The workingman's advocate., 1870-04-30

"Na," replied she, I" l dinna say that
| merely meant that be was an independen
man like you, wha, if ye asked him to do Il
wouldna refuse on such a ground as tn
want O. consent O. his wife. Oh, wha
will my puir father do? 1 Gamma live if b
is in sorrow add perplexity. weeping
II saw William M'Gillavry yesterday
He asked kindly for ye. Ye haena visited
him for lang time. iva husbands sal
like each other might meet oftener, and tw'
wives, wha agree in the ae grand point o
submittin to the authorit O their lords ant
masters, might, wi advantage, be CREATE
gossips than we hae been"
+" Might try William, think ye, Mar
garet p said be.
"My puir advice Gamma be O mucklt
avail to ye," said she ye ken best yer
self but l think, If he were asked, be
wodna refuse the sma' favor
" | see you wish me TO try him. Peggy
said he =; g and will try him.
Away fastened the deacon to William
NJ 'Gillavry. He found bim at home
and, as a deacon, was well received.
Having opened the subject to him, he found
that MGillavry was not inclined 70 become
cautioner, unless be got put into some Sc
curity, that, in the event Of his being called
upon to pay the money, he might, in the
end, be safe. This proposition was not
expected by the deacon, who did not
possess any portable security that be could
give. He endeavored to get bis friend to
be satisfied with his own obligation, to keep
him scatheless against all the effects Of his
obligation but the other would not agree
10 this, and, pretending to be called away
by some one, left the room for a little,
to back instantly. In the mean
lime, the deacon heard a conflict of words
IN an adjoining apartment, in the course of
which several halfsentences met bis ear.
The wOrdy war was between William
and his wife. Her notes were
'hrill and high, and repeatedly she said
. Get my brither Johns bill frae him.
that will do''-"he, puir fellow Gamma
oay't, at ory rate, and | want to save him
rae the hands O. the law" The deacon
lid not understand this broken conversation I;
,ut be could easily perceive that his friend
vas taking the advice Of bis wife. Fhe
words of old Fleming's ballad Of evil wives
,ame into bis mind -
'An evil wye is the werss aught
That ony man can bali,
Fer he may never ht 10 ssught
Onle,s he be her aklalf."
As Ae muttered the last words, forgetful Of
lis own ease, his friend entered.
"My wife's brither," said ne. I" has bill
D your corporations box for E250. You
an impledge that in my hands, and I'll
ign yer father-in-law's security"
"The corporations prOperty's no mine"
nswered the deacon "but ye can easily
ct baud O the paper, and III gle ye back
etter that Wilma use't unless I'm obliged
0 pay yer fatber-in-law's debt. Naebody
FilI ever hear o't."
The proposition did not altogether please
be deacon, who, though very far from
'eing an upright man, did not care about
lis fraility being known to another. He
aid he would think of what had passed
'etween them, and came away. His wife,
rhen- he came hO1e, was waiting IN ''e
reatest anxiety. Her father had called in
! . meantime. and told her, that, if lac did
ol get the bill Immediately, with two good
ames upon it, be would be put in Jail.
This slarmed his daughter, who, If she
ould save ber father, cared Little for the ruin
f ber husband. She heard with deep an
,uish the announcement Of another disap-
continent. Having been weeping before
e came 10, hcr eyes were red and swollen,
nd the bad intelligence again struck the
ountain Of her tears. and made her weep
md moan bitterly. The deacon was moved
it the picture of distress. lie bad not told
ler William MGillavry's proposition, but
,nly simply that he had refused, unless
adequate security were put into his hands.
His wife's grief wrung from him every sa-
he could bestow for be could not
stand and witness the sorrow of bis tender
and obedient partner, while there remained
anv chance of amelorating her anguish.
There is ae way, Peggy, o gettin this
affair managed" " said he. at last.
"What is that" said she, looking up,
and throwing back her curls, which, amidst
all her grief, were never forgot.
William M M'Gillavry's wife's s brother, -
said be, is awin our corporation f25O ;
and his bill for that sum is in our corpora
ton box He says he would sign the bill
to your father, if | gave him bis brother-in-
laws bill 10 hauld in security; but I'm no
quite sure if that wad be honest"
Thae things lie far out O. a weak wo-
mans way" said she. I'VE haena the
power o mini possessed by you men but,
if were enti led to speak a word on the
subject, ] would say there was nae dis
honesty whar there was nae wrang. Ye
ken the sigin O my fathers bills mere
form and, if William MGillavry's brither-
in-law's bill were taen out the box, it would
just be put back again. Correct me, my
dear Murdoch, if ye think me wrang."
:" / dinna think ye're far wrang, Peggy,
said the deacon "but how is William
M'Gillavry's brither-in-law's bill to be got
out O. our corporation box ? There's the
l medina ask woman how
that's to be got Owre. +"
"Na, MurdOch-ye medina ask me that
question" replied the wife. " It's far be.
yond the reach O my puir brain but, il
it's in the power O. ony mortal man to say
how difficulty o that kinds to be master
ed, it is in that o Murdoch Waldie.
Maybe ye may get cast through yel
powerful mind. Oh if be saw me distractii
father He left me just as you came in,
wi the tears O. sorrow rinnin doun his auld
cheeks. Will ye think OF. my deal
Murdoch? 2" (embracing him) WHAT
weel intended Gamma be wrang and whats
planned by mind like yours Gamma fail. ,
"I couldna get the key frae Andrew
Todd" said the grati6ed deacon, unless
l told him an untruth.