Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-11

are superstitious, and I'll just punish YOU
ss'-Meta parodied some of his OWE
words-"by not giving you the flower"
"Or-the good luck Oh YOU will"
mo"
What was mastering this very proud dis
ciple of matter of fact? His sun-tanned
face flushed, and something carried him
out of his former wise self. He ran back
to the brook, where he saw one golden
starry blossom left, and plucking it, he
| brought it like trophy to Meta.
This is for you,' he cried. "There is
good luck infinite good luck for you, and
if for you, then for me. You have given
me your faith"
A shout from the rest interrupted him
Could he possibly have been going to say
that he had faith in those old wives fables
of Metals?
"Oh. be quick! They are all waiting
for u.s." and Mets ran before him. She
could by no means face any talking in such
a passionate strain as this matter fact
youth was developing. She felt hot, and
she ran up to the others laughing and
talking gayly. Certainly her humor had
wondrously changed.
CHAPTER II.
| The sweet midsummer eve closed in, and
! the gray of the night came on. Strangers
/ from the foreign land of England won
| dered as they drove home from their days
| excursioning at the fancy of the peasants
| for setting light TO the gorse everywhere
| All the young Qualtroughs were out in
the grounds with Willie and his friends
Mr.. Qualtrough, gray-headed and wise,
went out too. Perhaps he laughed over it
| all, but there had never been a Midsummer
Eve he could recollect without the burning
| of the witch fires. No, indeed; and if his
/ children had shown themselves very ad-
vapced in the common sense of the age and
neglectful of the old customs, he, good
man, would have been just one degree I'M
comfortably surprised.
They had all had merry supper-Manx
folk are primitive, and supper is not vet
wholly cast into oblivion and then all
went out. Two of the girls threw light
shawls over their heads, Nessie stuck on q
gray felt hat of her fathers. and they went
gaily round the house and through the I'M
kempt, luxurious flower garden then
through the kitchen garden. where mon
strOuS cabbages sheeted the beds with their
crumpled outer leaves where the straw
berries blinked rosy from amid tangle of
long suckers where alleys were made by
trained apple trees, whose green young
fruit promised joys to lads and maids in the
days TO come.
" All !" suddenly young Philipson ex-
claimed.
1.-THE Corrins fire at Ballaseggan p and
Mr.. Qualtrough turned round. There had
come golden, springing, flashing light on
his glass houses.
"Horridl" Nessie exclaimed angrilv,
% and ours not alight vet Jim is horrid | l
specially gave him orders TO light up early,
because Mona Corrin declared they'd have
the finest show. I'll be speaking to him
tomorrow morning"
DO, dear do" Willie, her cousin, said.
~ will" And she ran on. In a mo-
ment she was seen flying up to the wooden
ladder. which led up to what they called
their lookout" square miniature tower
which gave grand view over miles and
miles of farmlands, of distant mountains,
of western sea. and-a sight of all for stran-
gers-of one bit of savage storm battered
Calf of Man. "Grandr p She cried joyously
Grand We're alight now Eth. I'll
not heed Mona having the start, we'll be
far the finest"
A pale golden fire began to simmer on
nearby bill, it spread and spread until
verify the whole of the hillside was a
tricksy flashing dance of fire.
"Our gorse is not there?" Doyle won
dered.
"Eh? No. This is my private business.
Jim and did this in the morning.
$50 This is how Jim does his weed
ing?" her father began.
Yes. That'll be his manner of weed
ing on Midsummer Eve He couldn't do
less than obey his mistress ?"
mo, Mr.. Philipson," she went on, the
bits of fuel we got this morning are
on the other side. Look saw Jim run
1,,1x Ill
lighting ii up now"
She was right. A hillocky lift of the
land was spangled all at once with patches
of flame, rudy flame, golden flame, fame
that sputtered and fixed as it mastered the
juices of the green bracken.
We have an extra grand show tonight,
girls Mr.. Qualtrough began. Who shall
say our old customs are dying out? But
expect it IS as much in your honor as in
that of the fairies and witches" he nodded
| to the young men.
They, seated like the girls, on the battle
ments OF the miniature tower, were gazing
here and there, as one quarter and then
| another was made alight Beacons, like
stars, blszed out far away. Evidently the
whole neighhorhCod was of one mind.
I'VE will not accept that idea tonight.
sir" Doyle answered. No, no; let us not
! tempt the powers. But can we not go
among it all? Two minutes will take US
| where Jim is"
"Ohi if you like"
So they left the gardens and tramped
over a field to the hillocky ridge There
was good deal of talking and laughing, as
might be supposed, but among it all Meta
was again silent. She was wearing her
one marsh narigold stuck under her chin,
as q girl might wear brooch. She was
very careful of it, keeping her light wrap
well away from it. What danger of cold
could there be on such a sweetly warm
summer night?
She fingered behind. But among such
a gay string of merry folks who would
notice one straggrer?
| Nessie was by Jim and talking hard and
fast. No one paid any heed to her, but we
must, for the subject of her talking affects
our story.
There were nine lots, Jim
Eh, missee, I'll know that; and nine
| have l set the light teu,' refining his word
real Manx fashion.
"Then where are they? Six-seven -
eight, she counted.
It's beyond me, missee but nine'll be
the number l kindled. Sure, by token I'd
only ten matches in my box here, an one l
| left for the pipe Pfah :" he blew on to the
/ pipe DOMl II = HlSu Oul SIZE IL DC, nllSSet,
| with me talking an talking"
He here took good Whit to ward off
| fulfillment of his words.
| The boys must have matches. I'll by
no means go without my nine -
Nessie was always bit self-willed.
"Eh, missee ?-let be. l wouldn't inter
| fere-"
Interfere
| Sure"
"What stuff Nessie's pay had no
faith-Ro faith of the timorous sort, at
least. I'm as strong as the fairies. If
they put the fire out I'll light it again.
That will r
She ran back TO the Young men.
Whereat Jim faced the inevitable and be-
| slowed all his active care upon his pipe.
He shrugged his bent shoulders; perhaps
| it was at the foolhardiness of young maids
| All at once new blaze of light sprang
into the gray night. 1t came with a sudden
flash Just behind where Nessie and the boys
stood and talked.
One golden flash there was; dry gorse
had caught smoldering spark, left at the
very tail, as one might say, of Jims ninth
match. Then the fash died down; then
another blaze, and brighter, more golden
blaze. A quick, short cry OF the top of it:
"Ahr;
Metals foot treading on the unseen dry
gorse had pushed it toward the dying
match-had kindled the flame, and-her
I L