The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-27

4
way-Hope rose to comply with her re-
quest and then again pensively subsidized
into her knitting, though occasionally
giving a slight groan OF disapproval as
some unpleasing thought crossed her
mind.
In the meanwhile Biddulph was wend-
ing his way through thick mist TO the
little hovel, which Sandy Hill had not
inaptly described ''as very little better
than heap of stones" where the lads
Tam and Rob Mackenzie dwelt.
1t stood little off the roadway, and
Biddulph easily found it, and found, too,
the elder brother, Tam, and the ancient
smOke-dried woman, their granddame,
who was crouching over the log fire.
The smoke was so thick in the cottage
that Biddulph did not dare TO enter it,
but beckoned the young woodman TO
come outside 10 speak TO him, and then
began to question him about Rob.
But Tam showed an extraordinary reti-
cence when speakingof his sabsent brother
He knew nothing about II, he declared.
Rob might be with the young laird, or he
might not. Tam pretended to be totally
ignorant of the subject; but Biddulph,
acute and observing, plainly saw the lad
was keeping something back.
Hes fine fellow, this young brother
OF yours" Biddulph said, before taking
his leave, slipping couple of sovereigns
into Tam's not unwilling hand. "When
he casts up again, send him over TO Dun
baan and will take him into my employ
ment."
Tam expressed great gratitude; and
then Rddulph went to the blear-eyed,
shrunken old creature inside, who was
bending over the smoking logs.
He spoke TO her, but her sense OF hear
ing was totally gone; and it was not until
he put some silver into her claw-like hand
that the slightest change of expression
passed over her face. But when she saw
the money, her lips began 70 move and
mutter; even on the verge OF the grave its
touch could rouse her still.
She tried 10 rise, and mumbled a bless
ing in words Biddulph could not in the
least understand. For a moment or two
he stood looking at her, this wreck of
poor humanity, and then turned away,
wondering if she had once been young
and comely like the grandchildren she
had reared.
As he walked down TO the loch after
parting with Tam Mackenzie, Biddulph
found the weather had changed. The
wind had veered round and the loch was
dark and troubled, and the thick haze was
lifting. Down the gray hills the gray mist
rolled away like smoke-clouds, and the
outlines, lately so indistinct, stood out
sharp and clear. But the sky was wild
and unsettled, and the boatmen prophe-
sled storm and made haste to cross the
blackening water, which momentarily be-
came more rough.
And before nightfall the wind rose and
began bowling round the house at Dun
baan, and snow and sleet came dashing
cf hn nxs-fr Hf1V,
restless. and went and looked out again
and again, watching the twinkling lights
on the lofty headland at Rossmore. And
Morals fair face seemed before him, with
the rose-blush on her cheeks, and the soft
light shining in her eyes as he had seen it
to-day. Should he ask her at once? Make
a sweet uncertainty into a yet sweeter
bond? Then he pictured her sitting by
his hearth, and sharing with him his
daily life, and smiling at him with her
bright smile.
There can be no change with us, he
thought fondly, "for have given her all 1
have to give"
"'Heart of my heart, were it more,
More would be laid at your feet"
He repeated these lines again and again,
for their melody suited his mood, and their
swinging rhythm had caught his ear.
Outside the tempest blew and the snow
drifted, but the mans heart was warm and
full of love. He was free, he was happy,
and the dark shadows of his life had rolled
away.
But as he walked to and fro, excited by
the hubbub without, chill thought sud-
denly crossed his mind. Where was the
faithful lad Rob Mackenzie during this
wild storm? Safe in the hoyel by the hill
side Biddulph hoped, as he shrewdly
iancied that Tam Mackenzie was very well
acquainted with his brothers wherea-
bouts. Still the idea made him uneasy,
and twice during the night, when he
awoke, he remembered the young gillie
And the next morning the snow lay
deep; the lofty mountain range across
the loch white, and each individual holly
leaf in the avenue, each blade OF grass on
the lBwn, white, too 1t lay in soft un-
dulating masses on the overhanging crags,
and in the elefts and crevices, and on the
storm-tossed frs. A cold chill world;
only the water dark, and the sky gray
all else wrapped in the white pail, and a
great stiffness above and around.
And it showed all day. Not drifting
nor wind-blows now, but the air thick
with the floating feather-like fall, which
came softly and gently, wrapping many
flock on the hills in its chill and death
embrace. And as the darkness gathered
in for night, Biddulph, who was standing
smoking at the house-door, saw the lad
Tam Mackenzie coming quickly up the
avenue, and beckoned him to approach
him.
The young fellow was breathless, and
his face was white and scared.
''Do you want anything, my lad ?" asked
Biddulph kindly.
"Wee, sir, Use made bold to cam" an
swered Tam, touching his cap, "cause
puir Rob, the lad We spiered for yester is
out on the hills, and Gamma find him"
"What oct in all the snow last night ?"
asked Biddulph.
"Ay, puir fellow, he wad game; an he
made me take a solemn promise. sir,I wad
ne'er tell where he lay hid. But l had
been thar now, and / hae shouted, and
shouted, and gat ma answer, an Use sare
afraid"
''Then you knew where he was? He
went, suppose, to prevent giving evil
dence against Malcolm Fraser?"
Upon this Tam confessed the truth,
after, however, praying Biddulph not TO
betray "puir Rob-" 1t seemed that the
police had come upon Tam Mackenzie in
the woods at Inismore, shortly after Sandy
Hill had lodged the information against
Malcolm Fraser with the constables, and
they had told Tam everything was known,
and that he might as we'll make clean