The Night Riders

en a higher price than Foster Crain, the poultry vendor, had quoted-she was a fa

vehicle had disappeared before she started back home. Therefore she dallied over her shopping in a truly feminine way, and droppe

pleasant as the coming had been. She looked about her, hoping to find some one-that is, some one besides the Squire-who might be going in the direct

eeting was wholly an accidental one, but after her persistent efforts to avoid him all the morning, the encounter seemed like the esp

strongly aroused within her bosom a spirit of determined opposition. "I have been looking for you all the morning. Where

at she could have availed herself of its protection in the present instance; but she

ire, glibly. "Your mother said you had been gone but a little w

with a covert smile. "It wa

n. "Riding's better than walking any day, and good company's better than ei

ve chosen the long, warm walk, even with the additional burden of her bundles, in preference to his company. As her mother had said only that morning, it was throug

it," said the Squire, apologetically, as they drove off. "But, never mind!" he added, jocos

y, with a certain

trip alone, do you?" inquired the Squire, la

depend on me to go along with

as promptly moved away. "Haven't I been depending on your going all the while, and haven't I said that I

at wouldn't," annou

wedding trip I'll buy

tily in her own light," said the Squire, s

w s

y good reasons why she

ally, arousing to some

"You and your mother are depending on the toll-gate for a living, and it makes you a comfortabl

her breath wit

swered, quic

y line only the other night, and cut down the pole of one gate in the edge of

" he continued, thoughtfully, shrewdly following the impression he had evidently mad

e raiders payin' a visit to the New Pi

dubious shake of the head. "The night-riders seem determined to make

harm us," insisted Sally,

they appear to have done, they would not hesitate to burn the toll-house over yo

e girl sat buried in deep

uld you go?" asked the Squire, at last break

ows!" cried the

thing, I fear-it would leave you two women in rather a bad plight. But if you'll only agree to marry me, why, there's a nice home waiting

as long as the Squire entertained the faintest hope of ultimately winning her the gate was secured to her mother, and therefore she had not felt troubled on this score; but now that a new and unloo

ld no terrors for her; she could hire out-wash, cook, sew-perhaps some day marry the man of her choice when he should be in a

" asked the Squire, persuasively, almo

ely nodded

answered, i