Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-04-11
became known that Mr. Bl.ntyre had.

became known that Mr. Blantyre had
resigned his position; his friend had
died and left him some money. But he
neither answered Alexis imploring let
tiers nor came to Glasgow, and the time
of grace went by, the bill and interest
was due, and a whole years salary
would not pay it. Mr.. Scott, too, was
no longer polite; he was urgent for p4y-
ment, and dunned Alick so continually
at the bank that the trouble became
known to all. So n Saturday night.
near the end of the year, Alick received
the balance of his years salary and an
intimation that his services could be dis
pensed with.
"Mr. Thomas McTavish said l was to
tell you that he didna like lads ABBOTT
him that signed for their frien's, they'd
may be signing for themsel's afore
lang" Then, seeing Alexis white and
shocked face, the old cashier said more
gently: ''Pur lad! It's a pity, but
when things come to pity they hae COME
to naught."
What must I do, Mr.. Google p"
"Gang ava an tell your uncle Peter
a ABBOTT it.. His bark is waur than his
bite. There's naeither way that I see,
Master Mcleod"
This little bit of sympathy was so un-
usual from the prim, silent, old man
that Alick determined to follow his adj
vice; and the letter he sent to Avon Hill
brought Peter to Glasgow in few days.
ga nice mess you hae made o. your
fortune, you fule laddie!" he said, an
grily; but he settled the tailor's claim
then went and closed his own account
with the house of McTavish & Co.
s.You may write .Fsiniis' on that leaf
o your ledger, MIR. Coggie," he said,
h~aughtily.
Md. Il h s5s io,; said 4. cog Ms7 you u, DOM lon,
nevy's misdoings."
"Misdoings My certie! Pick your
words better, Google; an it will be time
plenty for you to speak for McTavish
when 1 say aught against him. Good
morning, SIR"
Then Alick went back to Avon HILL
humbled and sorrowful enough. There,
was no need of reproof, his fathers face
and his mothers tears said enough, and;
as for Margaret, he did not dare to meet
her. There was little for him to do at
home; he could find nothing to doE theI
neighboring town. He advertised and
wrote to friends, and had attacks of,
hope, that were as bad as attacks Of
fever, but nothing came of them. His
uncle avoided him; he would have gone,
abroad, but he could not get the money.
Half a year of this life made him SC,
ashamed and desperate that he resolved
to go to Stirling and enlist for a soldier.
He met his uncle on the way, and the.
old man was touched with the despair
or SO young a face, and said kindly:
"The hay is to get in, Alick, and I am.
short of hands. Go to the field an I'll,
gle you three shillings a day; it's better
than naugght-forbye you a haze your
board"
The board settled it; he would at
least see Margaret, and she could hardly
help a little cousinly courtesy. He was
hungry even for that. So he worked
all the summer on his uncle's farm, and
if it was any comfort frequently to catch
Margaret's large, sorrowful eyes fixed
on his hopeless face, he had, at least,
that comfort. Els uncle, too, softened
in his manner towards him, and there
came into the lads heart a hope, that
perhaps he might win back the love and
confidence he had lost.
At the end of September he had els
due him, and he resolved to 90 to
America with it. One night he aoci-
dentally met Margaretin the larch wood,
and in reply to her ssGood evening,
Alick," he told her of his intention. and
said:
'When I have done something to de-.
serve your esteem, sweetest cousin, may
| come back and say to you what 1 dare
not say nowp"
And somehow Margaret cried and
Alick cried, and how it came about
neither of them knew, but Aliok dared
to do the very thing he had just said he
burst not do, and Margaret Listened,
and went weeping and smiling home.
Peter was half asleep over the fire, but
she reused him with a kiss and said:..
"Father, Alick is going to America.
Poor Alick! Father, I don't want him;
to go. He has borne his punishment
nobly. and repented SO heartily. Poor
Alick!!"
Peter looked at his quiet. s~elf-con-
tanned Margaret, with her hands before
her face, sobbing, and was quite
shocked.
"Why-why-what is this?"
"Alick must not go, father! Alick
must not go!"
"Who said he was to 90? The
scamp, to make you cry in that way!
Of course he is not to go. Have 1 not
made arrangements with Josiah Reid s.
Co. for him to go to Glasgow next
month? Does he think I am going to
break my word for his American no
tions?"
"Oh, father! father ! why did you
not tell him before when he was so
miserable ?"
"Because I meant him to be misera-
BILE. When a man does wrang it is the
greatest O. a. wrangs to intromit the
punishment. That's no Natures way,
lassie. If a BARN puts its finger i the
fire Nature doesna say, eff you do that
again I'll burn YOU She just burns the
BARN the first time an the twentieth
time alike. Burnt BARNS don't go twice
to be burnt. That's the true way o.
teaching, Margaret. Alick brewed the
broo he's been drinking, but he's had
enough o. it now. I'm no feared he'll
pit that pot on the fire again. Send