Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-05-07

being alone in house for months. and
thought / wonld try the Low country
again."
Archie was surprised to find, as time
nassed on, and he and Kirstie dropped IN
to their old friendly terms. how little
changed she was In mind from what she
used to be-; the same simple. guieiess
creature. strong as a rock for truth ana
right, and thoroughly unselfish.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gray were so much attach
ed to her that they looked on her almost
as a child of the house, and yet she was
was so unconscious of any specla! favor
that she quite avoided all jealousy on the
mart of her fellow servants. Archie stald
ON at Anchensack, and became almost as
much part of tho household as kirstie :;
the other servants went and came, but
these two remained fixtures.
When Archie had been three years with
Mr.. Gray, the shepherd at Dvnefsot let
to take a small farm, and Mr.. Gray offered
it to Archie, adding, with SLY glance,
that he would have to look out for wife
in that case. Archie thanked him, and
asked for a few days to think OF it; which
Mr.. GRAY willingly granted. That was
on the afternoon of Sunday, which was
bright September day, Archie asked
Kirstie if she would take walk with him
to the rowan tree, and there, at the place
where they first met. and where they had
pIayed and worked as children. he asked
her If she would be his lifelong compan-
ion. No one can doubt what kirstie's
answer was he had been the love of her
childhood and of her later years, and the
sun never shone on prouder. happier
bride.
1t was an additional source of hap
piness, too, the fact that they were to live
in her old home; though many one
would have thought it solitary place
enough. II was three miles from Au-
chensack. and about as far from the near
est shepherds house, and was away quite
I'D among the hills. commanding splen-
did view of one of the loveliest OF the
lovely Dumfreshire valleys. 1t was a
roomy, comfortable cottage. white
washed, with matched roof, nice garden
in front and two elm trees on one side.
Inside, ii was the picture of comfort; the
kitchen, especially, with its sanded floor,
clean as hands could make it /; the dresser,
colored bowls and pigs" the long settle
ny lH6 ilISs duu tuc dullHuC tioNh5 "hiSh
had belonged to KirstIe's grandfather. 1t
stood Just about a hundred yards from
the mouth of the deep, dark, precipitious
glen which took its name from the Dyne,
a little burn which brawled along at the
foot.
Archie entered on his duties at Martin
mas, and they were married on the
Hogmanay following, at Auchensack.
L IL.
general Inerry-making. And so time had
slipped away, every season seeming hap
pier than the last, kirstie thought. and
happiest of all, the dark days OF winter,
since little blossom came on Noyem-
Der day, and filed their cup of happiness
to over-fowing. 1t was a lovely, fair
little infant, with Archie's blue eyes and
faxen hair; and he was, if possible, more
passionately fond of it than Kirstie her
self.
Kirstie thought of her happy lot, with a
deep, unalterable thankfulness. rs she sat
absently rocking the cradle. She was one
of those women who have great difficulty
of utterance, whose words are few but
their thoughts are many, and above all
her religion was truly part of herself and
of her daily life. The sun had now set,
and darkness was coming on, while the
wind whistled more shrilly than ever. and
with an eerie sound, which made hen
shudder She was becoming really anx
ious about Arches long-continued alb
sence. He had left home in the morning
with the first peep of daylight, to clint
the hill. according to the custom, aud in
tended to come home, as he usually did,
about eleven.
She tried, meanwhile, to calm her anX-
iety by thinking that something might
have happened to one of the sheep. OF
that he might have been detained, gath
ering them into one fold in preparation
for the approaching storm. At length sht
heard the dog scratching at the door, ano
joyfully said to herself: ''He Gamma be fal
off moo" instead of running .ioyfully tc
the fire, or curling himself up beneath one
of the beds. as he usually did, began tc
jump fawningly upon her, and TO whine
pitifully; she could not understand the
reason OF this at all, when suddenly ar
idea burst upon her mind, which speedily
became certainty. Archie was i'll, hat
hurt himself, perhaps, somewhere on th'
hill, and the dog hads come for help. Shs
shook off deadly fantness which crep
over her at the thought; and, rousing her
self, she drew the fire together, in case OF
sparks. and placed the cradle on one o
beds for safety, and throwing plate
about her, followed the dog
During these preparations, ''Ladde
had stood still and motionless as a statue
but when she moved towards the door he
jumped with delight. fawned upon her
and licked her hands, and then boundet
hastily forward in the direction Of the glen