The Ottawa free trader., 1885-11-21
night Although We wers fatigued, the
Journey had been q pleasant ono for me-

night Although We wers fatigued, thu
Journey had been pleasant ono for me.
Before we partedfor the night Mr.. jamie
son said: "Of course you know my poor
friends sod story. Tomorrow Il tho ami
versary OF the great misfortune OF his life.
| Every year he regularly disappears at this
| time for month or more, aud as year sue
ceeds year he seems more and mors broken
down, and I'm getting very anxiols about
| him. For two years | have been cat Of an
engagement, and we have had very hard
times, and now that brighter days are In
store. poor fellow, it would be hard IL he
| could not share this good fortune, and
! hope am not selfish when say it would b.
hard for me, too, to be left alone in my old
age without a friend"
was up early, having a 10 o'clock re-
hearsal Az l had only my scanes to ruu
through in "The Lady OF Lyons" and as
both Pauline and the widow had played
their parts with me before, had finished
by l2 o'clock, when JAMESON called for me
to accompany him to the house OF his co.
executor. DR.. Miller.
The two old friends met with ELUSIVE con-
gTatulations rs to the final result Of the pro-
tracted law suit. 1t was quite touching to
see tie fearful delight of Jeannie MacPher-
son at the sight Of Willie, but more touching
still it was to see the welcome accorded him
by the doctors only daughter, lovely fair
haired girl Of Is. | thought then, and
think still, that Maggie Miller is altogether
the most charming, guileless and beautlful
creature had ever seen in my life Acci.
dent-shesr acciden.--had lei mo to my
fate. Ii hadn't gone to Paisley with Pike
shouldn't have known Willie Jamieson-
perhaps should have known nothing about
Curly, most certainly should never have
known Maggie Miller. All, my darling! l
loved you from that moment, and But
am becoming personal, and the interest of
this story centers in its unfortunate hero,
not upon mere fly on the wheel.
Presently Willie inquired OF the doctor il
he had seen Curly, for he was due that very
day. For years he hal never failed to pre-
sent himself at Breadalbane terrace by noon
on this sad anniversary. We waited until
about 2o'clock, then every tody got anxious
Although it was in the ''merrie month Of
May"-by ons Of those strange freaks Of the
"cler,i of the weather" by no means unusual
in Scotland-snow had fallen heavily over
night. Jameson feared that his poor friend
might have been overtaken by the snow
storm. At last hs coul endure the suspense
no lon yer, so h, proposed to go oat and seq
if they could obtain any news. The doctor
told Ma ygie to slip on bar hat and cloak aud
accompany U.s. As we wero leaving the
house, Jeannie cams into the hall, equipped
for walking, AMI said:
Doctor let me gang, too, and show you
the way. | ken where to find tho puir
lai lie. | ken we,l enauch-I saw him
thr c. Vestraan"
Saw wh0mf said the doctor: "why did
We not toll Us then, ye daft old gowkF'
Because | hoped my dream would ma
hold, but it'll be over true, I'm gey sure;
-there-step out AMI Sc, for voursels'
50 saying, sEs stepped rapidly before us.
The doctor and Willie walked side by side,
talking to each other in an xious undertone,;
and mv-I mean Miss Miller and brought
up the rear.
1t was a lovely day; the sun shone bright
lv, melting the snow ON the tree tops which
stood forth green and bright, the glowing
beauties of the chestnut blossoms contra t.
ing vividly with the green leaves and the
sparkling white of ,he crisply-frozen snow
which lay upon the ground, and which as
yet defiel the sun. The birds were singing,
a hare and half a Il zsn rabbits croSsel the
ioti't bpAciC ~ Si', ioulii, NV4l
frontel us feariessiy. \ squirrel gambolei
about in tree over our heads; then we
heard a squea King noise, and the coneys
scurried away, just in time to escape
hiieous beast OF a weasel, which slid across
the road and rapidly wriggled through the
covert in tull pursuit.
At length we had reached little noun
tain chapel on the hillside. JEANNE lei the
way through the gate; we followed her
rapidly.
As we turned the corner to the left man
lay at full length amid the snow upon the
grave where Flora MlcAllister lay sleei-
Ing.
He was sleeping. too Hi' right arm was
twined round the slender cross at the heal
Of the grave, his hands were clasped to-
gether, and his heal lay in profile resting
on his shoulder. His face was fair and
as IN his youth; his silver curls
glitterel in the sunshine, and formed an
argentine glory round his white brow;
his eyes We're cloSel; a smile was on his
lips.
He had reached the end of the journey,
IN