The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-03-20


were allowed to spoil the crops and the
dovecote was inhabited by as many varie-
ties of pigeons. In the plgsty he had
tame badger, and there was litter of foxes
in one clubhouse and an otter in another.
Whatever had life had a deep interest for
Willie as it had deep interest for his
father before him, for, as well may be i'm
agined these tastes were inherited. But
he gratified them at the expense of agri-
culture. Everybody said the croft would
pay splendidly to man who knew how to
work it, but the Allans were not likely to
make fortune there or anywhere else.
1t was, therefore, not without reason that
Adam was set against his niece taking up
with Willie; he considered it would be
throwing herself away. And he believed
that he possessed a powerful instrument for
enforcing his own view, for he had full
command of Kitsy's little fortune-some-
thing like hundred pounds-left her by
her father, Adams elder brother, who had
preceded him in the occupation of the "Red
| Lion.n Whatever it amounted to it was all
in the big box that stood in Adams favorite
attic room, for he had deep-rooted sus-
pioion of banks, and like many other coun-
try folks of that time, held that his savings
could not be safer than under his own lock
and key.
'If you marry Allan,n he said to Kitty,
and she knew that no nice scruples about
right and wrong would hinder him from
keeping his word, mot penny Will you
get from me-"
The truth was that he had quite another
scheme in his head. Why should Kitty
look beyond his son AleclI. True, they
| were cousins, but the prejudice against
cousins marrying was not strong in the
neighbOrhood and then what advantages
there were. Kate was splendid manager,
and Aleck, though he had not his fathers
spirit and clevernesS, was hard worker
and very careful-too careful, some people
said, for whereas his father was only keen
and saving, he was as mean and hard as a
miser But in matchmaking these are not
defects to make party Ineligible, and best
of ALL thought Adam, ''there'll be no need
to divide the money" And accordingly he
spared no effort to enforce his will, so that
poor Kitty had a hard time of it, what with
| her uncle's threats and the no more agree
able persuasions of her money-grubbing
sutton. Yet she was too spirited to yield
and in her inmost mind was resolved to
have both the sweetheart and the money
for who needed it if not careless, squander-
ing Willie!
1t was no fault in her eyes that her lover
cared nothing whatever for her fortune
though she would scold and rate him well
for his indifference. One winter night, as
she was returning from neighbOring vii
lage about three miles off, to which she had
been sent by her uncle, Willie quite acct
dentally met her, and they had happy
walk homeward, along a lane on the snow
covering of which the moonlight fell fair
and softly, making the hard wheel-tracks
glitter and shivering the half-black, half
whitened Indigenous. Willie never before
had seemed so true and earnest and loyal
as when Kitty poured in his ear the story
| of her persecution.
"Never mind lass he said; 'let him
keep the money. I've little, but I'm not in
debt, and if you'll but promise to come to
the croft Fll-yes, Kitty-I'll sell every live
thing have and work day and night for
you"
''No, no, Willie; there's no use for that
but do you think I'll give up my rights to
please that wretched Alecl1! It's just what
he wants, for me to marry you and leave
every thing to him He would be pleased
to see me quarrel with uncle, for it's not
me, but the money he wants. But if he
proposes again, do you'know, I've good
mind to take him at his word just out of
spite. That's the worst l could do to
him
whist! whist!' Willie interrupted her
| with; you're jollin, lass; but dinna like
it. Say anything but that You would
never leave me for bit of dirty goldr'
would nOt!" queried Kitty, who was
an incorrigible teaze; you'll may be see
me make a runaway match of it; aye, and
glad you would be after while to get quit
| of me. But here's the door. If I'm not
away, I'll may be be in the wood on Sun
day night" and she was off, leaving Willie
to go home so thoughtful that he quite for
got to feed his tame fox until Weakened in
the night by its yelping, thing that had
never happened in his life before.
Business was very dull in the Red Lion"
next afternoon, and Adam retired to his
attic-room, where Kitty had cheerful fire,
before which she sat knitting. Meg, the
celebrated black-and-white greyhound, of
| which Adam was very proud, stretched its
aristocratic body out on the rug. while, be-
side it recined very different looking dog
The rough, short, curly hair of the latter
was that of a terrier, but its long face and
limbs and slender contour demonstrated its
relation to the breed of which Meg was a
pure and beautiful specimen. Jack as he
was called, was the very mongrel for a
poacher.
Adams conversation did not relate to
his hounds, however, but to his son. He
referred to Willie Allan with a moderation
and impresSiveness his nelce had not eX-
pected to find
BARN. he said, sye'll rue lifetime if
We marry a man like that. 1t might be fine
twelvemonth, but after he'll get worse
than ever, and the work and anxiety III all
fall on YOU. Better take man like Aleck,
that you can depend on to keep you com
Portable, than one like Allan, that'll expect
you to take care o. him"
"Ahn replied Kitty, had Aleck been
the man his father is, | would never have
looked to another, but can not trust him. "
Chats where you're wrong, lass. San
dy's well-bred lad, both on the mothers
side and the fathers. There's not a better
bred lad in Blackford, and blood is sure to
tell. He may be quiet, but he's game,
warrant yau. | could trust him with all
have"
But if Aleck was bad, treacherous
man and didn't care bit for me, would
you leave me free to take anybody like!''
J queried Kitty.
''Sartinly sartinly,n answered her uncle.
We'll, if | thought his blood as good as
his breeding would take him tomorrow y
began Kitty, but she stopped, for Adam
was not listening Something had caught
{ his eye outside, and stranger to his habits
might have thought him wrapped in con.
: temptation of the winter sunsets Redeemed
clouds or the snowy landscape The win
, dow commanded a view of a forty acre
field which stretched away from the village
gardens to great thick wood, from which
+ it was separated by brook. In the very
middle of it stood a solitary tree, the
boughs of which shone like dark tracery in
> the evening light. ''Look yonder," said
3 Adam pointing to the foot of this tree. A
, timid, lmping, hungry hare, probably
tempted by the remembrance of the vege
tables it had sometimes on moonlight
t nights found in the gardens, was making
toward them in little starts and runs fol
!. lowed by stoppages, during which it would
/ sit with its long ears prcked up to lister
b to or scent danger. Could any BlackforC
Q man look on that sight unmoved! 1t nigh
Y have turned the old minister himself into {