The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-06-11


One man came oftener shsn'she rest,
SO often that it x.s whispered about
that Helen and Duncan were counting,
nor did Duncan attempt to deny what
be wished in bis Utmost heart was
true. He had loved Helen long, and
had only waited for q farm to enter the
lists openly. Nov be had farm and
decent house to take 4 wife to, be
thought the right time had come; and
soon, seeing he had the good will Of
both father aud mother, he was CON-
tent to wait patiently until some happy
day when Maggie's heart would waken
up, and his love meet it's reward. Aud
if Duncan was patient, it was because,
never having doubted his success, he
experienced sort Of qualification in
beating down bis passion Ok enticipat'
ing from a distance the ftims when
Helen would spin by bis avn hearth,
and pay him back aeufeld for what she
made him suffer nov. 8 *#
The honest folk / in B.lquhidder
called Helen a lucky lassie, and
watched the courting With general in.
tsreat, DOT ;:upni1sd With envy, for
Duncan was one Of the handsomest and
steadiest Of tho young men !; more
th,n that, and what perhaps wont even
further among. the g,rls;, Duncan was
the champion vrestlet, runner and
=! s .ad Il. ttNiee q lad he o.r:
ried off ll p1izea from fey ths Bta4apE.t Gsth-
eripg. Dgpcsa'e eaurting had made
no further impression upon Helen xhes
the Gathering Of l85-drew On. All.
tho world went to Braemar that year,
and Duncan, ppeh f. bis : 'oWvp u aprpra..es
and the indignation Of the Belqqhidder
people, was beaten both. in wrestling;
and throwing by newcomer, a young
man who, bis superior in style OF dress
and manner Of speech, was evidently
from different part Of tho country, if
not indeed Of different rank in life
to that of:the l.te young Highlander ;
aud when standing hot and angry after
his last failure, he vas by no means
comforted by seeibg Helen's cheeks,
redden before glanoes Of the victor,
who, cap in hand, introduced himself
to Tam MGregor as the son Of his old
friend, Mel Lesley, and saying that he
had come to the Gathering on his way
to Balquhidder; bis father having told
him .. Of + the sheep: farming ~ there, and
how, fox sqld Acquaintance sake, he
might be lucky euoaeh to gat his les
son in the management Of Aooks from
Tam himself; ! lesson 81 meant e put
in practice q j. f.,n.s! 10 Australia.
Tam ~ ~ pleased to dpd his friend had
not forgotten him, nor was he: proof
against, the somplimentzneatly offered
to his farming skill. - Moreover there
is never . lack Of hospitality among
tho Celts, and Tam made bis young
friend welcome to the best hs house
afforded SO long as he liked to stay.
Mel was a tair.ha,red, blue.eyed
man, tall and light.Iimbed, but with
the muscles and siuews of a pri1e.6ght.
er. He had been at the High School
in Edinburgh, was we'll up 10 modern
topics, aud able to hold forth upon SUBJ
jects which rarely reached the ears of
the inhabitants of the Braes,. except
when the shooting season brought down
the great folk, and the great folk
brought their servants; then politics,
parliamonts, and the court we're famili.
arly discussed 10 every shieling.
Mel was no idler, either in work, or
play, or love, Everything he set his,
hand to he did in the manner, we are
told, is sure to succeed. So no won.
der that, falling in love, Is he did at
once, he reused what poor Duncan had
watched I'D waited for in vain =; and,
waking ppthe sleeping heart, brought,
the iovelishttt into t. the sweet hazel eyes,
that softenqed md dr'oeeopped 'ee'ppe nov es they
had never dope } before |',, ssn!y =! mans g,ze.
There was no . question! 4 d: loye / x! speech
between the txo, md: . 1 YET, ;.'t before tho
summer came, Helen had found ont
what diasltePt ls pl.ae II lesvs: sso4ald ii NIKE
the world: There ha.!d .!d never been m suoh
heather On the hills, ii n: n bfeokeh and
Wild roses on tho bsses, as now bloom.
ed; tho love.filtef - acting, md %:
ture took !; tone, y It always does, from
the heart.
ocHox bonnie you're growing, Mel.
ly," said Tam one day, = Helen e.m.
running up the grass, her hair escape d
from the sky-blue snood, the CAV cot
ton short gown coming half way down
the striped linsey petticoat, which WAS
just short enough to show her neatly
clad feet and shapely ankles, coquet.
tishly arrayed in bright stockings,
with elaborate]y y.embroidered clocks.
"What's come the lassie, vito? She's
breakin' the hearts O. half tho lads in
the place. There's Dlsaspe.n, puir lad,