Our Novelettes.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1753, 28 May 1886, Page 5

Our Novelettes.

A EUSTIC COMEDY. 1 r (pohtinued.) "If that's all the trouble, I know where tc ■ get a key. But would you not be frightened Aleck' P Folk might call it a robbery." " That wouldn't be true. The money it ' mine as much os his, for I've worked the hardest for it.Jand there's a lofc of yours, Kitty, ' and he wouldn't make much noise about it. " Ho wouldn't disgrace the name by making it a byword, and he likes you so much that \ he wouldn't seek to get you into bad trouble. There would be murdor though if he got hold of us himself." That waa the way in which the elopement was planned. During the next few days the cousins wore in almost constant conversation, and even shrewd Adam was deceived, and | thought, po?r man, that his niece had for- , taken Willie Allan, not from any mercenary \ motives, but because of the weighty advice he [ had given her. Never had he felt moro , serenely h-»ppy than on the noxt Sunday af- , ternoon. The hare had been cooked exactly to his liking,, the fore parts in soup, the.hind , parts in a pie — and after a dinner that might have pleased an Emperor, followed by a \ taste of his fine old brandy— brandy kept for , exclusive >ub- of fftx-hunting squires who would sometimes lunch at the " Bod Lion" when their meet was in the neighbourhood — he tallied forth for his usual Sunday afternoon walk, !pipo in mouth, and Jack and Meg at his heels. "If you want a bifc of Bport," Baid Kitty to him as he was going out, " take a turn iv the 40-acre about dusk." He had no chance of asking her meaning, for there were others about, but he said to himself, " Ah ! she's a sharp ono is Kit. That means another dinner, or I'm cheated," and went his way. No Booner was he gone than a tremendous bußtle took place |in the publio house, although it was shut on Sundays. Aleck did not know what to take and what to leave. " It's four weary mileß we have to walk into Scotland," said Kitty, " so. the less we have to carry the better, Aleck. That box '11 be a weight to take in itself, lad." " We'll havo plenty of time though. Better say we've gone for a walk, and he'll be as pleased as Punch. Have you opened the chest?" " Yes," said Kitty ; " it's all right. The only pity is I could not open the little box, and you'll have. Jo take it with us." Darkness was just falling when the two fugitives emerged from the " Bed Lion." The peaceful villagers were all wifchin doors, for it was bitterly cold, and the sharp north wind had begun to drive stray flakes of snow in front of it. Which way should they take P There could be no doubt of that ; down the hill by the foot road, across the brook by the single-plank bridge, through the wood until the highway was reached, and then a bold push to get across the Border. Many a Northumbrian lad and lass in the old time had trudged to the altar in that style, but few of the gallants had carried a ( rcasure with them such as was under Ajcck'b arm. Many a sharp '.look the ruuaways cast on every Bide, lest there should be any suspiciou witness of their flight, but not a Boul did they see, and the friendly snow dropped softly on their treacherous footprints.. Neither said a word till they reached tho old willow, near which the brook was crossed by a trembling plank. Then Kitty grew nervous. " I'm frightened to cross the burn," she said ; " go you firet." "Be quick, then," he answered. " I'll hold it" ; and, getting swiftly to the other side, he seized the end of the unsteady bit of wood. But, instead of following at once, Kitty screamed, " There's Jack! your father must be chasing üb." Aleck stood undecided ajmoment, then dashed the frail bridge into the water. " Hide where you cau," he shoured, ho can't jump the burn, and I'll make off with the money." " Oh ! he'll kill me," pleaded the girl. Don't run away from me, Aleck." " You shouldn't have beon so slow," he retorted, with the box;|already under his arm. " Stop, you blackguardly thief ! Stop, I say 1" hoarsely shouted , his father, running up from where he had been looking for some rabbits. But the son turned in terror and fled— not far, however for a new comer appeared on the scene. Willie Allan true to his appointment with Kitty, though he hardly expected to see her, emerged from the wood. " Hulloa," he said' placing himbelf iv front of the runaway, " What's up P" " Fell him dead 1" yelled Adam. " Let him go," eaid Kitty, but so softly fchat her lover could not make out what she said. "You'd bcttter turn back," he said to Aleck, but the fugitive, brought to bay, was desperate. " Let me be," he said, "or by I'll stab you," drawing a clasp-knife from k his pocket. " You Bconndrol 1" cried the other in a white heat, " would yon commit murder ?" Willie was credited with possessing moro " science " than any other man in Bluoklord, and where will you find good boxing if not in North Northumberland ? He made a feint, and the vengei'nl blade of his adversary glittered iv a momentary streak of moonlight, but to no purpose, for a side-leap carried its object out of reach, and Willie landed a lefthander, like a horse's kick, just above the right eye of his opponent, who fell at his length in the buow, and in a trice was divested of his knife, which the conqueror threw contemptuously into the brook. " Get up and fight like a mon,""~he said, bufc Aieck was beaten. Adam was in ecstasies, " bring the box round, lad, never mind that villain." Willie lifted it, bnt on feeling the weight : " No, no," he replied, dropping it quickly, "he can take it back himself. Lilt it up and wade," he said, " and if you drop it or try any tricks, I'll bray your head into putty." " Let me carry it round by the big bridge !" besought the now thoroughly cowed Sandy. " No, by heaven," said the other, " through the burn you go," and, willing or not, he forced him to ford tbe current, which a moment after ho himßelf cleared in a running leap. " What is it all about P" he then found time to ask. " You've stopped a bit of ugly work, I'm thinking," said Adam, upon whom the lull extent of the crime began to dawn, as he dimly recognized the shape, size, and weight of his money -box in the clouded, uncertain light. " These two have been trying to rob me." " Never !" said Willie. " Kitty, you wouldn't do that ?"■ ' " Come up and make sure," Baid Adam. With that they all- began silently to retrace their steps, only Kitty slipped away in front as if to avoid embarrassing questions. Willie was very thoughtful. Just as they were coming to the door he said to Adam in a low, troubled voice, which he tried hard to mako indifferent, " Look here, Adam, you haven't lost anything by this row, and there isu't much use in exposing her, is there ?" " No," was the reply, " but since they're so fond, I'll make them marry and set up house ,by themselves." With that they entered the kitchen, where Aleck, all shivering with hiß bath, deposited the bos. A cheerful firelight showed Kitty, not, as wight have been ez,-

pected, with abashed countemnce nnd the d(>mennor of a culprit awaiting Ben'cnce, bul . with heightened colour and spurring eyesfar bonnier than ever, as her old lover coulc not help thinking. "There's your true blood," she said tc Adam, but pointing to his son, " and tbii line been a fino nipht's work for bim. 31 beg-in wifch robbing you that's done so mucb 3 for him; then the BWecl heart that liked him fo well as to run away with Mm, ho left on i the wrong Bide of the burn ; and then to draw ' his knife on an honest man ! You'll never " seek to make me wed him now ?"' t " That you shall, you shameless hussy," broke out' her uncle. "You're not fit for • Allan, and I'm sure from what I've seen thia night he would'nt look at a thief." t "No, I couldn't do that," eaid Willie; 5 " but there's no need for me here " and with a sad and regretful couutenanco ho was about [ to leave when he was stopped by a bin et of . mischievous laughter from the impenitent but r bewitching culprit." , " It's Bet's box," ehe said. , " Bet's box !" said Aleck ; aud '• Bet's box !" . echoed Adam and Willie. " Aye, Bet's box," said Kitty. [ " Sure enough, it's not my box, 1 ' said the ; uncle, dragging ifc into the light ;" itß the i, same size, but not the colour. But whatever ■ is making it bo heavy ?" i That was soon discovered. The redheaded servant girl came forward with a smile on her . gaping mouth that suggested the part she had , taken in the trick. " There's a stone of shot," she said, '* and there's the horseshoes from the back yard, and there' 6 bhe rusty keys tbat used fco lie in the stable, and here's my old petticoats stuffed in to keep fchem from jingling, and," she added " the weights and the flat-iron 1" "By George 1" said Willie, ho must have meant to start a pack. Would you have stabbed me to save that dirt P" •' He didn't know wbat it was," answered for him Kitty. I just wanted to try his mettle, so I put this box in the room of the other one, and it's back in its place now, neither touched nor opened." 41 I'm glad o' that, lass," said the old publican, and though there was not much in the words there was a something in the voice that made them sink deep. "It would have been a Bad day for me when I found you turning agaiust me. But, Willie, lad, if you want to catch this skittish filly, you'd better be quick. Down to the minister's you go to-morrow and get your names asked ; and as for you, you lubberly aumph, after making a fool of yourself like that, what's to come of you P" " Marry him to Bet," suggested Kitty. "The very ticket!" returned Jaer uncle. " Will you have him, Bet ?" •' Aye, that will I," said the laconic maid. " You'll go down to the minister's as well, then," said Adam to Aleck. "And now, lass, bring us a drop o' that brandy, and put tho kettle on and bring the sugar, and we'll christen the bargain." tjo a few weeks afterward there wore two weddiuga in Blackiord, and when the lads o£ the village " roped " Willie Allan he gave them a whole half sovereign to drink, and waa therefore allowed to enter the croft-house with a thunder-storm of cheers ; but when they did the same thing to Aleck ho morosely cut the rope with a knite, and that is why he has been so unlucky ever since ; for if you go to Blackford now you will find the croft-house to be the neatest, prettiest, nicest house there, while ever since old Adam's death, which happened mauy years ago, the " Ked Lion," has been so dirty, and bqualid, and disreputable that the Marquis has serious thoughts of taking away the license and turning it into a butcher's shop. — Longman's Magazine.