it take he got lame horse out of Johl
It sons livery stable, instead of his owl
and couldn't co.
:? $50 it was Hanks horse that g
I mixed I'D with yours? pr asked Inc