The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-11-22
4 MAIDEN FAIR.
CHAPTER ri.
BY CHARLES GIBBoN
ONE ERIEND AT LAST.

IL was IL bli~N uhN III thN 'h''''
OF the Mermaid The cargo consisted chiefly
Of salt, saltpere, and large quantity o.
oil, intended for one OF the experiments u
oiling the angry waves for which Peterheat
was become famous. The captain was de
sirous Of having all cleared out before TN
noon Of the following day, and his mel
found him more impatient than they mac
ever known him before.
Cargill would have persuaded ASeiie u
accompany him on an excursion inland u
view some of the beauties OF Buchan, whicf
he had been told were numerous. She de
clined, pleasantly enough, as 1t seemed, bu
SO firmly that he ,id not persist. He count
ed upon his victory during the return pass
ace. Meanwhile he sauntercd into the tow
by himself, to crafty the eyes OF the foil
with view Of his manly person and tht
latest style in tailoring.
Annie felt as IL the atmosphere were
somehow purer during his absence. With
out exhibiting any deliberate design to avoid
him-and certainly without discOurtesy-
she contrived to escape being left alone
with him during the next two days wher
the business of unloading having been com
pleted, that of reloading was in progress.
On this second day after the departure Of
Ross there was amaZement on board tht
Mermaid at sight of old Dick Baxter hirp
ling a Ong the quay, as calmly consequential
and as much at home as IL he had been al
Newhaven.
bod, there are surely few bees l. the
Dyke when the drones come out" exclaim
ed the captain cheerily. "Whar in the world
do 70 come frae, BaxterT'
Just frae hame. captain, and I'm want
in y on to tax me back again.
"And are you out on business or are you
inst taking daunder ~ see the kintryy
100, bath, bath, captain; a mans never
over auld to learn, and hae been learning
\ heap as cam alang. But would never
bse started if 1t hadna been that naethine
would saisfee Bell Cargll except that
should gang ance errand to look after hel
calf"
Whats ta'en the aud wife, said the
captain, laughing; does she think he Gamma
take care o. himsel?-he's auld enough"
II couldna say, but Bell has notions and
she will haze them carried out"
"Aweel, gang you below and Annie will
see that you haze something to eat"
"And whar's Jeems the-noo?
up the town, some gate"
At that Dick Baxter hirpled down to the
cabin with unusual alacrity. To Annie his
only salutation was, as he presented let
ter
Bob Ross sends you that, missy
Her face flushed with pleasure; but sht
put the note In her pocket In order to at
tend to the want, Of the unexpected guest
Ma, ma, he said hurriedly; read your
bit letterie, and while you're doing that
want to look into Jeems's cabin hae got
an idea in my head that pur Bob didna get
fair play, and | want to try and make sure
OF
you think that?' she cried joyfully.
81 haze nae doubt about it, and the doctor
that saw him in Bdinbro' has nae doubt
about it-for TAX his word for It that he
tasted naething a day eXceptin' what Jecm'
gied him. But we want to max sure afor'
speaking. Whars his cabin
Se pointed toa door. Old Dick passed
into the pace, closing the door after him
Annie, like many others, had great faith in
Dick Bakers wisdom for as he studied the
newspapers so carefully he could always
tell about everything that was going on,
and no one had ever been bold enough TO
question bis Judgment on any q"eston OF
right and wrong.
She opened her letter with fingers which
were not quite so steady as usual, and read
her first love-leticr. II was strange one.
Il write this to let yoa know am better,
Annie, and To tell You that there has been
some mistake about me somewhere.
"On the way to the station, Campbell told
u. 81
though | could not take II all IN clearly at
the time have been able 10 do so since.
You all think that | was drinking. You
will believe Inc-l had Nothing except what
Cargill gave me, and that | took because
after what YOU had said 10 me was kind of
plying him. and did not like tn show ILL
feeling. There was something wrong about
that whisky Dick Baxter had been read
ing something in the paper that made him
suspect II the minute | told him about the
accident.
lie is going to YOU II he should be right
j WI. BE- able to face your father and the
world again, and, best of all, | Will be able
to meet you without feeling that there Is
any shame upon me.
and do not think / could have come
through II but for yOr-tiol bless yOn. |
am hoping that there Is only Il wee while to
wall TIL | may see you agaln; and | am
feared that something may come between
us yet. But nothing can change me-"
She put the letter in her pocket. There
was new light on her face, making II look
gentler and happier that it had ever done
before, Ay, she did believe hm--she had
believed all along THAT he had been bctray-
ed In some way, although she could not
guess how. But Dick Baxter was a clever
man and he would find it out.
When II ok reappearcd from CargilS cab
in there was a peculiar smirk on his wien
ed face, and nodding to Annie cumplacent-
~ he muttered-
Just as thought, just as | thought
What is as you thoughtP' she inquired
eagerly.
Give me a minute or twa, - he answered,
seating himself before the Joint of cOrncd
beef which had been placed for him. lie
took a dram first and then ate heartily. His
reflections were much aided by this pro-
ceedimg, and when he had finished he pro-
duced large wel-worn pocket-book from
the midst of curious collection of needles,
hanks OF thread, fishing hooks aud odd but
tons, and selected a scrap of paper which
had been cut from some newspaper
Il dinna want 10 gle you Ony FALSE hopes,
missy, but If he IA far ~rang, Bob Ross
will soon be put right