Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-04
WHITE HEATHER.
NV WILLIAM RACK
BY WILLIAM BLACK.
AUTHOR or "JuptTH SHAKESPEARE" "A
PRrNcRss or THULE" MACLEOD
or DARE" ETC

or DARE" ETC.
AND so she sped away down the noun
tain-side again-glad to have discovered
Ronald's retreats and so light and swift
was her step that when she at length
reached the inn, she found herself just
ahead of the mail coming in from the
south. OF course she waited FOR letters;
and when Mrs. Murray had opened the
bags it was found there were three for
the doctors cottage. The first was from
Ronald; that Meenie whipped into her
pocket The second was for Mrs. Doug
las. and clearly in Agatha's handwriting.
The third, addressed to Meenie, had an
American stamp on it; and this was the
one that she opened and read, as she
quietly walked homeward
1t was long letter and it was from
Miss Carry Hodson who first of all de
her, and her subsequent illness; and
plainly intimated that no such thing
would have happened had her Highland
friends been in charge of the boat. linen
she went on to say that her father had
just sailed for Europe that he had busi-
ness to transact in scotland that he
wished to see Ronald and would Miss
Douglas be 50 very kind rs to ask the In
keeper or the postmaster at l.alrg, or any
one who knew Ronald's address in elias
gov, to drop a post card to her fat her, ad-
dressed to the Langham Hotel, London,
with the information Moreover, her
father had intimated his intention of
taking the Loeb Naver salmon fishing for
the next season, If it was not as vet let
and in that case the writer would be
overioyed to find herself once more among
her iver-M udal friends Finally and as
a kind OF reminder and keepsake, she had
sent by her father a carriagerug made
mostly of chimunk-skins and she would
ask Miss Douglass acceptance of it, and
hoped that it would keep her knees snug
and warm and comfortable when the
winds were blowing too sharply along
Strath Terry.
OF course all this was wonderful news
to come to such quiet and remote corner
of the world but there was other news
as well and that by an odd coincidence.
Some little time after Mrs. Douglas had
received the letter from Agatha, she came
to Meenie.
"Wiliamina," said she. agatha writes
to me about MIR. Frank Lauder"
"Yes2" said Meene rather coldly.
Gle intends renting the salmon-fishing
on the loch for the next season; and he
will be alone at the inn. Agatha hopes
that we shall he particularly civil to him;
and hope-l say, hope-that every one
in this house will be. 1t is OF the greatest
inheritance considering how he stands
with regard to Mr.. Gemmill. hope he
will be received in this house with every
attention and kindness
And then the pompOus little dame left.
1t was almost challenge she had thrown
now II. anu Mttllt WIS dJ lISI II HUI bc-
wildered. What, then?-would this
young man, for tie six weeks or two
months of his stay, he their constant Wis
itor? He would sit in the little parlor
evening after evening; and how could she
keep him from talking to her, and how
could she keep him from looking at her?
And ROnald-her husband-would
be far away; and alone, perhaps
and not allowed a word with her. whereas
she would have to he civil and polite to
Il f,I,A hold hnr
eyes downcast, how could she help his re
garding her face?
And then she suddenly bethought hel
of Miss lodson's letter. What;-was
Mr.. Hodson after the fishing too? And
ought not the last tenant to have the re
fusal? And should not the dukes agents
know? And why should she not write
him a note-just in case no inquiry hat
been made? She had not much time tC
think about the matter, but she guessed
quickly enough that if an American mil
lonaire and the son of II Glasgow mer
chant are after the same thing, and tina
thing purchasable the American is likely
get it. And why should Ronalds wifi,
be stared at and talked TO by this younG
man. however harmless and amiable hi!
intentions,
SO she went swiftly to her own room
and wrote as follows:
DEAR MIR. CRAwFoED-I have jus
heard from Miss Ilodson. whose fathe
was here last spring, that he is on his way
to Europe. and that he hopes to have thu
fishing again this year. ! think | ough
to let you know, Just in case you shoul'
have any other application for the loch
am sure Miss Holson will be much dis
appointed if he does not get it,
Yours sincerely,
"MEENlE :. DOUGLASS"
There said she, and there was lttl
smile of triumph about her mouth, Il
that doesn't put II spoke IN the wheel o
Mr.. Frank Lander, poor fellow. | don
know what will
"Spiteful little cat" her sister Agath
would have called her, mad she known
but women's judgments of women ar
not rs mems.