Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-15
CHAPTER III.
ON THE LOCII.

The wind howled considerably that
night; Mr.. Hodson did not sleep very
well and lying awake toward morning,
he came to the conclusion that he had
been befooied, or rather that he had be-
fooled himself, with regard to that prodigy
OF a gamekeeper. He argued with him
self, that his mental faculties must have
been dulled by the long days travel; he
had come into the inn jaded and tired
and then finding himself face to face with
an ordinarily alert and intrepid intellect.
he had no doubt exaggerated the young
mans abilities, and made "A wonder of him
where no wonder was needed. That he
was person of considerable information,
and showed common sense, was likely
enough. Mr.. HodsOn, i'll his studies of men
and things, had heard something of the
intelligence and education to be found
among the working classes in Scotland
He had heard of the hand-loom weavers
who were learned botansS, of the stone
masons who were great biologists Of
the village poets who, if most of their
efforts were but limitations of Ferguson
and Burns and Tannahill, would here and
there, in some chance moment of inspira-
tlon sing out some true and pathetic song
to be taken to the hearts of their country
men, and added to a treasure store of
rustic minStrelsy such as no other nation
in the world has ever produced. AT the
same time he was rather anxious to meet
Strang again. the better to get the meas.
to see what this neighhorhOod into which
he had penetrated looked like, he rose be-
times in the norning-indeed, before the
day was fully declared.
The wind still moaned about the house,
but outside there was no sign of any
storm: ON the contrary everything was
strangely still The lake lay dark lurid
purple in the hollow of the encrclng
hills; and these along the eastern heav.
ems, were OF the deepest and soltest olive
green Just over them was a line of CLEAN.
ing salmon red, keen and respondent as
ii molten from a furnace and over that
again soft saffron dusky clouds, darkenng
in hue the higher they hung in the clear
pale steel hues of the overhead sky. There
was no sign of life nywhere-nothng but
the birch woods sloping down to the
shore; the moorland wastes of the lower
. hills and above these the giant bulk and
solemn shadows of Ben Clehrig the II
of the Playing Trout dark against the
dawn 1t was a lovely sight; he began to
think he had never before in his life felt
himself so much alone. But whence came
the sound of the wind that seemed to go
moaning down the strath toward the pur
pie lake.
Well, he made no doubt that it was up
toward the north and west that the storm
was brewing, and he remembered that Il
window in the sitting room below looked
in that direction t.cie he would be able
to ascertain whether any fishing was to be
practicable. He finished his dressing and
went down. The breakfast table was laid ,
mighty mass OF peats was blazing cheer
fully in the spacious fire place, And the
storm? Why, ali the wide strath on this
northern side OF the house was one glow
of yellow light in the now spreading sun
rise and still further away in the north
the great shoulders Of Ben Loyal, more
properly Ben Laoghal-the Hill of the
Calves had caught a faint roseate tinge !;
and the same pale and beautiful color seem
ed to transtuSe Il large and tieecy cloud that
chung around the snow SCARED peak. SO
he came to the conclusion that in this cor
ner of the glen the wind said more than it
meant, and that they might adventure on
the loch without risk of being swamped
| or blown ashore.
The slim, tall Highland lass made her
appearance with further plenishings for
the table, and :" Good moarning she said,
in her pretty way, in answer to his
greeting.
say, now, has that man come down
from Tongue YETI"
No, sir" said Nelly. che was no come
down yet" And then she looked up with
demure smile. They would be keep
ing, the New Year at the Tongue last
Keeping the Year on the 18th of
January -
It's the l2th is the usual day. sir" she
explained, "but that was Saturday and
they have to stop al twelve o o'clock and SO
most of them were for keeping it last
night"
"Oh, indeed Then the festive gentle
man won't show up to-day p
" But it is OF no matter whateffer
whether he comes or no. for am sure that
Ronald will be willing to lend hand
"Oh, am sure of it, will ask him my
SELF
d" You will ask him ?" was Mr. Hodson's
y,tn Il -DI, h., ..,;l
grant the favor. Indeed"
He fixed his eyes on her.
=" He is a good looking young fellow
that Ronald"