Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-20

acCompuce ; ont now ne was quickly
brought up by this unforeseen obstacle
could Meenic not being yet twenty one,
go through even this formal ceremony
without the consent of her parents = 1t
seemed to him TINT she could not. from
his reading OF books. He knew nothing
OF the marriage law of Scotland; but 1t
appeared to him, from what he could
recolect of his reading, that girl under
twenty-one could not marry without her
parents consent And this was but the
letting in Of waters. There were all kinds
of other things-the necessity of having
lived certain time in this or that parish,
the proclamation of bans, which would be
merely an invitation to her relatives to
interfere, and SO on. He resumed his
walk. but with less of gay assurance. He
could only endeavor to fortify himself
with the reflection that la the one
or two instances of which ne
had heard Of this very thing being
n ns ss psobs had hI Kent ses sRy
cret until they Judged the time fitting for
the disclosing of it.
When he reached his brothers house
the Reverend Andrew was in his study
engaged in the composition of the follow
ing Sundays sermon. He was seated at
little table near the fire, n pot of tea
on the chimney-piece, large Bible and
Crudens Concordance lying open on the
sofa beside him. The heavy, bilious hued
man rose leisurely, and rubbed his purp-
fish hands and put them underneath his
coat tails. rs he turned his back to the
fire and stood on the hearth rug regard
ing his brother.
"Well, Ronald, lad. ye're not frightened
for cold morning to come out with a
jacket like that"
THE mornings we'll enough" said
Ronald, briefly and forthwith he laid
before his brother the errand on which
he had come, and besought his assistance,
il that were practicable. He told the
story simply and concisely, not pleading
any justification, but rather leaving The
facts to speak for themselves. And would
his brother help In other words, sup
posing there were no other obstacle in the
way, would Andrew perform this cere
Inony for them, and SO render their future
proof against all contingencies lie was
not ASKED for any advice lie was not
asked to assume any responsibility !;
would he merely exercise the clerical
function of his on Their behalf, seeing how
matters were?
The Reverend Andrew was very much
puzzled, not to say perturbed. He began
TO walk up and down the room, his head
bent forward, his hands still underneath
his coat tails.
"You put me in box. Ronald, and
that's u fact said he. Pm tnIniing my
wishes rs a brother will be tor setting
themselves up against my duty as min
lister OF the gospel; for dare not counsel
any young cir to defy the authority Of
her own people
'She has not asked you for any counsel"
Ronald said. CURLY. And, besides we
don't know what the authority might be.
dare Say IL her father knew all the cir
cumstances he would he on our side, and
suppose he has as much right to know as
her little spit-fire of mother"
This was hard on Mrs douglass, who
had always treated Ronald with courtesy,
if of u lofty and distant kind; but impet-
uous young people, when their own inter
csts are at stake, are seldom just to their
elders However, the Reverend Andrew
now began to say that, if he were alto
gether an outsider, nothing would give
him greater pleas then TO see this wish
of his brothers accomplished. He had
observed much he SAID; he had heard
more: he knew the saving influence that
| this girl had exercised on Ronald's life:
he could pray for nothing better than tina,
these two should be joined in lawful
bonds toward the strengthening of each
other, and tho establishment OF mutual
hope and trust.
but 1t wonld never do for me to be
mixed up in it, Ronald" he continued
when ii came to be known, think OF
what ill minded folk might say. | must
have regard for my congregation as wei
as to myself; and what IL they should
accuse me of taking part in conspir
acyt"
! ly. What kind OF conspiracy? Tc
steal away rich heiress-is that it? God
bless me, the lass has nothing beyond
what she stands up in, There's the seal
SKIN coat Glengask gave her. they cal
have that back, aud welcome: What con
spiracy would ye make out?'
NO, no, lad; I'm thinking what i'll
tongues might say"
Let them lick their own venom til
they rot! What care II"
Yes, yea, yes, lad; but ye're not PLACED
minister; we've but yourself and her u
think OF. Now just wait u bit"
He had gone back to his chair by the
fire, and WAS seated there, staring into The
red Goals.
81 suppose you've heard of Dugat
Manneriug, Of Airdriey" he said al
length.
Yes, indeed" was the answer
"Meenic-that is. Miss Douglas-and
| went to hear him the Sunday before last
but there was not n seat TO be got any
where-no, nor standingroom either"
This Mr.. MnnnerinE was II young divin,
| of the l. +. Church VINO had an eNtraor
binary popularity at this time among tn,
young people of the south OF scotland
and especially the young people of Glas
| gov, and that from "A variety of causes
He was singuiarly eloquent preacher
! flowing, ornate, and poetica!; he wa
in his choice of subjects: his quotations
were as commonly from Shakespeare ant
Coleridge and Byron and Browning a
from the usual pulpit authorities; he wa
exceedingly handsome, and rather de
licate looking, pale and iarge-eyed anC
long-haired; and he had refused the mos
tlattering otfers-''calls' is the prope
word-from various west-end congrega
lions of Glasgow, because he considered i
his duty to remain among the mining foil
of Airdrie. When he did accept an in
vitation to preach in this or that cit,
church, the young people from far ant
near came fiocking to hear him, and ,
good many of their elders too, though
these were not without certain pricking
Of conscience as to the propriety of devot
my the Lords Day 10 what was remarka
bly, like II revel in pure literature.
'Dugald's coming over here this after
NOON" the elder brother continued, as /
he were communing with himself He
an enthusiastic kind of fellow he'll
stick ut nothing if he thinks it's right
wish, now, that ! had that portrait ; bu
Maggie's away to school by this time"
What portrait :" Ronald asked.
The Reverend Andrew did not answer
lint rosp md slowly md thpupht fin ,