Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-01-17

thanklesSness. And ugly enough as these
must have appeared in any one, they seemed
tenfold uslier in Mr.. Henry; for who could
forget that the master lay in peril of his life,
and that he had already lost his mistress, his
title and his fortunef
II was during this time that perceived
most clearly the effect of manner, and was
led 10 lament most deeply the plainness of
my own. Mr. Henry had the essence Of
gentleman; when he was moved, when there
was any call of circumstance, he could play
his part with dignity and spirit; but in the
days commerce 1T is idle TO deny icy he fell
short Of the ornamental. The master ION the
other han6 had never a movement but it
commended him. So it befell that, when the
one appeared gracious and the other ungra-
cious, every trick of their bodies seemed to call
out confirmation Nor that alone; but the
moro deeply Mr.. Henry foundered in his bro
Tiers tolls the more clownish he grew; and
the more the master enjoyed his spteful en-
tertainment, the more engagingly, the more
smilirgly he wentl So that the plot, by its
own scope md progress, furthered and con-
firmed itself.
1t was ono Of the mans arts to use the
peril in which, as l say, he was supposed to
stand. He spoke of it to those who loved
him with a gentle pleasantly, which made II
the moro touching. To Mr.. Henry, he used
il as a cruel weapon of oiTense. l remember
his laying his finger on tho clean lozenge of
the painted window one day when we three
were alone together in the hall. "Here went
your lucky guinea, Jacob" said he. And
when Mr.. Henry only looked upon him
darbly, "Oh,n he added, 'you need not look
such impotcnt malice, my good fly. You
con be rid Of your spider when you please.
How long, oh, Lordl When are you to be
wrought to tho point of a denunciation,
scrupulous brotheri 1t is one of my in
terests in this dreary hOle l ever loved
experiment" Still Mr. Henry only stared
upon him with q glooming brow and a
changed color; and at last the master broke
out III a laugh and clapped him on the
shoulder, calling him sulky dog At this
my patron leaped back with a gesture
thought very dangerous; and l must sup
pose the master thought so, too; for he
looked the teaSt in the world discounte-
nunced, and | do not remember him again
to have laid hands on Mr., Henry.
But though he had his peril always on his
lips in the one way or the other | thought his
conduct strangely incautious, and bcCA, TO
fancy the government twho had set ice
upon his head was gone sound asleep | will
not deny was tempted with the wish to de-
nounce him; but two thoughts withheld me
one that, If be were thus to end his life upon
an honorable scaffold, the man would be
canonized for good in the minds of his
father and my patrons wife: the other, that
if was in any way mingled in the matter,
Mr. Henry himself would scarce escape some
eiancings Of suspicion. And in the mean
while our enemy went in and out more than
7 he, = no hot
he was home again was buzzed about all the
country side, and yet he was never stirred.
OF all these so many and so different persons
who were acquainted with his presence, none
had the least greed (as l used to say, in my
annoyance or the least loyalty; and the man
rode here and there-fully more welcome,
considering the lees of old unpopularity, than
Mr.. Henry-and considering the free traders
far safer than myself.
Not but what he had trouble OF his own;
and this, as it brought about the gravest con-
sequences, | must now relate. The reader
will scarce have forgotten Jessie Broun; her
way of life was much among the smuggling
party; Capt. Grail himself was of her init
mates, and she had early word of Mr.. Bally s
presence at the house. In my opinion she had
long ceased to care two strawS for the mas
ter's person; but it was become her habit to
connect herself continually with the master
name; that was the ground Of all her play
acting; and so, now when he was back, she
thought she owed 1t to herself TO grow a
haunter Of the neighborhood Of Durrisdeer.
The master could scarce 60 abroad but she
was there in wait for him; a scandalous figure
of q woman, not often sober mailing him
wildly as "her bonny laddie " quoting pedler's
poetry, and, az I receive the story, even seek
ing to weep upon his neck. own I rubbed
my hands over this persecution; but the mas
ter, who laid 80 much upon others, was him
self the least patient Of men. There were
strange scenes enacted In the policies. Some
say he took his cane to her and Jessie fell
back upon her former weapon, stones. 1t is
certain at least that he made motion 10
Capt Grail to have the woman trepanned,
and that the captain refused the proposition
with uncommon vehenence. And the end of
tho matter was victory for Jessie. Money
was got together; an interview took place in
which my proud gentleman must consent to
be kissed and wept upon; and the woman was
set UP in public of her own, somewhere on
Solway eide Out l forget where, and by the
only news I ever had Of it, extremely i'll fro
Quented.
This is to look forward. After Jessie hat
Been DuC UILio Wulle upon MS letlS, lne
master comes to me one day in the stewards
office and with more civility than usual
"Mackellar," says he, "there is a damned
crazy wench comes about here. l cannot
we'll move in the matter myself, which brings
me to you. Be so good as see to it; the men
must have a strict injunction to drive the
weuch away"
"Sir," said I, trembling a little, "you can
do your own dirty errands for yourself
lie said not word to that, and left the
room.
Presently came Mr.. Henry. Here is
news.n cried he. sit seems all is not enough
and you must add to my wretchedness. II
seems you have insulted Mr.. Bally."
under your kind favor, Mr.. Henry" said
/, sit was he that insulted me, and as think
grossly. But l may have been careless Of
your position when l spoke, and il you think
so when you know all, my dear patron, you
have but to say the word For you ! would
obey in any point whatever, even to sin, Goo
pardon me-" And thereupon l told him what
had passed
Mr.. Henry smiled to himself; a grimmel
smile never witnessed. "You did exactly
WE'LL said he "He shall drink his Jessie
Hroun to the dregs" And then, spying tn,
v,asta, outsidn he ODnnnd tha window apf