Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-06
CHAPTER XXXIX.
AT THE PEAR-TREE WELL.

He was almost glad that Meenie WIS
going away for these two days, for he was
desperately anxious to make up for the
time he had lost and the good-natured
little Mr.. Weems, instead Of showing any
annoyance or resentment, rather aided
and abetted this furious zeal on the part
of his pupil. All the same, Ronald found
occasion to be within easy distance of the
railway station on the morning of
Meenie's departure, and about n few M n
utes to eight he saw herself and her sis
ter step out of one of the cabs that were
being driven up. If only he could have
signaled Il good-by to her But he kept
discreetly in the background, glad enough
to see that she was looking so fresh and
bright and cheerful-even laughing she
was over Some little mishap, as he mag
ined. And then SO trim and neat she
was in her travelling attire, and so dalntl-
ly she walked, the graceful figure moving
las he thought as If to II Kind OF music.
they entered one of the carriages, and
presently the train had slowly rolled
away from the platform and was gone.
That glimpse of Meenie had filed his
heart with unutterable delight; he scarce
" knew what he was doing when he got
out into the open air again. The day
seemed "A festal day there was gladness
abroad in the very atmosphere; it was u
day for good companionship, and the
drinking of healths, and the wishing of
W =
were all with Meenie in that railway car
rage flying away down to GreenOck. and
yet here, around him, there was gladness
and happiness that seemed to demand
some actual expression and recognition.
Almost unconsciously, ami with his brain
busy with very distant matters, he walk
ed into "A public-house.
"Give me glass of Highland whiskey.
my lad" said he to the young man stand
ing behind the counter; "Talisker, if ye
have it,
The whiskey was measured out and
placed before him. He did not look at it.
He was standing little apart. And now
Meenie would be out by Pollokshiclds in
through Paisley's smoke, then through
the placid pastoral country until she
would come in sight of Dumbarton's cas-
tied crags, and the long wide valley of
the Clyde. And then the breezy waters
of the Firth, and the big steamboat, and
Meenie walking up and down the white
deck, and drawing the seal-skin coat a
little tighter round the slight and grace
full figure. There would be sunlight
there, and fresh sea winds blowing up
from Arran and Butte, from Cumbrae and
Cantire. And Meenie-
But at this moment his attention was
somehow drawn to the counter, and he
was startled into consciousness of where
he was and what he was doing. He
glanced at the whiskey with a kind of
shiver OF fright.
"God forgive me did not want it," he
said to the astonshei youth who was
looking at him; "but here's the money
for't.'
He put down the few corrers on the
counter ana hurriedlv left the place. But
the sudden fright was all. AS he sped
away out to Polokshaws he was not
haunted by any consciousness of having
escaped from danger. He was sure enough
of himself in that direction. If mortal
craving for drink had seized him, he
would almost have been glad of the fight ;
1t would be somethingSo slay the dragon
for Meenie's sake. But he had naturally
sound and firm constitution his dissi-
patton had not lasted long enough to
destroy his strength of will and indeed
this incident of the public-house, SO far
from terrifying him with any doubts as
to the future, only served to remind him
that dreams and visions. and brains gone
daft" with cX 'ess of io1, are not appro-
pirate to the thoroughfares of II business
city.
No; as he walked rapidly away from
the town. by way of Strathbungo and
CrossmylCof and Shawlands. what he was
chiefly busy with was the hammering
ont of some tune that would fit the win
ter song he had CHANGED upon IA few days
before. And now he did not regard those
gay and galloping verses with Il stupeted
wonder as to how he ever came to write
them, rather he tried to reach again to
that same pitch of light-heartedness,
ana Oh curse II was LOT Meenle $ Uellgnt,
and for hcts only, that this tune had to
be got at somehow 1t was laughing.
glad kind of II tune that he wanted:
o then the warm west winds will blow,
And all in the sunny weather
It's over the moorlands we will go.
You and !, my love, together,
Chorus
And then the birds will begin to sing.
And we will sing too, my dear.
To give good welcoming to the Spring.
In the primrose time o the year
In the primrose time,
In the primrose time,
In the primrose time o the year
To give G2od welcoming to- the spring,
In the primrose time o the year
Yes and it was in this coming spring
time that he was to try for the certificate
in forestry and thereafter-if he were Sc
fortunate as to get that-he might sci
forth on tae path that the Americans had
so confidently sketched out for him-the
path that was now to lead him to Meenit
as the final crown and prize. "You may
find me gray haired woman, Ronald
she had said. "but You will find me @
single woman" But still he was young
in years, and there was hope and courage
in his veins: and what if he were to win
her, after all. before there was a single
streak of middle age in the beautiful and
abundant brown treSscs?
Then, again, on the evening before the
morning on which he WIS to meet her il
tne DOldDlC buTueDS. he ultlu the pack
age containing that anthology of verse de
voted to Meenie. and began to turn the
pieces over, wondering which, or if any Of
them, would please her. If he took then
to her But this was rather a visionary
Meenie he found in these verses: not tn,
real and actual Meenie who had sat besid,
him on a bench in the West End Park
and placed her hand in his, and pledged
her life to him, while the beautiful, tear
filled eyes sought his so bravely. Ant
could he not write something about this
actual Meenie, and about Glasgow ant
the wonder she mad brought into th
great, prosaic city? He tried his hand a
it anyway, for little while:
The dim red fires of yOnder cleaning forge
Now dwell triumphant on the brow of night
A thousand chimneys blacklist smoke disgorgC
Repcaling from the world the stars pal
light.
a little taper shines adOwn the the street
From uut her easement where she linger