The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-11

Old Andrew grunted and nodded.
MacFarlane continued:
I've been thinking over that prop.
osition of yours all winter, Renfrew,
and it suits me. | guess | can make
her happy, and ~forty-one isn't zoo old,
neither"
He did not say that he had thought
over the proposition until his whole
heart had gone out toward the girl.
He wanted her more than anything
on earth. But he did not think it
necessary to say that. either to An
drew or to the girl.
When Marie came in Andrew took
her hand and gave it to Bob.
You'll suit each other" he said.
III get you to bring the Reverend
Spears along with you when you come
for 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 un.
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
Milvaine 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 portended.
They had been spearing fish togeth.
er for the night meal when he ound
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 o 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 l love you" he cried. DO you
love me? You do. l 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
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.
Tomorrow Wen 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 not 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 Iater MacFarlane arose and
discovered what hal happened. His
slow Scotch blood was aire. He put
on his s~nowshoes and followed dog.
gedly in the horses wake. He knew
that, soft as the ground was with
melted snow, a mar could travel as
fast as a horse.
The fugitives saw him five miles
away, from the crest of a hill. They
hurried their steeds; but the beasts
boots, injured by the plunging through
the half-frozen crust, were unable to
support them. They let them 90,
watching them trot back along the
trail, and 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 nor 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.
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
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 il.
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.
Suddenly MacFarlane felt himself
choking. He lowered the revolver.
Then' STOPPING, he laid it softly at the
girls faat and turni,0 --