Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-04
CHAPTER NLNIl.
A PLEDGE REDEEMED.

Mr.. Hodson could by no means get to
understand the haifeXpressed reluctance,
the trepdation almost. with which Ron
aid seemed to regard this visit to lnVer-
Mudal. 1t was not Il matter of time Tor
his studies for the examination were prac-
tically over. 1t was not a matter of eN-
pense; Tor he was being paid a guinea
day. 1t was not debt on that point Mr..
Hodson had satisfied himself by few
plain questions: and he knew to Il SOver-
eign what sum Ronald had still i'll the
bank. Nor could he believe, after the
quite unusual terms in which Lord Ailine
had written about the young man 5 con-
duct and character, that Ronald was like
ly to have done anything to cause him to
fear meeting with his former friends.
And so, having some little experience of
the world he guessed that there was
probably II girl in the case, aud discreetly
held his peace.
But little indeed was he prepared for
the revelation that was soon TO be made.
On the afternoon of one OF these cold Feb
ruary days they We're driving northward
along Strath Terry y sprinkhng of snow
had fallen in the morning: the horses
hoofS and the wheels of the wa@onette
made scarcely any sound in the prevail
ing silence. They had come in sight of
Loeb \aVer: ana the long sheet of water
looked quite black amid the white undu-
lationS of the woods and the mooriand
and the low living hills. Now ut this
point the road leading down to the village
makes IL sudden turn: and they were Just
cutting round the corner when Ronald,
who had been anNiously looking forward,
caught sight of that that most he longed
ana that most he feared to see, 1t was
Meenic hcrself-she was walking by the
side of tue way, carrying some little par
&c! III her hand and they had come up
! On her quite UNEXPECTEDLY, and noselesS-
| ly beside. and what might she not betray
| gripped the drivers arm, thinking he
might stop the horses: but It was now too
| late for that. They were close to her; she
| heard the patter of horses hoofs; she
| looked up, startled: and the next mo
! ment-When she saw Ronald there-she
| had uttered n quick, sharp cry. and had
! staggered back step or so, until i'll her
! fright she caught at the wire fence be
hind her. She did not fall but her face
was rs white as thesnow around her: and
when he leaped from the wagonette,, and
! seized her by both wrists, SO ~ to hold
her there, she could only say, Ronald,
Ronald, and could seek for no eXplana-
ton of this strange arrival But he held
her tight and firm; and with wave of
| his hand he babe the driver drive on and
leave them. And Mr.. IIodson lowered
his eyes, thinking that he had seen
enough; but lie formally raised his hat
all the same; and as he was being driven
on to the inn, he returned to his surmise
that there was girl in the case-only
who could have imagined that it was the
| doctors daughter
Nor was there single word said about
this tell-tale meeting when Ronald came
along to the inn, some few minutes there
after. He seemed a little preoccupied
that was all. lie rather avoided the
stormy Welcome that greeted him every
where, and appeared to be wholly bent Oh
getting the preparations pushed forward
for the finish of the next day. OF course
everything had TO be arranged, for they
had had no thought of coming to inver
Mudal when they sailed from Glasgow
there was not even boat on the lOch, mol
a single glllle engaged.
But later on that evening, when the
short winter day had departed. and thu
blaCkness of night lay over the land, Ron
aid stole away from the inn, and wen
stealthily down through the fields till h,
found himself by the side of the river
OF course there was nothing visible hat
he not known every foot of the ground
he dared not have come this way; but on
ward he went like a ghost through tn
dark until he finally gained the bridge
and there he paused, and listened. " Nee
nie' he said, in kind of whisper; bu
there was no reply. And so he CROPPED hi
way to the stone dixie by the side of tn,
road, and sat down there and waited
This was not how he had looked for
ward TO meeting Meenie again. Many
llinc lie nau plN.uitu 'ho. W hlIiScii-
getting back to lnver Mudal after tn
long separaton-the secret summons
and Mecnie coming silently out from tn
little cottage to join him. But always tn
night was n moonlight night; and tn
wide heavens calm and clear; and Loo
Naver ripping in silver under the dusk
shadows of Ben Clebrig, Why, he ha
! already written ont that summons; an
he had sent it 10 Meenie: and no doub
she had read it over to herself more tina
once. and wondered wien the hannv tim