Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-11
WHITE HEATHER.
BY WILLIAM BLACK.
AUTHOR or "JUpirH SHAKESPEARE" "A
pRtNCess or THULE MACLEOD
OF DARE" ETC
La ntlle mimic. Knnnld2, sand sne.

"A nttle while. Ronald? said she
He strovc to cheer her and rc-assure her
still further; although, indeed, there was
not much time for that; for he had been
commanded to dine with Mr.. lIodson at
half past seven: and he knew better than
to keep the man who might possibly be
his master waiting for dinner And pre-
SentlN NeVnie and he were sDing quietly
along he snow hushed road and he babe
her Good-by-many and many times-re-
peatcd-uear the little garden gate; and
then made his way back to the inn. He
had inst time to brush his hair and
smarter himself up bit when the pretty
Nelly-who seemed to be n little more
friendly and indulgent toward him than
in former days-Came to say that she had
taken the soup into the pnrlor, and that
the gentleman was waiting.
Now Mr. Iiodson was an astute person,
and he suspected something, and was
anxious to know more, but he was not so
i'll adYised rs to begin with direct ques
tions. For one thing, there was still n
great deal to be talked over about the
Balnavrain estate, which he had almost
decided on purchasing; and, amongst
other matters, Ronald was asked whether
the overseer Of such a place would con
slider 600 Il year a sufficient salary if q
plainly aud comfortably built house were
thrown in, and whether in ordinary cir
cumstanCes there would be any difficulty
about II young fellow obtaining two sure
ties to be responsible for him. From that
it was a long way round to the doctors
daughter, but Mr.. llodsOn arrived there
in time; for he had brought for her n
present from his own daughter and he
seemed inclined to talk in a friendly way
about the young lady Anda last he got
the whole story. Once started, Ronald
spoke frankly enough. He confessed to
his day-dreamS about one far superior to
him in station; he described his going
away to Glasgow, his loneliness and des-
pair there, his falling among evil compan-
ions and his drinking, the message of the
white heather. his pulling himself up.and
Meenie's sudden resolve and heroic self
surrender The private marriage too
yes, he heard the whole story from begin
ming to end; and the more he heard, the
more his mind was busy, though he was
quiet kind of person, and the recital did
not seem to move him in any way what
ever.
And yet it may be doubted whether in
all the county of Sunderland or in ali the
realm of England there was any
happier man that night than Mr..
Josiah lIodson. For here was some
thing entirely after his own heart.
His pet hobby was playing the part
of q small benctiCent Providence, and
he had already befriended Ronald, and
was greatly interested in him. Moreover,
had he not promised his daughter, when
she lay apparently very near to death,
that Ronald should be looked after? But
surely he had never looked forward to
any such opportunity as this And
then the girl was SO pretty; that
also was sonethlng. lis heart warmed
TO the occasion. Dinner beng over they
drew their chairs to the big fire place,
There the peats were blazing cheerfully;
ronald was olduen TO llght ms pipe; ana
tnen the American in Il quiet, int,i 'crcnt
sententio way, as + he were talking OF
some quite abstract and UnimpOrtant
matter made his proposal.
Well. now, Rouald,' said he, as he
stirred MP some of the pcatr with his foot.
YOU seemed TO think that t+oo II year and
the overseer Of that I}alnavrun place. |
uon know what your intent onS are, but
If YOU Ike 10 take that situation, it's
yours"
honall leaked startled but only for a
moment,
II thank We sir--l thank We" he said
with rather a downcast face. II will not
saw | had no Susri.lnu va ,vorn thiuEiDu