The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-02-19

upon himself to explain: who looked as
though he were ready dressed for private
theatricals. and-crowning sfn-fol-
lowed Marjory about with persistence
that would have been pointed had It had
enough energy.
Lady Grace had enlivensd the second
entree by telling Colquhoun that Lionel
venables was ''the fashion," the art
critic OF the season, the arbiter Of taste
and feeling, the greatest man Of the
Jay:
1.-The Fergusons are no end lucky to
have caught him for visit. " said Lady
Grace, who did not affect the esthotic
IN her conversation. The Duchess Of
wiltshire was ready to tear her hair be-
cause he threw her over to come, and
he goes on to Sandringham next month.
One would have thought wild horses
wouldn't have kept him from the
Duchess' artistic fete, but lions can af-
a ao 70 give themselves AIRS, and OF
Ioalso We aI Know tne attraction.
tnw c , gstl! ...a anele CIV wasn't woman IN
Town las. season VINO wouldn't have
gwen ner eyes 70 nave Lionel Venables
NJ ner apron r., strings, and ne was at
Mat1oiy .. Inc Jealousy and hatred
'nat Slrl eScitea!
Lazy Ia Grace gave an envicus sigh.
so Angus gioomed in the background
WINE everybody else laughed and chatted
ana admired the moon effects, "as If
they had been got up for their entertain
ment, thought the young Laird Of
Logic !s2s;, IN MS sglks:
wen. WE'LL" said the Laird (when
that title possessed 2 capital it always
meant Ardoch), ,patting the soft cheek
winch rested close to his shoulder.
You've had your own way ever
since you were born, my lass, and l
expect you'll go ON having 1t. White
heather you must have, since it's
whlte heather you want. though it's
younger bones than NINE that'A be
seeking it, l doubt. Who'll be your
eng Ian, ana !. bring you home a piece Of
dinner tomorrow night. wondera"
There was polite chorus from all
the men present.
"But that's too simple a deed for a
lady's knight" said old Sir Charles
Huntley, with his courtly grace.
''Only q handful of a shrub that
grows wild everywhere and can be
had for the picking"
be the case, SAID the laird iS with ii his Is
fine little Northern infection of
voice. "Heather's common enough,
grant you but white heather's AZ
rare as tho black swan. Mariory saws
it's the type of happiness; perhaps
because of its scarcity"
''Or because 1t is so hard to find"
(Marjory seemed almost serious. J
my old nurse, Elspie, had a prettier
reason still; she said it was because
it grew only on the lofty heights"
"Poe:icaf, but incorrect, murmured
the laird.
Veneables appeared uneasy. "Do I
understand that it has an inaccessible
habitp" he asked. Though that
were little if tho ladye design to crave
for it,
''Oh, it's easy enough to find IL Won
know where to look" said good ma
turcd Mrs. Ferguson; and Versailles
considered within himself that the
wild and barefooted youths of the
neighborhood would no doubt pos
sess that knowledge.
''But isn't there. another meaning
than happiness, Margiep" asked LADY,
Grace gayly. Something like hello
trope, in "Tom Brown at OxfordP''
.:May I not know itp''
Venables put ON his most witchine
air. .
''Oh, you may find 1t in the Queens
Highland Journal, y" laughed Mariory,
lightly, though her face colored a little
in the moonlight. ..Mamma, are we to
have no music tonight"
And they adjourned to the music
room.
Late that night. as Coluuhoun crossed
the paneled hall on his way to his doc.
cart, ulster-clad. and pipe between ia
fingers, the door of the book-room
| (Anslice, library stood aiar. and his
passing glance lit ON Mr.. vcnables.
sunk in the Laird's own big leather
chair. A green bound volume was in
his hands. and he was sk;mmino ;ts
PAGES. Colauhoun's loyal soul Knew
well that oft-perused book: Leaves
from the Journal, +" he muttcred between
his teeth, and closed the nail-studdetl
front door with a portentous clap.
1t was not royal weather TINT hailed
Mariory's birthday, as the Castle Ardoch
party started to picnic on Ben Lomonl's
crest. The sky was overcast. and The
Laird predicted rain before night.
though he was generally voted wet
blanket, and his prediction laughed to
scorn. Most of the party were mounted
for the ascent. Southern hearts rathcf
quailine ut so Formidable a climb: but
Marjory walked with the Laird. and
most Of the male element. out distanced
altogether by Angus. who swung off
with a steady stride. sue gestiye of NAL
colin Greene. Venables fingered b.
hind, and entered into converse with
one Of the white-haired ladies near the
Rowardenin Hotel. who looked intelli-
gent, pulled his forelock. and scamnered
Off up the mountain. Perhapslt was
the DELAY so caused which resulted in
Vcnables reaching the Summit. breath.
less and exhausted. some half hour after
the rest.
Angus, we'll used to mountain picnics.
was u host in himself, and he and Mrs.
Ferguson had the cloth laid and the
hampers empticd with a business-like
celebrity truly delightful to the HUNGRY.