Daily globe., 1879-03-16

- 49, rASASkA
young laird sighed and answered:
"Deads Yes, sir. She died a slow.
weary death in this very room. Perhaps
you were her friend9"
$50 truely her friend that would fain
be- friend to her child;" and he stood
up and offered his hand with frank.
hearty manner quite irresistible to the
sensitive young man. he was youth.
indeed, apt TO inspire liking in a heart
linking him with tender memories. He
had bright spiritual face, set in soft
dark curley hair, Morse bone, and Celtic
blood, and that quick observation and
sympathetic nature that is always ready
to take hint or develop resource.
Consequently it was easy for a person
disposed to be his friend to find out the
best way to extend help. True, he had q
youths shame about poverty, but he had
also youths hope and youths confidence
in his own resources. BE exhibited with
a kind OF eager modcsty his numerous
pictures and studies of Scotch life and
scenery, and the old man knew enough
to be aware that they showed signs of
great genius.
But it was not these pretentious works
that attracted him most; it was some, pa.
pers lying loosely on the table, covered
with quaint designs of flowers and stars
and dots and crosses. He lifted these
with the curiosity and the eye of one who
thoroughly understands subject and is
greatly interested in it. Sholto blushed
deeply, and nervously tried to draw of
bis visitors attention. But the bailie
seemed for few minutes quite absorbed
IN the work and in his own thoughts
Then he ejaculated: "Beautiful! Are
these your designs, Mr.. MacNair2"
eyes, sir; do a little in that way
sometimes. In fact, I am obliged to, un-
til can get my pictures into a proper
market"
''Why, these designs are exquisite. To
whom do you sell them?"
''John Orr buys all make"
mo wonder their sewed muslins have
such a sale! Sholto MacNair if you will
come into the city and design for my fac
tory for two years, you will have money
enough for Rome and the Rhine. What
do you say9"
1t was quite easy to persuade the
young man that his pictures were not
masterpieces, and that he ought to devote
two years in the drudgery of none ymak-
ing, in order that he might devote many
years after them to travel and study.
But at length the bailie succeeded. the
Wretched home was abandoned, and
Sholto took his desk in the DESIGNING
room of the great sewed muslin firm of
Bailie Archibald Allister.
It was about six months afterward
that Lawyer Brodie called one evening
on his cousin Allister. There was bust
ness of an important nature in the call,
but after it had been completed their
conversation gradually drifted into less
personal and less selfish strain.
GLOW is Sholto MacNair getting along,
bailie?'
"He is doing we'll saving money and
working hard.'
"Humph! 1t is the fourth generation
maybe the curse lifts little by this time.
unto the third and fourth generation
that's how it reads, bailie."
Il never rightly understood the matter,
Brodie. This Ranald McNair was law
yer and judge of the court Of session.
"a scoundrel and a murderer OF the
worst kind; Bailie. My grandfather sat
beside him on the bench for twenty
years.
Then there was a pause, but Bailie
Allister knew better than to break
it. He let the spell of the fickering fire.
light and of the sensitive expectant
silence tell upon the heart of the old law
yer; and presently he said, in a low,
thoughtful voice, It'll tell you, Bailie,
what know about it, and there is no
one knows more, for we have done the
McNair business nearly eighty years,
though am free to say it is quite against
my ordinar to talk about my clients.
"This Ranald McN air was 4 black. look
ing Highlandman, and son of Donald
Dhu McNair, as fierce and bad man as
ever ruled the MacNair clan. I have
naught at all to do with the quarrel be-
tween him and his father and elder broth
er; he aye boasted that it had not been
"a dry QUARREL" but in those days the
dirk settled every dispute north of the
Grampians, and civilized folk hardly
cared to interfere.
"Anyhow Ranald came southwark with
8 dark name, and, strangely enough for
such fierce spirit, he entered term of
law with the house of Caldwell &
Faulder. Some folks just hated his dark
face and domineering ways, but my
grandfather took to the proud Highlander
wonderful. I dent know what for, un-
less maybe that David MacMaister hated
him, and David and my grandfather were
born foes.
''They had no personal or particular
quarrel, but David and Ranald had; for
both of them fell in love with bonnie
Maggie Faulder-just as mad in love as
two such proud, set-in-their- own.way fel-
lows were like to be. Maggie kind of
favored David, and Renald swore if he
married her, he might be dirk with the
wedding ring.
"Then old Faulder sent Maggie away
to some southwark friends, and David
and Ranald went on to the roll of his
attorneys, and both of them set.
tied down to pleading causes and attend
ing to other peoples business.
''But they were always watching one
another; and when David was put up for
some rich county ofice-clerk of the rolls.
think Ranald was furious, and spent
both time and gold freely in order to de-
feat him. I suppose he did it. ANY
how, his opponent, James Laing, won,
and David was out Of place and pocket.
Soon after, James Laing, was found dead
in his office, with a dirk through his
throat.
Suspicion gathered swiftly and Ger
tainly around David McMaister. He
was, as have said before, passionate
and proud man. It could not be denied
that he had spoken very bitterly of his
opponent, and many a threat uttered in
anger was now remembered against him.