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

are men and women that are just lumpi
of clay, and never see anything beyone
their own meat and money matters"
"a haunted man, Brodie! What dc
you meant"
.Just what say, Allister. The mar
he had hung called him from bed anc
board and bench, and he was compelled
to1go. His face turned gray as ashes witt
terror and mortal agony; and the seIv-
ants told strange tales of cries and voice!
and of fierce struggles, which left theil
master more dead than alive. The doc
tors gave these attacks some grand Latir
name; but the man was far beyond theil
help.
"One night he was awfully wretchec
and restless, and insisted on having only
the company of his eldest grandson, {
bright lad of three years old. AT mid
night there was the old struggle and the
old cries, and the child ran sobbing down
the great stairs, half crazy with terror
that he never could explain; for it was
not likely he could describe in the Ian
guage of this world things that belonged
to another one."
sand Ranald McNair?'
''Was found dead this time, and his
room Is locked to this day. The little
lad present at that last awful struggle
was Sholto's father. He carried the
memory of that hour into every hour OF
his life, and | think that he never either
hoped or tried to avert the poverty and
sorrow he believed to be the just judg-
ment of his house. He was pious man,
but held the worlds goods with loose
grip. Sholto, you say, is prudent and
world-likel"
II have nothing against him but his
constant hankering after work that will
never pay him. Nobody cares for his
torical paintings and picture castles,
Brodie."
mo, no; and why should they9 Tell
him TO paint portraits; every one thinks
his own face makes the best picture
But in few months Baltic Allister had
a still graver cause of disapprobation.
Among the girls in his factory was one
of extreme beauty, known generally by
her companions as Lady Jennie.
Popular nomenclature is rarely wrong,
and Jennie's stately beauty deserved the
title given her. Sholto's admiration was
so marked that his old friend could
hardly avoid interfering in the matter.
So he made the inquiries he thought
proper, and then asked Sholto to come
and dine with him.
Sholto was quite prepared for the dis
and when Baltic Allister pro-
posed that he should now goto Rome and
pursue his studies, the proposition had
been foreseen and considered. He
answered, quietly, that he had been Ere
pairing for such step some, that he had
finished designs sufficient for the houses
need until his place could be properly
illed, and that he was now only waiting
for his marriage, which would be per-
formed the following week.
"You know who you are going to
marry, Sholto, suppose9'
eyes, know. | was afraid she would
lot have me; but she is an angel, and has
forgiven ALL"
"She has heard, then, ofthe wrong your
grandfather did her house?"
"She has heard that Ranald MacNair
kept back facts which would
nave saved her great-uncle from shame
ul and early death; but SIZE knows that
5holto MacNair had neither part nor lot
n that sin, and that he would die himself
'ather than nurt hair of her head"
"She is but working girl, ShOlto."
81 am not fit to touch her hanG, Baltic,
he is that nobly born; and hope, for
ny mothers sake, you will bless our
,ridal."
So Sholto and his wife went to Rome,
md the old house of Crossbasket grew
very year more drearY and melancholy
ooking Nobody asked to rent it, no.
'ody asked to buy it, and the marsh grew
o upon the garden every year that people
,egan TO prophesy the place would even
uaIly be swallowed UP by the boys and
water.
For some time little was heard of
,holto. The bailie thought it a good
ign "The lad, be said, lis happy with
lis wife, and busy with his brush"
Events justified this opinion, for Sir
Thomas McGilvery, lord provost of Edin-
'urgh, having gone to italy in the sew
nth wear of Sholto's absence, brought
Jack with him wonderful painting of
he broken-hearred King James entering
after the woful field of Flod-
len; and ShOlto MacNair was the artist.
Far and wide the fame Of the work
pread, ana Bailie Allister and lawyer
3roids went purposely 10 Edinburg to
zee it. "a wonderful picture" they both
lllowed, but the lawyer grumbled lit
lie at the subject. 1T was just as easy"
le said, "to choose a triumph as disas
err But the MacNairs are kin to i'll
uck, think"
Perhaps the lawyer never said any
hing that had so speedy refutation
or the very next day the baltic had an
,ffer which caused him to write to ShoIto
md urge his immediate return to Scot
and. In few weeks after this he was
iding once more out to Cr0ssbasket;
,ut this time Sholto and "Lady
Jennie" and their two daughters were
With him. They wandered through the
I'D house. which even in the bright sun.
hine had an weried, mournful. uninhabit
lble look, and Sholto grew strangely
,ilent, and Jennie shuddered and gathered
Ter children close TO her side.
1t was the last time they were ever to
zee the old walls, for Sholto had sold
house and lands to the city for 100000,
md the house was to be RACED, and the
marsh drained and the hills and desolate
ields laid opt i'll pleasure-grounds for
he burghers of the great city.