Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09

soul MN = - tDfiSl ~ ISI. Z lJ curious,
when IT, - % b, w!rh YOU n London. ]
thought saw such likeness between you
and Mary, and now you are together, it
has Just vanished away?"
Like Y IS Craig?" cried Mary, blushing
and laughing "Eh, Kenneth, but your
eyes must have been all wrOngp
Then very confidential conversation
ensued, and Mona promised to help the
lovers in all ways. Indeed, her heart went
out very warmly to the gentle, simple
Highland lassie, and she privately congrat-
ulated Kenneth on his choice.
Having been taken to see the cathedral
and some public buildings, she was given
luncheon and hurried away to the station.
: splendid sunset was clarifying moor
and mountain, the loch, and a distant
glimpse of blue sea, when the travellers
reached Kirktoun, where a very rusty old
one-horse ph6eton, driven by Uncle Sandy
himself, awaited them.
well, my dearie, the sight of you is good
for sair eenr' he cried with unusual
warmth, reaching down a hand to assist
his niece to the seat beside him; adding in
the same breath, and | am right glad you
have seen the error Of your ways. am
always ready to forgive, when Isee onyOne
in their right mind"
81 am very glad to see you, uncle. What
delightful airI 1t is like new life to breathe
it."
Gay, it is just thatl You'll grow strong
and weel. Hoo's a. WI ye, Kenneth? Did
you see Mr.. Macray, and get the paperse
En-, we Gamma carry the two big boxes,
Can We do without them till tomorrow,
Mona, and I'n send the cart for them?"
Yes, uncle. I have my hand pOrtman-
teau, which is quite enough"
The old cart-horse that with bent head
and patient toll dragged the vehicle up the
long ascent, evidently understood his task
too well to heed Uncle Sandy's 'gee-ups"
and occasional applications of the whip.
When they came to o gentle decline or a
few level yards, he broke into slow,
heavy trot-his great feet beating the road
like sledge-hammers; then at the very first
upward tendency he deliberately checked
his pace to a steady walk, from which
nothing could move him. Yet Mona en-
jOyed the drive immensely. The beautiful
wild scenery; the soft, delicious, honey
sweet breeze, that from time TO time
touched her cheek like a caress; the restful
silence, and perhaps, more than all, the
unusually happy expression Of Uncle
Sandy's puckered face, gave her profound
pleasure.
At length, after following a low moss
and grass-grOwn wall for some way, they
turned into a narrow road, at the diverg-
ence of which wooden gate, with one
broken hinge, lay helplessly open.
MOO" said Mr. Craig. with all the pride
of proprietorship, you are in the parks of
Craigdarroch."
"What a delightful countryi What a
pretty placer
"Wait till you are up at the hose. ]
think you'll say it is better than West
bourne Villas"
They soon reached the choose" which
was turned in contradictory manner with
its face to the hill, and built of melancholy
half-mourning gray-stOne. AT the door
stood a respectable gray-haired ''dour'
looking woman-the cook and general ser
vant-and behind, the "bit lassie" who
helped her.
''This is my niece, Miss Craig" said I'm
Gle Sandy to the ''dour" looking woman
"ye'l just do a. she tells ye."
She'll likely not know our ways, and
she frae the SOUTH" she returned, sulkily
''Then you must teach me-" said Mona
smiling so pleasantly on her that her face
relaxed.
Folk learn quick if they are so minded, .
she said, less harshly.
Then Uncle Sandy led Mona through the
museum, the dining-room, the drawing
room, the library.
''You see it's no a poor hOose," he said
with satisfaction. moo, come AVA tt
your ain bed-chamber. You'll like it fine
l am thinking" Uncle Sandy stumpeG
down the ,.assage and introduced his niece
to pretty airy chamber, the windows o.
which looked over the garden, with a side
glimpse of the loch. My room is mex
you. l thought if | were sick, or bad will
the rheumatics, it would be well to have
you nigh hand me. l have had bell pu
there, We see, just over the head of you
bed. / can reach the rope frae mine, an(
wake We ony time want ye."
"a delightful arrangement" said Mona
laughing. at is charming room, anC
when unpack shall make it look quite
pretty. The house has evidently been ar
ranged by men, uncle; it seems awfully
bare"
"Aweel, women have their uses. If
had been able to marry the lassie 1 loved
would be different mon this day"
Mona soon found that life at Craigdar
roch, in spite Of the beauty that surround
ed her, was not q bed of roses.
Mr.. Craig viewed housekeeping expense:
through the small end of his mental tele
scope, and tried to keep them down to i'm
possible limits; while at the bottom of hi:
manly heart he feared Picnic, the cook
far too much to do more than grumble in
definitely.
'She is wastefu' DELL" he whispered tx
his niece, the second day of her sojourn a.
Craigdarroch, when he was solemnly hand
ing her the keys. and instructing her il
the duties of her new position. "You cal
look after her better than 1 can. She jus
drinks pounds o. tea: twa ounces ought K
do her and the grille for week, and theI
the f1esher's bill is just fearful. They tw,
want good meat meals every day"
But, uncle, thy must have meat ever.
day-no one would serve you without it. !"
| "Well, it's just a bad new fashion
| Scotchmen grew to be what they are OF
good oatmeal"
81 shall DO my best, uncle, but am no
economical, | warn you. know what il
cost Madame Debrisay and myself to exist
and it viii be sort of guide. May lool
at your bookss"
Books! I never kept any. just know
the siller slips away over fast"
"No wonder you think so, If Eou keep M
accounts. will not undertake impossi
bilities, but if l do not give satisfaction
you must turn me away. Craig of Craig
! darroch ought to live like gentleman"
'Eh, but that's weel saidP' cried Uncl,
| Sandy, with sudden enthusiasm, which
| showed Mona she had hit the right nail OF
| the head. "Weel, do your best, dearie; blu