The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-12


the Girl had gone he spoke.
allie, lass" said he, in low voice-as if he
feared some one might be listening without
'tell me now, do We happen to be aware o Alec
Jamesons address in InvernesslD
She was startled, and looked at him-as if to
lind out what he meant by such a question; but
his eyes were bent on the floor.
Eyes, uncle she answered.
swell, now, lass he said but still not regard
ing her, latter we've finished wi your supper,
yell jist sit down and write him bit note, bid
ding him to come through TO Fassie. It's bad
thing TO have quarreling-a bad thing; it's better
to be friendly; and you jist tell him that il he'll
come through here we'll see if something can
not be done to put US all on friendly terms. Ay,
az; and just in case he should have gone to
Nairn, to see his mother, send him bit note
there too; it's ali the one writing. and no great
trouble
Indeed, uncle, it is not any trouble would
spare to bring you and him together" she said;
but she was entirely bewildered. She could not
understand this sudden change of frcnt-nor
yet the singular events of that evening.
"Ay, and if he is not well enough to come"
the old man continued cautiously IF ANYTHING
is the matter with him, and he Gamma come
through to Fasslie, then yell just tell him that
we would like TO make friends all the same; and
he is to look forward to that when he gets better;
and that there's none wish him sooner well again
than the folk at Fassle."
But he's not i'll at ALL uncle" Alison ex
claimed.
How ken we thatgn said he, quickly.
| because" said she, and then she stopped
and stammered, and it was well that he did not
| notice her confusion. .Because-he would have
| let me know-oh am sure he is not i'll at ALL
am sure of that"
The old man relapsed into silence; and she
| went on with her supper. When she had fin
ished she asked him whether she should sum
| mon the asses for family worship, or whether
| he would not omit that on this evening" seeing
| that ne not we'll But the old farmer
| would not hear of any such omission; the girls
came in; the big Bible was opened; and he began
| the reading.
| 1t was the twenty fourth chapter of the Book
| of Numbers he had to read and he seemed sing
| ularly distraught and absent as he began: And
when Baaam saw that it pleased the Lord to
| bless Israel, he Went not, as at other times to
| seek for entertainments, but he set his face to-
ward the wilderness" Nay, now and again he
| would stop and repeat phrase, as if bordering
| over the application of it to his own case; and
especially he did when he came
to BLESSED is he that blesseth thee" Alison
could not but observe that her uncle was very
| strange in his manner; and more than ever was
| she bewildered as to what had happened during
the evening; but she knew that explanation
would soon be forthcoming, as soon as she could
| slip away from the house and seek out her lover
| who was waiting for her down by the shore.
| That opportunity arrived directly, for when
family worship her uncle babe her go
| away and write the two letters charging her to
make them as friendly as possible.
| Instead of going to her own little room she
merely drew shawl round her head and shout
ders, opened the front door quietly and stole out
| into the night.
The sea was much quieter now than it had
been during the past few days. though still
| murmurous noise told Of the regular fall and re-
coil of the waves; and if the moonlight was
scarcely strong it had been it was still clear
| enough to tighten up this solitary world of shore
| and water, aud solemn overarching sky She
! walked quickly she could hear even her light
football in the prevailing silence that the monot-
| onous wash of the waves hardly seemed to break
| But by and by she was nearer down to the
| sea; then she began to look around her; she
heard her name whispered: the next moment
| she was in sheltered nook among the rocks
| with her sweethearts arms EMBEDDING her.
/ 'Oh. Alec, tell me what it is all about-it is
all SO strange-so strange" she said, as she freed
herself from the encumbering shawl so that
| she could nestle close to him. DO you know
| that my uncle thinks you have been illl"
"It's no fault of his that 1 am not" he said,
grimly.
20, but you must not speak like that any
more" said she earnestly. 1T is to be all diff
ferent He is most anxious to be friends
| with you"
"What-already2n
SAT this very moment he thinks am writing
to you. bidding you come to Fasslie; and there's
to be no more quarreling but everything friend
| ly and well. And what has made the change,
| Aleca What has happeneda Tell me quick,
| dear, for must get back to my uncle"
is he i'll after the fright the young sailor
| asked-and there was curious smile his
face.
Not so i'll as he was, CHI, no: we had the
family worship Just as usual. But he has been
| greatly disturbed. Maybe the fainting fit fright
ened him. Now tell me, Alec, what you wanted
| to be in the house for.
But its = long story, Allie. my dear"
Hell nc miss ME for while said she ''for
/ had two letters to wrte-and he was anxious
they should be very, very friendly and bring
you to Fasse just at once"
| He laughed.
That's change in the weather." said he
| However, I'll tell We how it all came about.
| Your uncle has been trying to murder me-"
''Alecr she exclaimed. and she tried to with
draw herself from him.
s'Oh, but its true, Allie, darling" said he,
coolly. First he thought to fell me, but bid
him beware of what would happen; then ne
brought out horsewhip but broke that; then
he spoke about the collies, but what was the use
of that when you were by me: and So as he
couldn't get at me any, other way, what more
natural than that he should try if
witch could help himl Allie, my
dear, your uncle's a queer man; surely
he was born and brought up in Shetland; why,
! there's not an ignorant servant lass half
witted sailor has such faith in magic and witch
craft if all hear be true. Ay, and IL is true;
and what has happened this night is a proof OF
Would you believe it, then--your uncle went
into Inverness to get hold of some witch or spey
wife there thar would work mischief me:
and as good luck would have it, he happened on
two poor old bodies called Lissom, that get
sixpence or shilling. now and again, by telling
fortunes. Tn told that its only of late years
they've taken TO such tricks; when my mother
knew them in Marin they respectable,
hard working folk. just like others: but they
grew old they got less work; and l suppose
the temptation of picking up little money
! easily in that way too much for them;
so that now. when a sailor lad wants TO know if
his lass will bide true TO him. he just slips round
to the wise women, and they bid HIM look
through piece of crystal or some nonsense of