The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-04-07
little uncomfortable, and great relief to

my head"
"Oh. don't I" begged the doctor at
such beautiful hair. l beg your pardon
but have sort Of right to praise il
because it is so Scotch-the real eol,
ora nighiand iassle's locks. The very sigh
OF 1t flowing free from its ribbon mood, in
these days of dragseiup and frizzled top
knots, gives me home feeling. Do yoi
Know have iancied more than once tha
your forbears must have been countrvmcr
OF mine? These eyes are certainly IN,
true Scotch blue, and you don't know how
1t hurts me to pour this burning stuff into
them"
The sudden, scorching pain made Floss,
hold her breath for few minutes: but
when it had subsidized somewhat, she said
eagerly:
80 you ere Scotch9 l never thought
OF 1t befJre, and yet might have known
IL DIV name, and by-by-"
by what, please.' said the doctor
with eager eyes on her face.
by my learning to like you so quick
ly," said Flossy, frankly, though her color
deepened Under his pleased look. Fol-
you must know, have always had the
greatest liking for everything Scotch
The Scottish Chiefs was my first novel
| could spout whole pages of it at the ma
ture age of seven, and Sir William Wal
lace has been my pet hero ever since
After l got beyond Miss Porter, Sir Wal
ter Scott took possession of me, and many
a scolding | got for lessons neglected be-
cause of his destinations. To this day no
poet has ever touched me as Burns has
and, in short, no country has ever inter
ested me so much as Scotland. Some day
| shall make pilgrimage therep
Dr. Buchanan flushed with strange
pleasure at this earnest praise Of his "ain
countrec." And are yOu sure" he asked,
that you are not of Scotch descent your
self? cannot help thinking so now more
than ever"
And 1 think so, too," said Flossy,
gravely, "though my father was of Irish
parentage. But, you know, once upon q
time-Im sure don't know when, for |
never can remember dates-but not such
a very great while ago, "a number of
Scotch families exiled themselves to the
north of Ireland for the sake of their re-
ligion, and formed colony there, whose
descendants are still Presbytcrians. | am
sure my father came of these people,
though l was too young ever to be talked
to about these things. For he was the
perfect realization in mind and person of
my idea of Scotch Covenanter; tall and
large and austere, with blue eyes that
looked right through one, and a mouth
that seldom smiled. He was Presbyte-
rian, dyed in the wool, and his idea of
milk for the babes was the Confession of
Faith, and the Westminster Catechism.
How well | remember standing up before
him or Sunday-I mean Sabbath-after
noon, when about so high! beginning at
What is I'll be, chief end of man ? and
going through all the mysteries Of Re-
demption, Justification, and Sanctification
about as understandingly as Deb Milton
used to read Greek to her father. And
my mother sat by-she was sunny
hearted Englishwoman-protesting in
vain against her little ones being
taught that they were the children of
wrath, and, as likely as not, forcordained
by Gods good pleasure to eternal misery.
On how plainly 1 can see it all now,
though it is many a weary day since l
saw themi'
Flossy leaned back in the great leath-
ern chair, and, shutting her poor eyes,
suffered herself to wander back into the
half-forgOtten past and DR.. Buchanan
stood by looking down upon the wistiul
young face which he had only seen be
fore sparkling with the sunshine of a
merry mood, or pale with patience under
pain, thinking how sweet it was in shine
or shadow, and feeling a curious sensation
of sympathy and interest for his fair
young patient, stirring somewhere under
his vest.
When he spoke, however, it was in the
old gay tone:
"Well, am delighted that my intui-
ton has proved correct about our being
one country folk" he said. "And now,
do you know, believe could guess your
house name; 1 could tell you at least,
what l think you Ought to have been
called"
What?" asked Flossy, laughing and
curious
zone of the sweet Scotch lassic-names,
of course; / cannot quite decide: Eff1e,
or Marian, or Flora. Flora, think, suits
you best Do you like it -
Flossy started in amuzed surprise, but
instantly assumed a demure look. Why
does Flora suit me bcst?' she asked.
DIR. Buchanan hesitated, redeemed lit
tie, and then spoke out:
"YOu must pardon me, for you have
asked the question. 1t is because you
have such flower like face. Such peach
blossom cheeks and rosebud lips, eyes
like bluebells, and hair as yellow as the
golden gOrse on our glorious Scotch
moors. You must know yourself that it
suits you"
Flossy's peach blossoms turned to car
nations, but she laughed in glee, and said,
merrily:
"Wen, you are not far wrong. My
name is Florence"
The doctor started, and flushed with
pleasure.
lis it so, indeed? ?" he said, eagerly.
&c But l should-they should-call you
Flora, as pet name. DO they"
mo-" said his patient. Fred-and
Fred is all l have now" the shadow
crossed her face again" calls me always
FIossy" The glow faded from the doc
tors face likewise, and he bit his lip. lie
had forgotten, for a moment, that she be
lOnged to a Fred" and he did not find II
pleasant to be thus abruptly reminded OF
it. lie said, presently, in quiet voice
"It is pretty little name. And, now
forget that after this we two Highland
folk are to be real friends?"
81 think that we are so already" said
Flossy, simply, looking at him with 8
clear glance of her truthful eyes, and put
ting her hand frankly into the one he OF
fered, az she rose to go.
So the days and the weeks slipped by
and the friendship, sudden as it was
lost none of its interest, but rather
grew in strength and nearness, The
visits of so sweet and bright 6
patient were like Oases in the
desert of the doctors daily toll; ant
Flossy, without acknowledging it t'
herself, passed the happiest hour of hcl
day at his office. They somehow suited
each other exactly; and, no matter what
was the topic touched upon in their many
talks, whether grave or gray, or lively Oh
severe" there was sure to be something
which gave unconscious proof OF theil
harmony of taste and temperament and
neither felt so happy, so natural, SO en-
tirely the best sell as with the other.
DR.. Buchanan made some ineffectua
struggle against the growth of a feeling
| which ba GpaU cnrld lead N pothinQ