Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-09-27
ROY OF AIRLIE.
Now York journal


the haver bread-baking, but you're aye
welcome in hall or kitchen, to Janet"
Haver bread-making IS one of the
hardest duties of the Cumberland
housewife, and Janet lifted a flushed
face, and slaughtered herself with an
air of relief to give the laird his well
come. He was a handsome young
fellow, not year home from college,
and his own master. He still wore
mourning for the old laird, but it be-
came him well, as did also his merry
way of throwing off the-air of "still de-
lightful studies"
Don't despise my heather books,
Janet; wonderful men wrote them, and
they are full of grand thoughts"
Then, what for didna they write
them in decent English? I'm aye
doubtful O books in thae dead Ian
guages; when only one tongue has put
off flesh and blood it is too ghaist-like
to NEEDLE wi, unless may hap for the
Black Art" and Janet looked half doubt
ingly at her young master.
80, my books are all right, Janet.
The minister borrowed; some of them
Yesterday"
: L dinna ken, sir; whatna for do We
read some of them backward, then ?
Didna | see him and you begin at the
end o. ane O them an read it back
ward p
THAT was Hebrew, Janet"
cor but the 80" was q very sUs-
picious ejaculation, and Janet thumped
her cake with great emphasis to very
peculiar shake of her head.
Young Roy laughed and continued
his leisurely walk through the white
tagged house-place. 1t was charm
ing, though only tagged one, and es-
pecially so on this spring morning
when the latticed windows were all flung
open, and the scent of the apple bios
SONS and the daffodils came in great
waves of perfume whenever the wind
caught them. The sweet, savory smell
of the fine oatmeal delicacy, the sight
of the motherly Janet in her spotless
cap and apron, the snowy, pipe-clayed
floor, the simmer of pewter and tins
and brasses, ranged upon the dead
shelves of the dresser" all made an
idyllic picture, which not even Theoc-
ritus could match, and Roy felt it.
Janet, you are half right; your
kitchen and your occupation, and you
yourself are Il better piece of poetry
than any have read this morning"
There's naught but what is sensi-
bic and world-like about Janet, Master
Roy; an naebody ever spoke o po'try
an me in the same breath before; We
mam talk your nonsense to sillier folk
thon Janet Armstrong, laird"
"There is lovely Alice EIderslie-is
she not a poem, Janet?"
Deed she's vera guild bonnie lassie,
an far too much respecl1tit to be MAX
ing po'try about Nobody should say
aught to Alice Alderslie but the honest
truth.
Roy walked thoughtfully up and
down, and Janet ftrtiyely watched him,
as he went between her table and the
heated marble slab where her cakes
were baking.
You are very fond of Alice, Janet?"
There's reason for a things, Master
Roy, an | haze guild ones, mair than
one, for loving the house of Elderslie,
root an branch"
when | was at college, Alice came
every day here-Adam says So"
Adam Strong has mair tongue than
guild sense; but he spak the truth that
time"
Why does she not come every day
now?"
"Guid reasons, Master Roy: your
fayther-God rest him. an you are
totally different parsons. 1t would i'll
sort Miss Elderslie to be coming every
day to Arlie, an you sitting i your
fayther's chair. Dear me! Dear me!
| think | see the old laird toddling about
under the apple-blosSom, an Miss Alice
walking by his side" And Janet stop
ped and looked thoughtfully through
the lattice
Janet, am going over to Mr.. Ell
dersie's. | want to ask his opinion
about something.
'Ye medina ask Squire Eldersie's
opinion about anything but stanes an
roots an sic havers. If its about gowd
or land or business, you gang to Lawyer
Bell, Master ROy-he comes Of wise
generation, an he'll lead We nae foolish
gates"
Roy laughed and disappeared and
Janet went on with her work, muttering
as she clapped the wafer-like gates:
Much O the squire's opinion he
wanted; he kens weel he's AVA to the
hill this fine day with his bag an his
hammer-it's Miss Alice of course. I
wish she had bit tocher. Airlie is
worn out, half crops, an no Il third O
. the wool we used to shear Alice has
naught ava but her peat lands an her
sma' house farm; beauty an birth
havna only cash value nowadays
never had far as [ ken. Alice an Airlie
would be just naething added tae nae
thing"
In the meantime Row had found
Alice under the Elderslie apple bios
SONS, and asked her opinion about
great many questions. He found these
kind of consultations so charming that
he continued them daily all through
the sweet, spring afternoons, and the
warm, balmy summer evenings. He
really hardly considered the RESPONSE
bility and danger of these pleasant
meetings and rambles. Alice's sweet,
rosy-ike beauty, her guileless, inno-
cent and frank delight in his company,
had led him to respond in a manner
that rather startled him when Janet
took him plainly to task about it.
You'll have spoke to the squire for
Miss Alice, | suppose, Master Roy" she
said bluntly one morning.
Why, what do you mean, JANET"
g | thought a gentleman aye asked
the fayther before the daughter; it's an
auld fashion, but guild one, I'm think
Ing"
What made you think had asked
either?'
:" Because dishonor and your fayther's
blood are no kin to each ither."
Janet, do you know what you are
SaUino9''