Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-09-21

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tive Of his consent If he was angry and
unreasonable on the subject, it might be
terribly bad for both young creatures.
though his evident liking for Mary was
great point in their favor. Indeed, Mona
wished to turn her thoughts from the pain,
! the dull aching which oppressed her, to
| pros and cons Of her friends fortunes.
1t was q few days after the above record
ed conversation, Mona was in the library,
| entering sundry items in an accOunt-book,
which her uncle had great pride and pleas
ure in teaching her to keep in the most
| orthodox fashion.
/ It was 4 lovely day stolen from May to
| beautify the last hours Of March. The
| blue sky, the glittering loch, the balmy air
which stole like q caress round cheek and
| throat, seemed to promise that gloomy
! winter was awa'."
Kenneth had taken holiday from the
spring operations Of field and byre, and
! proposed to take Warning and Mary for
drive through Strathairlie and Balmuir,
| that the former might see some OF the fine
views in the neighbOrhood, as his time was
now growing short.
Mona volunteered to remain with her
uncle, and-with degree OF unreasona-
| bleness, for which she scOrned herself
| felt hurt that Waring had made no at
| tempt to persuade her to come with them.
| Mr. Craig had been pottering about the
! garden, and Mona thought she had heard
| the tap-tapping Of his stick in the hall just
before the excursionists had driven off.
The sound OF the wheels had hardly died
away, when Uncle Sandy came into the
room and threw himself into his arm
| chair, upsetting the firo-irons with an I'M
! usual amount OF Clatter.
| "Guid preserve usr' was his first excla-
nation. They're game clean daftl Wha'd
| hae thought o'-such-such perversityl"
"What is the matter, unCle?" and Mona
| came over to stand on the hearth rug be-
! side him.
Matter! it's the deiFs own matter.
| Listen to me. When | cam in frae the
| garden, saw the chaise at the door. and l
| went into the hall to ca them, and was
! nigh slippin', but got on to the bit carpet,
and into the drawing-rOom; an what
! should | see but Kenneth standin' by the
window WI his arm round Mary Black,
| and her head on his shoulder, as il she war
weel used to i'll He was saying My ain
| love, it's hard to have patience but, be-
| fore | could break DOT upon them, heard
| Mr.. Leslie's voice behind me, and, before l
| had rightly recovered my senses, they were
| AVA. NOol what do you think o such a
| pair o. eediots-o' worthless, unprincipled
| eediOts?"
"Well, uncle" began Mona, after a short
| pause, 81 am not surprised. Anyone might
| have seen they were growing fond Of one
| another; which was not to lie wondered at,
| for"
And do you mean to tell me-" almost
| screamed Uncle Sandy, that ye saw it,
and suspected 1t a tho time and never
warned me-"
al do not see that it was my duty Co do
So" said Mona, instinctively feeling thas
| n bold tone was best; especially as think
| Kenneth and Mary would make each other
very happy, and you too, uncle. You know
| what n sweet"
You'll just drive me aft my heidr' he
! interrupted. Don't ye see that Kenneth
needs a wife WI II tOcher-a bit siller!-a
careful, thoughtful woman wha'd be q
| guide and Il stay to him, not n bit lassie
| that he'll be Dauvid an Solomon and the
rest to-"
II fancy there is much moro probability
that Kenneth would be all the wiser and
| stronger for the companionship of wo-
man TINT looks up to him"
"Whaur's the use of argufying9 Mary
| Black is no the wife want for my nay
few; an if he crosses me, Phi Just pit him
DOT. Why should l gle my money to a
feckless loon wha hasna the sense to con-
suit me in the maist important step o. his
road?"
but, uncle, of all the steps a man can
take, the most important to himself is
matrmony. Now, whore would you find
a sweeter girl than Mary? You miss her
youIse when she goes; can't you fancy
her and Kenneth making n happy homo
| for you, and caring for you, Suppose he
married rich girl, who had been educated
at some flrst-rate school, do you think sha
would DO content to live here as your house
keeper, and have no change from years.
| end TO years end."
And what for shouldn't sheH'
81 do not know why; but am quite sure
most girls would tire OF Craigdarroch, sweet
and lovely as 1t is; even l do"
"Youl-you tire of Draw home like
this'"
ooh, shall be pleased to come back; but
like to go away sometimes; and am old
OF my years"
"Awesl, l deserve that o. Kenneth thas
he shouldna haze spoken to a lassie without
asking me first"
why. that is more than father could
expect from son; and, besides, wo do not
know how long these two may have loved
claim on Kenneth"
'Ech, tho follies o. children dinna reck-
onp
Don't you think II Miss Leslie had loved
You, uncle, you would have chung to her
though father and mither and a. should
so madr"
All, my lassic, but that was a. different.
She was gram young leddie, wi five fig
ures to her tocher; an, Mona, my dear, q
mon thinks deal o the girl that's Just
abune his reach"
Perhaps so, uncle; but the true man
thinks the girl within his reach Just AZ
sacred and precious, II she Is dear to him"
n quick sob rose In Mona's throat as she
spoke, and Uncle Sandy, in his quickened
condition OF mind, Observed
What's wrang wi ye?" he asked.
You're no fond o. the ladde YOURSELF"
Only in sisterly way, assure you. 1
am deeply interested in his welfare"
Sac am l: but l Gamma SEQ it's for his
weltar' to wed wi 4 penuiless BARN"
"A BARN that would look on you as
father, and be a daughter to you, Uncle
Sand,."
Nav, it's no use telling me sic like
tale. doot that onybody wad be as guild
to me as you are Mona; and l want Ken
meth to get fortin' wi his wife, that l
may gle You better tochcr, my dearie.
You'll wed a gran gentleman some day,
and you must bs weel tochered."
'Unclev' cried Mona, earnestly; ''you
must not think of thatl My possible mar
rage is . long way or, and will go away
and leave you il you let me come between
my cousin and happiness"
III you must so, you mustr' said Uncle
Sandy. sternly, though his voice was I'M
unsteady. 81 did without you before, and
can again"
That Is for you to consider. Now, IN
Gle, make me promise"
What is it," he asked. cautiously.
while Mr.. Warning stays. make no dis
turbance. He has been so comfortable
here, let him take away his good impress
sion unimpaired. II you speak to Kenneth
and show displeasure, Mary will go away,
and her people will forbid her to speak to
Kenneth: our pleasant life will be broken
up; shall be too distressed to remain;
shall accept General and Mrs. Fielden's
often repeated invitation to go and stay
with them in Paris. and you will bully poor
Kenneth till he does not know 4 maugle
wurzel from a kale."
You are lust q trirs too slsyer ruissfsI'i