Daily globe., 1879-03-16
THE UNLUCKY HOUSE.

"That is the place, bailie. A very un-
lucky house, sir! would not advise YOU
to buy it,"
"Pooh! You don't expect an old travel
er like me to be influenced by such a
bugbear?"
heart, sir; but, to tell the truth, it was
Just because you have travelled, and seen
many an up and many down, that ex-
pect you to be influenced by an uncanny
name. It is the folks that have mo
changes that have no fore-knowledge.
I'm not superstitious man myself, but
there are things worth minding-yes, in
deedp'
The two men had checked their horses,
before large gray stone house, stand
ing on the slope of hill that would have
been dreaFy in any eyes but those of
Scotsmen.' Rugged and bleak, with
clumps of dark fir here and there, and
patches of dull heather invading the
brown bare bits of pasture ground. The
frs had been thickly planted round the
house, and had in the course of three or
four generations overgrown any attempt
at gardening there had ever been. In
fact, nothing now remained of it except
weedy, gravelly walk that led to black
lake, which spread itself toward tie moor,
and was gradually lost in the bogs and
marshes around.
"Those hills in the background and
this marsh ought to furnish good sport,
Brodie."
"Ah, but birds and red deer know
many thing beyound our kenning.
The deer have left the hills, and the birds
have found cannier places to build than
those dark, Shiny sedges. Whiles they
could teach us lesson, if we were not
too set in our own ways to mind them.
am speaking to ease my own mind,
bailie; know we'll you will do just as
you like.'
Bailie Allister did not answer at once.
He took in the whole gray, dreary land
scape, with the llchen- stained, melan.
choly house in the midst of it. and then
askec, abruptly: sWhat did you call the
place, Brodie9''
81 never called its name at all, sir.
More than hundred years syne some
body called it Gross baskets very
proper name, for every genel alton has
seen its basket and store crossed more
and more, till at last basket, store, and
money -pounch are all but empty"
"Who is the owner now?"
Sholto MacNair. He's but poor lad
for laird-aye dawdling about the hills
with pencil, they say"
Il think will 90 and see him. There
is no harm in speering the price of
place."
"You'll do your will, doubtless, Bailie
and it is none f my interest to say,
Don't Still you are my own cousin
four times removed, and 1 would be
loath to see you buy bad luck with good
gold"
II am not set on buying, Brodie. To
tell the truth, knew this lads mother
twenty-five years ago, and I would like
to see her son. Poor Grace Larimer!
You'll mind Grace Larimer, Brodie?"
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 I have for picking
up dropped threads"
So the lawyer and his friend parted
~ oHo AosoAAS SCAIAy UoSh ~ tuC C1Cy
the other, after tying his horse to the
gate of the decaying house. sauntering
thoughtfully toward it's 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"
"Can see Mr.. NacNair?"
"That depends on wha's speering for
him. The laird Gamma be intruded on by
every ane that has mair time than gowder
sense"
Then door softly opened, and a
young man in loose, slovenly dress ap-
preached. "Walk in, sir" he said, in
manner that indicated at once the nerv-
BUSINESS Of the recluse and the courtesy of
a natural gentleman.
There was a 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 floor was
but partially .coveredIwith ragged carpet,
the furniture was broken and moth-eaten,
the walls were stained with damp, and
the dropping paper green with mildew.
The baiie felt q sudden chill, and it was