The Princeton union., 1879-03-19
loath to see you buy bad luck with good

loath to see you buy bad luck with good
gold"
81 am not set on buying, Brodie. To
tell the truth, Iknew this lads mother
twenty five years ago, and I would like
to see her son. Poor Grace Larimer
You'll mind Grace Larimer, Brodie2"
II mind her well, bailie. She has been
dead many year now, and if you are
bent on seeing fer son, good day to
you; it is little time have for picking
up dropped threads - ,
So the lawyer and his friend parted
the one trotting gently back to the city;
the other, after tying his horse to the
gate of the decaying house. sauntering
thoughtfully toward its entrance.
His summons at the door was answered
by an old woman, whose first greeting
was anything but hospitable: "Ye
medina ring sac loud, sir; we're neither
deaf nor dead within" %.'< II
''Can see Mr.. MacNair?"
"That depends on wha's speering for
him. The laird Gamma be intruded on by
every ane that has mair time than gowder
sense" 81 i "t l.t >aa.t
Then door softly opened, and
young man in a loose. slovenly dress ap-
preached. "Walk in, sir" he said, in a
manner that indicated at once the nerv-
business of the recluse and the courtesy of
natural gentleman. .:. 49,.
There was bright fire in the room
into which he preceded his visitor, but it
did little to relieve the air of utter decay
and desolate neglect which was its pre-
vailing character. The stone flosr was
but partially covered with ragged carpet,
the furniture was broken and moth-eaten,
the walls were stained with damp, and
the dropping paper green with mildew.
The bailie felt sudden chill, and it was
difficult for moment to state his er
rand. When at length it was done, the
young laird sighed and answered:
''Dead9 Yes, sir. She died slow,
weary death in this very room. Perhaps
you were her frienda"
$50 truely her friend that would fain
| b. 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 10 inspire liking in a heart
linking him with tender memories. He
had a 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 person
disposed to be his friend to find out the
best way to extend help. True, he had a
youths shame about poverty, but he had
also youths hvpe and youths confidence
in his own resources. He 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 s; ;gns OF
great genius.
But 1t 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 wh<
thoroughly understands a subject and il
greatly interested in it. Sholto blushet
deeply, and nervously tried to draw of
his visitors attention. But the baili'
seemed for few minutes quite absorbed
in the work and in his own thoughts
Then he CALCULATED: "Beautiful! Ar
these your designs, Mr.. MacNairs"
"Yes, sir; l do a little in that wa,
sometimes. In fact, I am obliged to, un
I till can get my pictures into a prope
market"
| "Why, these designs are exquisite. T
whom do you sell them2''
"John Orr buys all I make"
"No wonder their sewed muslins hav
such sale! Sholto MacNair, if you vii
come into the city and design for my fac
tory for two years, you will have none
enough for Rome and the Rhine. Wha
do you say2"
! 1t was quite easy to persuade tn
young man that his pictures were nc
masterpieces, and that he ought to devot
two years in the drudgery of moneymak
ing, in order that he might devote man
years after them to travel and study
But at length the bailie succeeded, tn
Sholto took his desk in the DESIGNING
room of the great sewed muslin firm c
Bailie Archibald Allister.
1t was ABOUT SIX months afterWar
that Lawyer Brodie called one evenin
on his cousin Allister. There was busi
ness of an important nature in the cal
but after it had been completed thei
conversation gradually drifted into les
personal and less selfish strain.
"How is sholto MacNair getting along
bailie2"
"He is doing well-saving money an
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"
II never rightly understood the matter
Brodie. This Ranald McNair was Law
yer and judge of the court of session.
"A scounGrel and murderer OF th
worst kind. Bailie. My grandfather So
| hoai1e hin, an the hanch for twent