he bundle after her, and then the girl sped
across the snow through the side yard to the little woods, where at the
bars her lover awaited her. She climbed up behind him on his brown
mare, Bess, and in a short while reached Barton Stone's house.

Logan had already related the circumstances of the case to the
minister, who said that the young couple were fully justified in the
step they had taken; and so they were married. Stone and his wife urged
them to remain the night with them, but Abner said that Mr. and Mrs.
Rogers were expecting them. Accordingly they rode away, and reached the
Rogers home about midnight. Late as it was, the entire family were up
and fully prepared to receive them.

CHAPTER XXXI.

A NOVEL BRIDAL TOUR

The next morning the young couple, accompanied by Susan Rogers, with
Rache in the capacity of serving-woman, set out on their bridal tour, a
three-mile ride over the snow, to their future home. A stout sledge
drawn by a yoke of oxen was the primitive equipage of the bridal party.

The wedding presents, though the gifts of but one family, were many and
useful, if not beautiful and costly. A feather bed and a pair of fat
pillows were Mrs. Rogers' most valuable gift. "No, Betsy," she said as
she tied them up in an old quilt, "we hain't robbin' ourse'ves; we've
got more beds an' pillahs then we hev people to sleep on 'em; besides,
hain't we got plenty geese?"

"Nevah you mind, Betsy," chuckled Mason Rogers; "Cynthy Ann knows
better'n you do whut she kin spar' tow'ds settin' you an' Ab up to
housekeepin'. The real offus uv a bride is to be ornamental. So, all
you got to do this mawnin' is to set up on thet ther sled, an' look
purty."

A coarse but well-bleached tablecloth, a gourd of lard, a cheese, half
a loaf of cake, a skillet and a coffee boiler completed Mrs. Rogers'
list.

The gifts of her husband were no less generous: a side of meat, a
supply of meal, potatoes, hominy, sugar, a jug of cider vinegar, and
another of molasses, concerning which gifts he declared, in answer to
Abner's protest: "Of course, you'n' Betty kin live on love; so I jes'
put in them eatables fur Susan--pore gal, she ain't got no husban' yit
to mek her fergit she's got a stommick. Besides, even you an' yer bride
will find livin' on love a weak'nin' exper'ence artah the fust few
days; an' this snow looks lak it hed come to stay all wintah. The roads
'tween heah an' Bourbonton won't be broke through 'nough fur y