The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-14

Young mistress siNe - T
ing n common huckster lot i"' i
She said nothing TO Catherine put -
her heart she was turning over '"e
prospect of a misalliance.
Tracy came home 10 dinner and went
away again after il was finished Sooh
after his departure Catherine went 70
the harm and proposed TO Marco! u
take him in her fathers sleieh par
of the way on his return journey. Iie
accepted the offer rather from a uesne
for a ride with the girl VINO nau
charmed him than to get HIT be
scendinC from the loft be harhesseu
the horse. Catherine went TO the mouse
for her wraps. and. returning, Marcy
got down in the bottom OF the sielsh
nnder the robes. that he might not DE
seen leaving the premises
Dinah was not TO be thus fooled her
mistress going and coming from the
barn. especially carrying platter Gov
cred with 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 10
look for the huckster. Not finding him.
her fears were confirmed, and she De-
lieved Catherine had eloped.
Ii did not take Dmah long while
to make up her mind that her master
should be Informed Of step when
might turn ont 10 be regretted. II was
no great distance 10 Tracy's place 0f
business. ana the old woman went
there as fast as she could 90 and told
him that his daughter had cloped with
a peddler in Tracy's own sleigh. Tracy
borrowed sleigh and. taking Dinah
with him. drove at Il breaknerk pace in
the direction she said the fuCitives had
taken.
Unfortunately for Tracy, he had no'
unstrapped the bells from about the
horse Catherine. unsuSpicious Of dan
ger was not huuylng, ANA it was not
long before her father caught sight of
the sleigh that contained her and Mar
cey She had thought it prudent that
Marcy should retain his position un-
der the robes until they had attained
some distance from her home, and
when her father saw her she alone
was visible. Hearing 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 it would come out that
he was an American soldier. Cath.
crimes position was difficult because
II she were not convicted OF aiding a
spy she would be accused OF having
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
why, both came 10 the conclusion that
Marcy had been suspected as a spy.
IL this were proved he would be hang.
ed if caught
Catherine looked back and saw that
the sleigh behind her was gaining on
them rapidly. There was no hope of
escape As soon rs she had seen that
she was pursued she had whipped up
her horse and made it plain that she
was trying 10 effect an escape Had
she gone on at an ordinary gait she
would have been in n better position
As 1t was, no story could be concerted
TO satisfy her father However. seeing
that escape was impossible, she drew
rein and waited for the blow to fall.
As soon rs Tracy overlook her he
jumped from his sleigh and, running
TO the other one. pulled the robes from
or Marcy. Tracy, whose only idea was
that his daughter was in Il position to
compromise herself. was livid with
rage Looking Marcy over and seeing
that despite his countryman's clothes
he was fine hooking young fellow. he
came TO sudden resolution. Order.
ing Catherine into the sleigh with
Dinah. he got in with his captive and
drove in the direction of church
spire stopping ut the parsonage. he
ordered Marcy and his daughter both
out of the sleighs and drove them into
the house. They were received bv the
parson. aud Tracy said to his captive
Il don't know who you are, but
don't believe You are huekster.
think | know gentleman when | see
him. and I'm sure you are one. What
the relation has been between you ana
my daughter doesn't matter. for yor
shall either marry her or | win xii
you"
Marcy and Catherine cast a ouicl
glance at each other This unexpecte,
denouement changed the conditions.
Il am gentleman" replied Marcey
and the one object Of my life ia I,
marry your daughter"
Catherine was not consulted in tn
matter and needed not to comply O
dissent She was married passiyely
AS soon as the two were made on
Tracy returned TO his sleigh. when
Dinah was still sitting apd dro,