Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-24

coated person whose ideas ranged rom the
ale-house to the pheasant coverts, and
thence and quickly back again. But this
man seemed to have q wide and competent
knowledge of public affairs; and, when it
came to a matter of argument (they had a
keen litter squabble about the protection
tariffs of America) he could reason hard,
and was not overcompliant
God bless me! Mr.. Hodson was driven
TO eXclaim at last, what is n man of your
ability doing in a place like thisy Why
don't you go away to one of the big cities
or over to America-where young fel-
low with wits about him can push him
self lorward?'
Il would rather be where the dun deer
lie said he, with a kind Ut bashtul
laugh.
You read Kingsley'' the other said,
still more astOniShed.
my brother lends me his hooks from time
10 time" Ronald said, modestly He's II
Free Church minister in Glasgow"
:" A Free Church minister2 lie went
through college, them"
" Yes, sir he took his degree at Aher-
deem -
" But bnt." said the new .comer-who
had come upon state Of affairs he could
not understand at all-"who was your
father, then He sent your brother to
college, pTesume?"
"Oh, no sir My father is n small
farmer down the lammelmuir way, and
wages like the rest, and Andrew saved up
for the classes
"You are not a Highlander, them"
But half-and half, like my nulne. sir.
he said land all the shyness was gone now
he spoke to this stranger frankly aud
simply ms he would have spoken to
shepherd on the irll-side) My mother
was Highland. She was Macdonald,
and so she would have me called Ronald :;
it's common name wi them"
Mr. Hodson stared at him for asecond or
two in silence
well " said he, slowly, - don't know
| Different men have different ways OF look
| ing at things | think IL | were of your
age, and had your intelligence, ] would
try for something better than being II
gamekeeper."
Il am very we'll content SIR" said the
other, pacidly; and couldna be more
than that anywhere else It's healthy
! life and healthy life Is the best of any
thing-at least that is my way Of think,
ing Iwouldna like otry the ioun doubt
it wouldna gree wi me" And then he
rose to his feet a. beg your pardon sir
| I've been keeping we late -
Well, Mr. Hodson was nothing loath to
! let him 60, for although he had arrived at
the conviction that here was n valuable
human life, of exceptional quality aud dis
tinction, being absolutely thrown away
and wasted, still he had not formed the
arguments by which,he might try to save
il for the general good. and for the partic-
ular good of the young man himself He
wanted time to think over this matter
and in cool blood; for there Is no doubt
that he had been surprised and fascinated
by the intellectual holiness and incisive.
ness OF the younger mans opinions, and by
the chance sarcasms that had escaped
him.
II could get him a good opening in Chi
cago soon enough" he was thinking to
h. coli how, hn l,nI l.aft ~
upon my soul don't know the man that
| is fit to become that mans master
Why, I'd start newspaper for him my
self, and make him editor-and If he can't
write, he has got mother wit enough to
guide them that can-but he and would
be quarreling in a week. That fellow is
not to be driven by anybody"
He now rang the bell for candle, and
the slim and yellow haired Nelly showed
him upstairs to his room, which he found
to be comfortably warm, for there was a
blazing peat fire in the CRATE. scenting all
the air with its delicious odor He 6ade
her goodnight, and turned to open his
dressing bag; but the same moment he
heard voices without, and being of an in
quiring turn of mind, he went To the win
dow. The first thing he saw was that
outside a beautiful clear moonlight was
now shining, the leafless elm-trees and the
heavy foliaged pines throwing sharp black
shadows across the white road. And thi,
laughing and testing at the door of the
inn? Surely he heard Ronald's voice
there-the gayest Of anyEam3ng the gibe.
the night? Then there was the shutting
of door and in the silence that ensued
he saw the solitary, STRAIGHTFORWARD, clean
made figure of man stride up the white
road. little dog trotting behind him.
Come along, Harry, my lad, the man
said to his small companion, and that
sure enough was the keepers voice
And then. in the stiffness of the moon
light night. this watcher and listener wal
startled to hear a clear and powerful tenor
voice suddenly begin to sing-in a care
less fashion, it is true, as If it were but tc
cheer the homeward going.
Come all We Jolly shepherds
That whistle through the glen.
I'll tell We of a secret
That ,Ourtiers dnna ken.
WhaI is the greatest bliss
That the tongue O man can name p
IT'S to WOO bonnie lassie
When The kye come bame."
Great heavens |" said Mr. Hodson tc
himself, such a voiCe-and all Europe
waiting for "A new tenor But at seven al
eight and twenty | suppose he Is beyond
training
The refrain became more and more dis
TAM:
when the kye come hame
When the kye come hame.
TwiXt the gloanin and the mirk.
When the kye come hame."
Both the keeper and the little trottine
terrier had disappeared now. having
turned a corner OF the road where there
was clump of trees. The traveller who
had wandered into these remote wilds sal
down for a minute or two 10 sum up hi,
Investigations OF the evening, and the,
were these
Accounts Of the deer seem shaky, bu,
there may have been bad shooting this las
year. as he says. The salmon fishing
sounds more likely; and then Carry could
come with us in the boat which would
make less dull for her. Anyhow, ! hav,
discovered the most remarkable man
have met with as yet in the old country
and to think of his being thrown away
like thatp'
CHAPTER II.
AEENIR
We may now follow Ronald Strang a!
he walks along to his cottage. which. with
| -. Il. u. eLal 10