Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-10-22
CHATTER XVIII.
END OF THE JOURNEY.

day Curly and l met and parted On the
Qu"er highway.
l had emerged from the crowd" and
was starring at the Theatre Royal, Glas-
soN, rom whence had TO GO to Aberdeen
for tx nights co'r'l m GLE gov IN Sat
u'u:tN, ai'd his 10 Upn In Aberdeen on
Mo day. Railways we're now, more "r ln;r.
all over Scotland. int thrnu Ia I'm rreiu-
Dice, derive from he DARK Age, .l.ere
was still no communication between Glas.
gov and Edinburgh on Sun Az. SoreIy
exercised in my mind as to how l was to
get through In time to open at Aber.
deem, strolled down Argyle street on Sun
day morning toward the rail way station.
when perceived in the crowd in the oppo-
site direction. and oe.toppng every one
around, a stately. whit bearded man, with
the head land front of Jove himself"
Although bad never sean him since the
night we ME. Al Peisiey coulI not be mis-
tahen-it was Lang Willie
For years l had pondcrel on the nobility.
tile beauty, tie self-sacrifice of that menly
nature--the misfortune5 of his unhappy
friend. l knew the prolonged strug lies
they had encountered with poverty. and |
was really delighted at the thought that the
prosperity of the poor lad whom he had
helped an adversely might enable mo now.
rperhaps, to bnfriend him, SO made nv wav
towards Mr.. Jameson and, sans ceremonie.
reminded him CT the circumstances Of our
slight acquaintance five years back.
Good heavens he said, you don't mean
to say you arc that slip of lad who was
with old Pike IN Paisley five years agol
Well, l should never have thought it,
Then he toll me he had been to the theatre
had seen my Hamlet, and he said some
civil things about 1t.
1t was getting nigh dinner time, and |
persuaded him to come to the hotel and dine
with me. After dinner the conversation
turned on my journey to Aberdeen, and the
difficulty anticipated in getting through
TO Edinburgh. To my establishment aud
delight, he said:
We'll, this meeting is as fortunate as it
is pleasant. Not an hour before met you
received the welcome news that the final
decision in the case Of Jameson and Miller
VS.. MacAll:ster and Others had been given in
our lavor. lam only awaiting a telegram
to enable me to start for Aberdeen, and take
possession OF the estate at once. I'll tell
you what I'll do. I'll call for You here at
IL o'clock tonight with a coach and pair,
and we'll drive to Edinburgh together, and
ing"
At 10 O'Clock he came according to prom
lee. We caught the mail at Edinburgh and
arrived at Aberdeen at about - on Sunday
night. Although we were farlgued, tus
Journey had boon pleasant one for me-
Before We parted for the night Mr.. Jamie
son said: "Of course you know my poor
friends sad story. Tomorrow Il the ami
versary 0 tbs great misfortune Of his life.
Every year be regularly disappears at this
Time for a month or more, aud as year sue
oeeds year he seems more and more broken
down, and I'm getting very anxious about
him. For two years have been cut Of an
engagement, and we have had very hard
times, and now that brighter days are in
store, poor fellow, 1t would be hard II he
could not share this good fortune, and
hope I am not selfish when I say 1t would be
hard for me, too, to DO left alone In my old
age without q friend"
was up early, hAving a 10 O'Clock re-
hearsal. As I had only my scenes to run
through in The Lady Of Lyons" and as
both Pauline and the widow had played
their parts with me before. had finished
by II o'clock, when Jameson called for mo
to accompany him to the house Of his CO.
executor, DR.. Miller.
The two old friends mot with effusive con.
CALCULATIONS as to the final result Of the pro-
trscted law suit 1t was quite touching to
see the fearful delight Of JEANNE MacPher-
son at the sight of Willie but more touching
still 1t was to see the welcome accorded him
By the doctors only daughter, a lovely. fair
haired girl Of 10. I thought then, and
think still, that Maggie Miller is altogether
the most charming, guileless and beautiful
creature had ever seen In my life Acct
dent-sheer accident-had led me to my
fate. II hadn't gone to Paisley with Pike
shouldn't have known Willie Jameson
perhaps should have known nothing about
Curly, most certainly should never have
known Maggie Miller. All, my darlingl
loved you from that moment. and But
am becoming personal, and tho interest OF
this story centers in its unfortunate hero;
not upon mere ly on the wheel
Presently Willie inquired Of the doctor if
he had seen Curly, for he was due that very
day. For years he had never failed to pre-.
sent himself at Breadalbaue terrace BY noon
On this sad anniversary. We waited until
about 2o'clock, then every body got an xious
Although it was in the "merrie month Of
May"-by one Of those strange freaks # the
clerk of ths weather, by no means unusual
in Scotland-snow had fallen heavily over
night. Jameson feared that his poor friend
might have been overtaken by the snow
storm. At last h, could endure tho suspense
no longer, so he proposed to go out and SEQ
II they could obtain any news. The doctor
told Maggie to slip on her hat and cloak and
accompany us. As We were leaving the
house, JEANNE came into the hall, equipped
for walking, and said:
doctor let me gang, too, and show you
the way. / ken where to find the puir
lad lie. / ken veal eneuch-I saw him
thrice yestreen"
Saw whomp said the doctor; "why did
ye not tel us then, - daft old gowkY'
"Becauss l hoped my dream would ma
hold, but it'll be over true, I'm gey sure;
but-there-step out, and So, for yoursels."
So saying, she stepped rapidly before us.
The doctor and Willie walked side by side.
talking to each other in anxious undertones:
and MY mean Miss Miller and brought
up the rear.
1t was lovely day the sun shoue bright
y, melting the NOW on the tree tops which
stood forth erssn and bright, the glowing
beauties OF the chestnut blossoms CONTRAST
ing wildly with the green leaves and tho
sparkling white Of the crisply-froze snow
WHICH lay upon tne grOunG, ana which as
yet def1e1 tho sun. The birds were singing,
hare and half dozen rabbits crossed the
road before us, and, turning round, con-
fronted us fearlessly Asquirrel gamboled
about in a tree over our heads; then we
heard squeaxing noise, and the coneys
scurried away, just in time to escape q
hideous beast of weasel, which slid across
the road and rapidly wriggled through tho
covert in full pursuit
At length we had reached q little noun.
tain chapel on the hillside. JEANNE led the
way through the gate; we followed her
rapidly.
As we turned the corner to the left man
lay at full length amid the snow upon the
grave where Flora MacAllister lay sleep
ing.
he was sleeping, too. His right arm was
twined round the slender cross at the head
Of the grave. his hands were clasped to-
gether, and his head lay in profile resting
on his shoulder. His face was fair and
beautiful as In his youth; his silver curls
giittered in the sunshine, and formed an
argentine glory round his white brow;
his eyes were closed; a smile was on his
lips.
BE bad reached the end Of the Journey,