The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-11-23

necessary 70 say that, either to An
drew or to the girl.
When -Iarie came in Andrew took
her hand and gave it to Bob.
You'll suit each other" he said.
"Tu get you to bring the Reverend
Spears along with you when you come
fer her. I'll be glad to see her off
my hands. l won't last through the
year"
He did not last through the month,
A stroke during the night left him I'M
conscious, and MacFarlane found him.
self tied to the place, waiting for old
Andrew to breathe his last before TAX.
ing the girl South to the priest at
Fort Barry. Days passed, and An
drew, sinking daily, still continued
alive. During that time the girl and
Alllvaine found themselves constantly
together.
He could not take his eyes from
her. 1t seemed to him that he had
never seen a woman so beautiful be-
fore. And she, vaguely disturbed, al
lowed herself the happiness of his
company without understanding what
it p0rtended.
They had been spearing fish togeth-
er for the night meal when he found
himself unable to control what was in
his heart.
Your father will not live long,
Marie" he said. Next week should
see the end Of everything"
Yes" she said monotonously. The
end of-all"
THE end of our companionship."
She nodded, and two tears stole
down her cheeks.
DO you love MacFarlane. Marie?"
asked the young man, taking her hand
in his.
NO" she whispered.
Then why are you going to be his
wife,"
My father wishes it.
Swiftly he caught her in his arms.
But I love YOU he cried. DO you
love me? You do. can see it in your
face"
Their lips met in their first kiss
And the world which had always been
so drab, became suddenly heaven to
the girl. At once he pressed his plans
upon her. AS soon as her father was
dead they would take the two horses
and ride to Fort Barry, to be married
there
The sweetness of their secret filed
their lives. They dared not look at
each other in the cabin, they hardly
spoke. And Bob suspected nothing.
Not even when Andrew breathed his
last, nor when he was laid beneath a
pile of stones to keep off wandering
beasts, did he suspect that Milvaine
was planning to steal his sweetheart
from him.
Tomorrow we'll start" he told her
that evening, as he went to his bunk.
And for the first time it occurred to
Marie that he had never kissed her.
He did net hear the horses being
led out at dawn. Trembling, the girl
let Milvaine lift her to the saddle.
and they rode away together. Often
they refined in their horses to ex-
change embraces.
An hour later MacFarlane arose and
discovered what had happened. His
slow Scotch blood was afire. He put
on his Tnowshoes and followed dog
gedly in the horses wake. He knew
that, soft as the ground was with
T1al+pH
fast as a horse.
The fugitives saw him five miles
away, from the crest of hill. They
hurried their steeds; but the beasts
hoofs, injured by the plunging through
the halt-frozen crust, were unable to
support them. They let them 90.
watching them trot back along the
trail, end went themselves on snow
shoes.
At night MacFarlane was three
miles distant. He went more slowly,
but tirelessly. All the while, by the
light of the moon, he watched the
trail. Here they had halted, here they
had gone more slowly. He knew they
were tired. 1t would not be dawn be-
fore he caught them.
He had let the horses go past him.
Afoot he was their match. And alone.
unaided by man or beast, he meant to
wreak revenge with the revolver car
ried in his right hand.
The tracks were fresher. He was
nearly upon them. And he halted, sat.
isfied to rest for an hour. His prey
was almost in his hands.
When the dawn came UP in red and
gold he continued onward He saw
the tracks turn aside They led to-
ward a little rocky recess beside the
river bank.
And there he found them. They had
fallen asleep from exhaustion. They
lay sleeping, side by side, their hands
still clasped
MacFarlane stood looking down on
them, the weapon in his hand. He
had slipped three cartridges into it.
He could not kill a sleeping man, but
he could awaken him
The girl smiled in her sleep and her
fingers frightened upon those of the
young man.