The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-22
CHAPTER lat FAssLIE FARM.

Deep and heavy the long-swelling surge of the
North sea Numbered along the Cromariy shore;
and high and shrll above that reverberating
plunge sang, and whistled, and shrieked siren
uoas wind, sweeping inland from the wide waste
of waters; but, nevertheless there was not g.,
cloud in the clear night sky; the world was
filed with lambert white moonlight; and far
across the silvertouched waves there was visi-
bic the dusky outline Of the opposite coast, by
Fort George, and Marin, and Findhorn, and
Burghead.
In a small and dimly.lit room in farmhouse
built high over that wild sea, an old-or rather,
elderly-man was seated in front of massive
iron chest the top of which he was carefully
scraping with some kind of iron instrument He
was man short of stature, but Of powerful
build; his face hard-set. and tanned, and fur
rowed with wind and sun, and rain; his hair
almost white, and white also the bushy eyebrows
set over pair of remarkably penetrating grey
eyes This man was Robert Graham, the tenant
of extensive sheepfarm; and the huge iron
Golfer before him, from which he was diligently
scraping the last traces of whatever paint might
still be visible, had been at time the military
chest of the garrison at Fort Augustus, from
whence it had been allowed to fall into private
hands when the fort was dismantled But it
was not the contents Of this massive chest that
seemed TO concern the farmer; it was the few
remaining touches of green paint here and there;
and to aid him in the searching removal of these
he had placed solitary candle beside him,
though, indeed, as the Golfer stood in the win
dow-recess, there was almost enough light COM
ing from the moonlit world without to enable
him to prosecute his task.
Now SO still and hushed was this little room
that in spite of all the wild roar of the wind and
sea outside, the scratching of the iron point was
quite audible; and not only that, but also GER
tain low mutterings with which from time to
time the old man gave expression to such fancies
as crossed his brain. But these were broken and
detached, for sometimes he relapsed into silence;
and so it will be more convenient to put them
down here conseeutively, and in as plain Ian
guage as possible.
81 am not more superstitous than most but
it's better to be the safe side The earth is the
Lords and the fuIlness thereof; but he has per-
mitted strange things to be in the world; and
maybe they have grown stronger than He in
tended, and can do more harm now. It's better
to be friendly with both sides; and if there was
Sith- bruth* on Fasslie, it's not a man or boy
on the place would allow to cut twig or lift a
stone there. It's hive and let live and if the
little people bide in these knobs, it's not that
would be for disturbing them; even if they can
not harm man, as some say, maybe they can
harm sheep-ay, or score of sheep.
And were there no Grahams, now, among the
soldiers of Fort Augustus that they allowed this
chest to be painted green? Is there Graham
alive that does not know what color it is that
is fatal to every one of the name-ay, when it
is even common story that never was Ora
ham shot in battle but it was found the bullet
had gone through the green check of the tartan2
And twice and three times / stopped bidding for
it; until said to myself what has been pat
ON can be taken off; and what the knife
win not finish the turpentine will finish: and
where can the ill-luek come from then? The five
great locks, and tricks and contrivances to out
wit a regiment What prying eyes or fingers
will get to know about my business when have
everything shut up here? Alison may think
what she likes. The lass has grown saucy of
, late But this is no kind of cupboard or desk
that she can try with her keys when I am up on
the hill No, no. lass. What have toiled ard
moiled for that mean to keep; and there will
be no need to trust bank in Inverness when I
have o safeguard like this iron chest.
But not spot or streak of green-not spot or
a streak. Who can tell where the ill-luck comes
FRONT Sometimes it strikes at your blood and
marrow; sometimes its bad Landing season;
sometimes it's bank that breaks. But do my
best TO keep we'll with both sides. The minister
has no fault to find with me- And il there are
things that are stronger Cor goodluek or ill-luck
l do my best-ay, even to keep from naming
them Maybe that was why got the warning
that Jean Gillespie was 10 die-three taps ON the
window just half an hour before, and none hear
, ing them but myself. And the corpse-lights on
Drumsinnon Moor-its l would have ridden
along with the factor into the bog but for the
lights-and cried to him-but the cry he sent
back was the cry Of drowning man. But there
are some that have seen more than that and
have heard more than that and it's we'll
to be friends with them that can hurt
whether they are below ground or above;
ay, it's better to say nothing, lest they should
hear evil spoken of them, and work mischief
among the lambs, or bring lightning about the
house, as / have heard tell Not since was
senseless lad have l shot a single hare-iust in
case there might be mistake, and witch or
warlock spring up from the ground; it's better to
) be on the safe side.n
For the moment he seemed to have done with
his scraping and polishing; at all events, he laid
-Saside the knife or chsel he had been using, and
proceeded to open the chest. But this was
serious undertaking for not only had the big
key to turn five locks at once. but also there
were bars and levers to be raised simultaneously,
demanding the exercise of a good deal of
strength. Eventually, however, the heavy lid
yielded. He took both his hands to raise it, and
no doubt the next minute it would have been
resting against the wall or the window sill but
that there was a sudden interruption that start
IL l.x;af H. :,