htmares they had been--by a knocking on his store door,
and when he sat up in bed to listen, he heard Rita's voice calling:--

"Billy Little, let me in."

Billy ran to unlock the front door, crying: "Come in, come in, God bless
my soul, come in. Maxwelton's braes _are_ bonny, bonny, bonny. Tell me,
are you alone?"

"Yes, Billy, I'm alone, and I fear they will follow me. Hide me
somewhere. But you'll freeze without your coat. Go and--"

"Bless me, I haven't my coat and waistcoat on. Excuse me;
excuse--Maxwelton's--I'll be out immediately." And the little old fellow
scampered to his bedroom to complete his toilet. Then he lighted a
candle, placed wood on the fire, and called Rita back to his sanctum
sanctorum. She was very cold; but a spoonful of whiskey, prescribed by
Dr. Little, with a drop of water and a pinch of sugar, together with a
bit of cheese and a biscuit from the store, and the great crackling fire
on the hearth, soon brought warmth to her heart and color to her cheeks.

"What are you going to do with me now you've got me? They will come here
first to find me," she asked, laughing nervously.

"We'll go to Dic," said Billy, after a moment's meditation. "We'll go to
Dic as soon as you are rested."

"Oh, Billy Little, I--I can't go to him. You know I'm not--not--you
know."

"Not married? Is that what you mean?"

"Yes."

"I'm mighty thankful you are not. Dic's mother is with him. It will be
all perfectly proper. But never mind; I have another idea. I'll think it
over as we ride."

After Rita had rested, Billy donned the Beau Brummel coat and saddled
his horse, and the pair started up Blue to awaken Dic. He needed no
awakening, for he was sitting where we left him, on the hearth, gazing
into a bed of embers.

When our runaway couple reached Dic's house, Billy hitched his horse,
told Rita to knock at the front door, and took her horse to the stable.

When Dic heard the knock at that strange hour of the night, he
called:--

"Who's there?"

"Rita."

Dic began to fear his troubles had affected his mind; but when he heard
a voice unmistakably hers calling, "Please let me in; I have brought you
a Christmas gift," he knew that he was sane, and that either Rita or her
wraith was at the door. When she entered, clad in her wedding gown,
coonskin coat and beaver cap, he again began to doubt his senses and
stood in wonder, looking at her.

"Aren't you glad to see me, Dic?" she asked, laughing. Still he d