Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-07-31

une ROAD uOEelner-lJ was very UarR,
though there We're few stars visible here
and .here-she said to him, in rather a
low voice:
"Well, Ronald, the parting between
friends is not very pleasant but I am
sure ! hope it will all be for the best, now
that you have made alp your mind to it.
And everyone seems to think you will do
we'll"
"Oh, as for that" said he, that is all
right If the worst comes to the worst,
there is always the Black Watch"
What do you mean? ~
"Well, they're always sending the For
ty-second into the thick of it, no matter
what part of the world the fighting is, so
that a man has "A good chance. | suppose
I'm not too old to get enlisted; sometimes
] wish ] had thought of it when | was n
lad | don't know that would like any
thing bctterthan to he a sergeant in the
Black Watch. And Pm sure | would
serve three years for no pay ut all if |
could only get one single chance of win
ming the Y. &. But it comes to few; it S
like the big stag-it's there when We least
eX ect il: and Il mans hand is not lust al
ways ready and steady. But I'm sure We
medina bother about what's going to hap
pen To me, that's Of small account"
" II is of very great account to your
friends, at all events said She. valiantly,
land you must not forget, when you are
far enough away from here, that you
have friends here who are thinking of
you, and always wishing you well. 1t
will be easy for you to forget; you will have
all kinds of things to do and many people
around you; but the others here may of
ten think of You, and wish to hear from
you. 1t is the one that goes away that
has the best of it, | think among the eX-
cltement OF meeting strange scenes and
strange faces"
But am not likely to forget" said he,
rather peremptorily and they walked on
i'll silence.
| Presently she said, ~ have little al,
bum that | wish you would write some
thing in before you go away altogether"
on yes, will do that" said he; land
But mean something of your own, u
she said, rather more timidly.
"Why, but who told you"
"Oh, every one knows, surely" said
she. And why should you conceal 1t
There We're the verses that you wrote
about Mrs Semple's little girl saw them
when ! was at Tongue last-and indeed
think they are quite beautiful. Will you
write out copy of them in my album"
"Or something else, perhaps" said he
for instantly it flashed upon him that il
was something better than a mere copy
that was needed for Meenie's book. Here
indeed, was Il chance. If there was any
inspiration to be gained from these wild
hills and straths and lonely lakes, now
was the Tune Tor them 10 be propltlOuS
would not Clebrig-the giant Clebrg
whose very child Meenie was-come to hi.
aid, so that he might present to her som,
fragment of song or rhyme not unworthy
to be added to her little treasury?
Il will send for the book tomorrow,
said he.
~ hope it will not give you too much
trouble" said she, as they reached thu
small gate; "but it is very pleasant t
turn over the leaves ana see the actua
writing of your friends, and think OF whel
you last saw them and where they ar,
now. And that seems to be the way will
most of our friends; suppose it is becaus,
we have moved about So but there il
scarcely any one left; and if it was not TO
n letter occasionally, or dip into that al
bum, | should think we were almost alon,
in the world. Well, good-ni Ronald
or Will you come in and have chat Will
my fathery'
"Well, goodnight"
"Good night, Miss Douglas" said he
and then he walked slowly back to hi
home
And indeed he was in no mood to turI
to the scientific volumes that had air au
arrived from Glasgow. His heart was al
aiire because of the renewal of Meeuic'
kindness and the sound of her voice wa
still in his ears, and quite naturally h
took out that hlottingpad fun OF SOW"