Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-02-11
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY NO

And she, vaguely disturbed, allowed
herself the happiness OF his company
without understanding what II por-
tended
They had been spearlng fish togeth-
err for the night meal when he found
himself unable to control what was In
his heart.
"Your father viii not live long,
Marie" he said. Next week should
see the end OF everything"
"Ycs." she said monotouougly. "rhe
end of-all."
"rhe end Of our companlOnshlp.
She nodded, and two tears stole
down her cheeks
"Do you love MacFarlane, Marie2"
asked the young man. taking her hand
In his.
mo" she whispered.
Then why are you going to be his
wlfe2"
"My father wishes It."
Swiftly he caught her In his arms.
but | love YOU" he cried. ADO you
love me? You do. can see II 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 hls
plans upon her. As soon as her father
was dead they would take two horses
and ride to Fort Barry. to be mar
rled there.
The sweetness of their secret filled
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 of wandering
beasts, did he suspect that Mllvaine
was planning to steal his sweetheart
from him.
Tomorrow we'll start" he told her
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
lot Mlvalne lift her to the saddle
Often they refined In their horses to
exchange embraces.
An hour later MacFarlane arose and
discovered what had happened. Ills
slow Scotch blood was aflre. He put
on his snowshoes and followed dog
gedly In the horses wake. He knew
that, soft us the ground was with
melted snow, man could travel M
fast as a horse.
The fugitives saw him Ave miles
hurried their steeds; but their beasts
hoofs, injured by the plunging through
the half-frozen crust, were unable to
support them. They let them go.
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 more slowly. He knew they were
tired. 1t would not be dawn before
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
carried In his right hand.
The tracks were fresher. He was
nearly upon them. And he halted, sat
isAed to rest for an hour. His prey
was almost In his hands.
When dawn came up in red and
gold he continued onward. He saw
the tracks turn aside. They led to-
ward 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.
Suddenly MacFarlane felt himself
choking. He lowered the revolver.
Then, STOPPING. he laid II softly ut
the girls feet and. turning, began to
make his way back toward the cabin.