One day a handsome race-rider saw Alice, took a fancy to her, and, after awhile, persuaded her to run away with him, because the blacksmith, having heard he was a married man, forbade all intercourse between him and Alice.
And this is why Peleg grieved sorely and pined at his work.
But the red-haired girl remained his friend, and, after a long, troublesome time, found poor Alice and brought her home. Her husband by this time had deserted her, leaving her lonely and broken-hearted. So grateful were both the blacksmith and his niece that, when Gwendoline took the girl to be her maid, her uncle followed, to be near them in the city of N——; and, when Gwendoline was fired with the thought of her daring scheme, it was Peleg who aided her and Alice who saw her to and from the shop, and, at last, on the day of the race, sat amid the ladies on the stand, dressed in her mistress’ clothes, sporting her gloves and her parasol, and, with a veil over her face, was a silent witness of her lady’s triumph.
And this man, Neil Emory, is married. She knows he is bound to another. Why has she done this for him? Can it be for love?
Yes! for love her hands guided his flying steed to the mine of wealth. For love her “pretty good arms” held in check the reins of fortune, only to slacken them when the prize was won.
Now she lay back amid her pillows at ease and laughed at the world and her mother, who called her “lazy.”
Where is her energy now? Gone? No! oh, no! but she can be quite as lazy as ever now, and so the beautiful, tall, supple girl stretches out her graceful limbs on the downy couch, with the same ease that the racer does his on the greensward.
“How glad I am that he does not know!” she thought. She was not aware Neil had discovered her, for, when she opened her eyes in the carriage, Peleg alone was with her; and, when they drew up before the blacksmith’s cottage, her hair was again under her black wig, and she was able to alight and enter, leaving him to return thanks by the driver.
She was lying on the little bed in the back room of this humble home when Alice appeared with her garments, as usual. Her carriage stood a short distance off, under some trees, and it was not long before she appeared in her own dress, looking tall and stately, and, with her faithful maid, drove home, through the gloom.
Mrs. Gwinn had not gone to the race. She never attended races; in fact, she had preferred to spend the day with a friend.