CHAPTER VII.
WADE DOWN.
The hugging of Wade by the happy pair had to be done metaphorically, since it was done in the sight of all Dunderbunk.
He had divined a happy result, when he missed Bill Tarbox from the arena, and saw him a furlong away, hand in hand with his reconciled sweetheart.
"I envy you. Bill," said he, "almost too much to put proper fervor into my congratulations."
"Your time will come," the foreman rejoined.
And says Belle, "I am sure there is a lady skating somewhere, and only waiting for you to follow her."
"I don't see her," Wade replied, looking with a mock-grave face up and down and athwart the river. "When you've all gone to dinner, I'll prospect ten miles up and down, And try to find a good matrimonial claim that's not taken."
"You will not come up to dinner?" Belle asked.
"I can hardly afford to make two bites of a holiday," said Wade. "I've sent Perry up for a luncheon. Here he comes with it. So I cede my quarter of your pie, Miss Belle, to a better fellow."
"Oh!" cries Perry, coming up and bowing elaborately. "Mr. and Mrs. Tarbox, I believe. Ah, yes! Well, I will mention it up at Albany. I am
