Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-09
WHITE HEATHER.
BY WILLIAM BLACK.
AUTHOR or "JUpITH SHAKESPEARE" "A
PRfNCEse or THuLE." MACLEOD
or DARE" ETC.


Beggnrs 1hey Hielan folks are
never beggars they'll rob and
plumber ye, and fling we over a
hedge. and rifle your pockets, but dell a
bit o. them'll beg Ma, ma; We'll have to
contrive some roundabout way to see
how he'll take it. But III speak to Jack.
son now that I've seen you it'll no be
list o. my ain doing; and We'll contrive
something, donbtna. Sac finish up your
beer, Captain; and if ye're gaun doom to
see Mrs. Menzies, l'll gang down as far
Wi We. | havena been there this nicnt or
twa."
Now that was an amiable and benevo-
lent but as it turned out, most unfortun-
ate design. That same night Ronald did
show up at the Harmony Club; and there
was little more than usual of hilarity
and ood-fellowshiy over the return of the
skipper from the perils of the deep. Laid
law was there too and he also had been
acquainted with the way in which they
meant to approach Ronald, to see whether
he could not be induced to sing regularly
at these musical meetings, for stipulated
payment.
Their first difficulty was to get him to
sing at all and for long time he was
good humoredly obdurate, and they let
him alone. But later on in the evening
one of his own songs was sung-"The
fish er-lads are bound for hame and
was received with immense applause,
which naturally pleased him and then
there was good deal of talking and
laughing and conviviality; in the midst of
which the skipper called to him:
"Now, Ronald, lad, tune up. ! havena
heard a song frae We this three weeks and
MAR If had voice like yours wouldna
! give them,
The boat rocks at the pier o. Leith,
Flu loud the wind blaws frae the ferry;
The ship rides by the Berwick Law
And maun leave my bonnie Mary !"
and indeed he did, in his loud and gen.
eral hum, sing these lines in tones resem-
bling the sharpening OF a rusty saw.
Very WELL then" Ronald said. " But
I'll sing it where | am-once there's
ouietness. I'm not going up on that plat
form"
OF course the chairman was glad enough
to make the announcement, for Rouald's
singing was highly appreciated by the
members moreover, there was little eX-
|periment to be tried. So peace was re-
stored; the accompanist struck a few
lotes and Ronald with little lndecison
vt first, but alterward with clearing
ling courage, sang that gayest of all part
ing songs. In the huD-bub of applause
that followed none but the conspirators
saw what now took place. The chairman
him in an undertone ; the waiter went
over TO the table where Ronald was sit
ting and handed him a small package :;
and then Ronald, naturally thinking that
this was merely a. written message or
something of the kind opened the folded
piece of white paper
There was a message, it is true" with
II. Jackson's compliments" And there
was alsoa sovereign and shilling. For
an instant Ronald regarded this thing
II nd of haIy ri inf
his eyes blazed; the money was dashed on
to the ground and without a word or
look to anyone in the place he had clappeG
on his hat and stalked to the door, his
mouth, firm shut, his lips pale. This
glass door was a private door leading to
an outer passage formerly described {;
the handle seemed stiff or awkward so
by main force he drove it before him,
and the door swinging back into the
lobby, smashed it's glass panels against
the wall. The breenge"-for their is no
other word-caused by this violent de-
parture was tremendous, and the three
conspirators could only sit and look at
each other
-. The fats in the fire now" said the
~ wonder if the guinea II pay for the
glass ?" said Jimmy Laidlaw.
But it was the little old musician,
whose scheme this had been, who was
most concerned
pacify him. said he. THE Hielan deevil
But if he doesna come back here, he'll
get among worse lot than we are We'll
have to get hold O him, Captain, and
bring him to his senses"
Well, in the end after a day or two
Ronald was pacified; and he did go back
to the club and resumed his re-
lations with the friends and
acquaintance he had formed there And
that was how it came about that Meenie's
III n nH CT hn haD Il t,N ly,,p
certain members of the Rev. Andrew
Strang's congregation, and who was very
curious to discover why it was that
Meenie betrayed such singular interest
in this mere gamekeeper, and was repeat
eddy referring to him in her correspon-
dence-added this postscript to a letter
which she was sending to Inver- Mudal
- don't know whether it may interest
you to hear that Ronald Strang, Mr.
Strang's brother, whom you have several
times asked about, is drinking himself to
death, and that in the lowest of low com.
pany."