The Meeker herald., 1917-02-17

by her. Dinah was shocked to see bel
young mistress give evidence OF hav
ing a common huckster for n lover
She said nothing to Catherine. but ir
her heart she vas turning over the
prospect Of mlsalliance.
Tracy came home to dinner and went
away again after 1t was finished. Soon
after his departure Catherine went IL
the barn md proposed to Marcy IL
take him In her fathers sleigh part
of the way on his return journey. He
accepted the offer rather from desire
for ride with the girl who had
charmed him than to get II lift. De-
scending from the loft. he harnessed
the horse. Catherine went to the house
for her wraps. und. returning. Marcy
got down In the bottom Of the sleigh
under the robes. that he might not be
seen leaving the premises.
Dinah was not TO he thus fOOlad. Her
mistress going md coming from the
barn. especially carrying platter GOV
cred with a napkin. was. to say the
least. suspicious. She believed the man
she suspected to be her mistress lover
was In the sleigh, and as Catherine
drove away Dinah went to the barn to
look for the huckster. Not finding him.
her fears were confirmed, and she be-
lieved Catherine had eloped
1t did not take Dinah long while
to make up her mind that her master
should be informed Of step which
might turn out to be regretted. 1t was
no great distance to. Tracy's place Of
business, and the old woman went
there as fast as she could so and told
him that bis daughter had eloped with
a peddlcr la Tracy's own sleigh. Tracy
borrowed n sleigh and. taking Dinah
with him, drove at breakneck pace In
the direction she said the fugitives had
taken.
Unfortunately for Tracy. he had no.
unstrapped the bells from about the
horse. Catherine. unstispicious OF dan
ger. was not hurrying. and 1t was not
long before her father caught sight Of
the sleigh that contained her aud Mar
cey. She had thought it prudent that
Marcy should retain his position I'M.
der the robes until they had attained
some distance from her home, and
when her father saw her she alone
was visible. Hearing a distant Jingle
Of sleighbells. she turned. and. seeing
horse and sleigh coming at rapid
pace. scattering the snow. she sur
missed that something had gone wrong.
The position Of Marcy was one Of
great danger. for II caught 1t was
quite likely 1t would come out that
he was m American soldier. Cath.
crimes position was difficult, because
II she were not convicted o: aiding a
spy she would be accused of having q
lover unknown to her father or, in.
deed. any one else. What was to be
done! She told Marcy that they were
pursued. and. since she did not know
Marcy had been suspected as u spy.
II this were proved he would to hang
ed II caught ~ ---
Catherine looked back and saw that
the sleigh behind her was gaining on
them rapidly. There was no hope Of
escape. As soon as she had seen that
she was pursued she had whipped up
her horse and made 1t plain that she
was trying to effect an escape. Had
she gone on at an ordinary gait she
would have been in a better position.
As 1t was, no story could be concocted
to satisfy her father. However. seeing
that escape was impossible. she drew
rein and waited for the blow to fall.
As soon as Tracy overlook her he
jumped from his sleigh and. running
to the other one. pulled the robes from
Oh Marcy. Tracy. whose only idea was
that his daughter was In position to
compromise herself. was livid with
rage. Looking Marcy over and seeing
TINT despite his countryman's clothes
he was fine looking young fellow. he
came to sudden resolution. Order.
ing Catherine into the sleigh with
Dinah. be got In with his captive and
drove In the direction Of a church
spire. Stopping at the parsonage. he
ordered Marcy and his daughter both
out Of the sleighs and drove them into
the house. They were received by the
parson. and Tracy said to his captive:
II don't know who you are. but !
don't believe you are huckster.
think know gentleman when I see
him. and I'm sure you are one. What
the relation has been between you aud
my daughter doesn't matter. for you
shall either marry her OF l will kill
you
Marcy and Catherine cast a quick
glance at each other. This unexpected
lenouement changed the conditions.
Il am a gentleman" replied Marcy,
and the one object Of my life Is to
marry your daughter"
Catherine was not consulted In the
matter and needed not to comply or
dissent. She was married passively.
As soon as the two were made one
Tracy returned to his sleigh. where
Dinah was still sitting. aud drove
away without word. Marcy and his
wife went out and stood beside their
sleigh. and for the first time since their