, 1864-06-27

1t was while living in this state of fever
ish alarm and utter Lelplessncss-for they
found they could not conduct the business
Of the farm-and about fortnight after
the death of their father, that Jane, the
youngest of the sisters, suddenly awOke
early in the morning from troubled sleep,
and sprang from her bed in an agony of
terror and alright, exclaiming, as she hur-
ried on her clothes
30 Mary, Mary! well stay here no
longer. Not another day--.not another
day III Of into Glasgow this forenoon,
and consult with our uncle about selling
of, and removing into the city. We will
not stay here, Mary, to be robbed and muir
dcred."
'' | am as uneasy remaining here as you
can be, Jane," replied her sister, now
more than ever alarmed by the latter's
wild looks and unusual excitement; "but
what is the meaning of this sudden out
cry?"
at does not matter, it does not matter,
Mary" said Jane, in great agitation, and
still hurrying on her clothes; "but I'll
90 in this day to Glasgow, and consult our
uncle" And, without vouchsafng any
explanation of the cause Of this sudden
determination, so peremptOrily expressed,
she shortly afterwards took hasty break
fast, and, in few minutes more, was on
the road to Glasgow, a distance of from
four to five miles.
The uncle whom Jane proposed to con-
sr,lk .Alsa h,okbo,- Of l,r
mothers named James Davidson. He was
in poor circumstances, and had been so
all his life; and, whether from this or some
other cause, he had never stood high in the
favor Of his brother-in-law. He was a
hard-featured old man, stern and morOse,
and without any Of that patient forbearance
Of disposition and manner which gives to
age so pleasing and amiable character.
Davidson, as we have said, was poor. He
had never been able to improve his circum-
stances, or to rise above the condition of a
laborer There he started, and there he
was still. Nor did his eldest son promise
to be more fortunate in the world. He in
herited his fathers disposition, which was
an unhappy one; was idly inclined; and,
somehow or other, could never gain the
goodwill Of any one. Neither Jane nor
Mary Edmonstone had ever seen much of
their uncle; their fathers dislike to him
prevented this. Neither did they know
much about his circumstances or character;
the same cause preventing all intercourse
hetReen the families They, short, only
knew Of their unele's existence by his fro
quent applications to their father for the
loan of money, which he invariably refused.
Still, he was their uncle, and the nearest
relation they had, and, in their present
circumstances, they naturally looked on
him as the fttest person to consult regard
ing their affairs, their wishes and intentions.
These Jane now laid before the old man,
who received her kindly, Notwithstanding
his usual asperity Of manner; telling him,
at the time, that she and her sister were re-
solved at all hazards, and at whatever loss,
to sell of at Braehead and take up their res
idence in Glasgow; for" said she, ave
are day and night in danger of our lives
wonder; and besides, we arc wholly unable
TO conduct our fathers business-buying
and selling cattle--or to manage the affairs
Of the farms These are things that we
cannot do--and neither need We, as We
have enough to live upon without it. All
that we want is safety
The old man heard her patiently, and
twas some time before he madeany reply.
At length he said SIS 81
1 "Yes, enough to live upon, ! dare say
yon have. How much. did your father
leave, Jane?--in money, meanap
Observation-Disclosures three hundred pound"
replied his niece.
{ A good round sun" /" said the old man,
to be all in hard money. And is it, all
past you--all in the house" 3
aAll.p
Davidson thought for moment. Thcn1
-s Well, I'll tell you what it is. jane he.
said: al do not at all approve Of your
leaving Braehead. Ifyou do so, you throw
yourselves at once upon your little capital,
which viii not last you very long in q town
ike this, where all would be going out and
nothing coming in-and where would you
be when It was exhaustedl Now, your
byres and farm in the country are Q certain
source Of emolument to you; and, by keep
ing these, you viii make decent mainten-
ance Of il, without enroaehing on+he funds
leit you By your father, My advice to
you, then, Jane, is BY all means to remain
where you are. Hire persons to do your
heavy out-of-door work; and, as the dis
tance is not great, ! viii come out myself,
once or twice a-Week, and assist you with
both my personal services and pdyieep
aThank you, unclex replied his niece;
abut We really eannot remain at BFaehead,
on any account. ! would not remain in It
another week for any consideration" ."
ssNol what for, Jane2 What are you
afraid Off" said her uncle.
sOf being murdered, replied Jane;
ssI have but too good reason to fear it.
aNousense, Jane Who would murder
your What ridiculous fears are thesef
"But have q reason, though, for
fearing it, uncle" " replied his niece, with
emphasis. 4,
/" Reason l-What reason can you nave,
but your own idle and absurd fearsy
"Yet have, though, uncle" /" said Jane,
pertinaciously, but appearing someEhateon-
fused and embarrassed.
a.What do you moan, girli' said her
uncle, fixing his keen grey eye upon her
countenance, serutinizingly; for he OBJ
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