Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-16
WHITE HEATHER.

Fly WILLIAM BLACK,
AUTHOR ~ "ICuirH >nAKEsrE ARE" "A
PRINCESS or rnuLE MACLEOD
OF DARE." EIC

open, and sat down: the outer air would
he pleasanter than this inner atmosphere,
impregnated with the fumes of whiskey
and tobacco and his head was burning
and his IN SEES heavy. Bnt the dreariuess
OF tins outlook the gray pavements, the
gray railway station, the gray sheds the
gray skies: and evermore the dull slum-
berOus sound of the great city already
plunged i'll its multituduous daily toll.
Then he began to recall the events Of the
preceding evening; and had not Mrs.
MenZles promised to call for him, about
eleven, to drive him out to see some of
her acquaintance at MilngaNe q? Well,
it would be sonnet hing to do: il would be
n relief to get into the fresher air-to get
away from this hopeless and IN lanchOly
neighEorhOod Kate McnZies had high
splits; she could laugh away iemorse
and discomfort and de resslOn; she could
make the hour 80 by somehow. And now,
a il was almost eleven, he would finish
his dressing aud lie ready to set out when
she called; us for breakfast, no thought
of that entered his mind.
Then he CHANGED to see something white
lying on the tioor-an envelupe-perhaps
this was note from Kate, saying she was
too busy that morning and could not
come for him? He went and took up the
letter; and instantly--as he regarded the
address on it--a kind of bewilderment,
almost of fear appeared on his face. For
well he knew Meenie's handwriting; had
he not pondered over every characteristic
of 1.-THE precise small ncatness of it, the
long loops of the rs. the German look of
the capital r? And why should Meenie
write to himS
He opened the envelope and took out the
bit of white heather that Meene had so
hastily dispatched there was no mess
age, not the smallest scrap of writing.
But was not this IA message-and full of
import too for surely Meenie would not
have adopted this means of communica-
ting with him at the mere inStigation of
an idle fancy? And why should she have
sent it, and at this moment Had she
heard, then Had any gossip about him
reached lnver-Mudal And how much
had she heard ? There was a kind of ter
ror in his heart as he went slowly back to
the window, and sat down there, still
staring ahspntly at this token that had
been sent him, and trying hard to make
out the meaning of it, What was in
Meene's mind What was her intentions?
Not merely to give him sprig of white
heather with wishes of good luck; there
was more than that, as he easily guessed ;
but how much more? And at first there
was little of Joy or gladuess or gratitude,
in his thinking there was rather fear,
and n wondering as to what Meenie had
heard of him, and n Sickening sense of
shame. The white genteness of the
message did not strike him; it was rather
reproach-a recalling of other days
Mcenje'S eyes were regarding him with
proud ndignation-this was all she had
TO say to him now.
A mans voice was heard outside the
door was brusluely opened Jimmy Laid
law appeared.
What, man, no ready yet Are ye
Just ont o. your bed |? Where's your
breakfast Dinna ye ken it's eleven
O'Clock -
Ronald regarded him with no friendly
eye He wished to be alone there was
much to think of; there was more in his
mind than the prospect of rafting,
devil-may-care drive ont to Milngavie
" Is Kate below 2" said he
"She is that Look sharp, man, and
get on your coat. She doesna like to keep
the cob standing"
"Look here, I.aidlaw," Ronald said 81
wish We would do me a good turn. Tell
her that-that I'll be obliged if she Will
excuse me; I'm no up to the mark; Yell
selves there, now. like good fellow,
make it straight WI her.
Do We want her to jump doom ma
throat?' retorted Mr.. 1aidlaw. with a
laugh. " Ill tax no sic message Come,
come man, pull yourself thegither
What's that matter? Hammer and tongs
in your head the fresh air'll drive that
away. Come alongp'
THE last words the shortest" Ronald
said, stubbornly. "i'm not going. Tell
her not to take it ill-lm-Im obliged to
hers tell her"
"Indeed I'll leave you and her to fight
it ont between ye," said Laidlaw. "D We
think want the woman to snap my head
of 20
He left, and Ronald fondly hoped that
they would drive away md leave him to
himself. But presently there was light
tapping at the door.
Ronald ~
He recognized the voice, and he man
aged to throw Il coat over his shoulders
just az Kate Menlies, without further
ceremony made her appearance.
mats this. now - exclaimed the
buXOm WdOw-who was as radiant and
good-natlred and smnrtly dressed as ever
what does this daft fellow Laidlaw
mean by bringing me message like
that | ken ye better, Ronald, my lad.
Down in the mouth take Il hair o. the
dog that bit ye. Here, see, I'll pour it out
for ye."
She went straight to the bottle, nm
corked it, and poured out about a third of
tumblerful of whiskey.
Ronald, Ronald, yere an i'll lad to
want this IN the morning; but what must
be must; here, put some life into We. The
day ii be just splendid outside the town,
and old Jaap's with us too: and I've got
hamper, and somewhere or other Well
camp out like band of gypses. Dinna
fear lad Ill no drag We into the Mac
Douglas house until we're on the way
back, and then it'll just be a cup O. tea
and look az the BARNS aud on we drive
again to the town. What's the matter 3?
Come on, my lad We'll have a try at
'Canld kai! in Aberdeen when we get
Katie, lass, said he, rather shame
facedly, -" l'm-Im sorry that | promised
but II take it kind of ye to excuse me
I'm no III the humor sOmeway-and yen
be better by yourselves"
LAY, and what gool'll We do by pu'ing
~ wry mouth - said she, tauntingly.
T"The divil was i'll, the divil IA saint would