It is the ancient law." They rode on next morning in a rough road between clearings in the forest, the boy and girl being again together on the colt's back, she in front.
"You did not have your fortune told," said Miss Margaret.
"It _has_ been told," Jack answered.

"I am to be married in England to a beautiful young lady.

I thought that sounded well and that I had better hold on to it.

I might go further and fare worse." "Tell me the kind of girl you would fancy." "I wouldn't dare tell you." "Why ?" "For fear it would spoil my luck." They rode on with light hearts under a clear sky, their spirits playing together like birds in the sunlight, touching wings and then flying apart, until it all came to a climax quite unforeseen.

The story has been passed from sire to son and from mother to daughter in a certain family of central New York and there are those now living who could tell it.