River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-03-20
TIE TNLTCkY HOUSE.

Il
''That is the place, bailie. A very un
lucky house, sir 1 would not advise yo
tobuy it,
Pooh You don't expect an old travel
er like me to be influenced by such
bugbearl"
"That is between you and your owl
heart, sir; but, to tell the truth, it wa
lust because you have Travelled, and seel
many an up and many down, that | ex
pcct you 20 be influenced by an uncannl
name. 1t is the folks that have IN,
changes, that have no fore-knowledge
I'm not superstitious man myself, bu
there are things worth minding-yes, in
deed y
The two men had checked their horses
before a large gray stone house, stand
ing on the slope of a hill that would hav'
been dreary in any eyes but those 0
Scotsmen. Rugged and bleak, witt
clumps Of dark fir here and there, ane
patches of dull heather invading The
brown bare bits of pasture-grOund. The
frs had been thickIy planted round the
house, and had in the course of three o.
four generations oyergrown any attemp
al gardening there had ever been In
fact. nothing now remained of it except {
weedy, grayelIy walk that led to a black
lake, which spread itself toward tie moor
and was gradually lost IN the boys anC
marshes around
Those hills in the background and
this marsh ought to furnish good sport
Brodie.'
"Ah, but binds and red deer know
many a thing beyound our kenning
The deer have left the hills, and the birds
have found cannier places TO build than
those dark, shiny sedges. Whites they
could teach us a lesson, if we were not
too set in our own ways to mind them
am speaking to ease my own mind
balie; know well you will do just as
you like
BaiLie AlIister did not answer at once
lie took in the whole gray, dreary land
scape, with the Ichen-stained, melan-
choly house in the midst of it. and then
aske5 abruptly: what did you call the
place, Brodie:'
IL never called its name at all, sir.
More tn q hundred years syne some
body called 1t Gross basket'-a very
pepper name, for every generation has
seen its Iskct and store crossed more
and more, til at last basket, store, and
money p. al,h are all but empty
"Wh1 is the owner now2"
Sholto MacN air He's but poor lad
for q Iaird-aye dawdling about the hills
with a pencil, they say"
Il think 7 VIII 60 and see him. There
is no harm. il speering the price of d
place
You'll do your viii, doubt ess, Battle
and it is none my interest to say
Don't Still you are my own cousin
four times removed, and J I'D be
loath to see you buy bad luck with goo,
gold"
Il am not set on buying, Brodie. Tt
tell the truth, ! knew this lads mother
twenty FIVE years ago, and would like
to see her son. Poor Grace LarimeT
You'll mind Grace Larimer, Brodle"
~ mind her wei, bailie. She has beer
dead many wear now, and if you are
bent on seeing her son, good day tc
YOU; it Is little time 7 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 iecaying house. sauntering
thoughtful!y toward its entrance.
His summons at the door was answered
bv an old woman, whose first greeting
was anything but hospitable: "YC
medina ring sac loud, sir; were neither
deaf nor dead within
Can | see Mr.. MaCNaTl'
THAT depends on wha's speering fol
him. The laird Gamma be intruded on by
every ane that has MAR time than gowdel
sense
Thcn door softly opened, and 4
young man in loose, slovenly dress ap
preached. walk in, sir" he said, in 6
manner that indicated at once the nerv
business Of tbs Tecluse and the courtesy o.
natural gentleman.
There vas bright fire IN the room
INTO which he preceded his visitor, but i
did little TO relieve the air of utter decay
and desolate neglect which was its pre-
vailng character The stone floor wa
but partially .coveredIwith ragged carpet
the furniture was broken and mOth-esten
tie walls were stained with damp, anC
the dropping paper green with mildew
The baIlie felL sudden chill, ana it wa.
difficult for a moment 10 state his er
rand When at length It was done, tht
Young laird sighed and answered.
''Dead} Yes, sir She died a slow
weary death in this very room. Perhaps
ven were her lriendl'
so trueiv her friend that | would fair
be friend 10 her child" and he STOOD
MP and offered his hand with frank
hearty manner quite irresistible to til,
sensitive young man. He was q youth
indeed, apt 70 inspire liking in hear
linking him with tender memories. HI
had a bright spiritual face, set in sOf
dark curley hair, Morse bone, and Celti
blood, and that quick observation an,
svmpa.hc;ic nature that Is always read
~ take a hint or develop resource.
Conscc uently it was easy for a persol
disposed to be his friend to find cut th
best wsy to extend help True, he had
Youths shame about poverty, but he hai
also Youths hope ani youths confidence
in his own resources. He exhibited wit
a kind of eager modcSty his numcrou
pictures and studies of Scotch life an,
scenery, and the old man knew enoug
10 be aware that they showed signs Q
great genius.
But i was not these pretentlous work
that attracted him most; il was some ps
pers living loosely on the table, coyere
with quaint designs of flowers and star
aud dots and crosses. He lifted thes
with the curiosity and the eye of one wh
thoroughly understands subject and
greatly interested in it. ShoIto blushe
deeply, and nervouSly tried to draw o
is visitors attention. But the BALI
seemed for q few minutes quite sbsOrbe
IN the work and in his own thought!
Then he calculated: Beautiful. Al
these your designs, Mr.. MscNairi'
Yes, sir. do r little in that wa
sometimes. In fact, am obliged to, vi
til can get my pictures into propC
market
"Why, these designs are exquisite. 7
whom 10 you sell theml"
John orr BUYS sll make
No wonder their sewed muslins hay
such a sale, Sholto MacNalr. ii you WI
ONE into the city and design FOR my ia,
DRY for two years, you will have none