The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-19

Wick or Lerwick in Shetland What she
had earned would keep the thatch over her
family's heads another year. Another man,
sleek Ia, and well fed; was from Lord Tweed,
lodge, far up the strath; and still another
was a strath merchant who deal in Sweet
les" and meal in little hut by Fasnakyle
Bridge. Then there was the driver, earn
est and awful, because entrusted with Her
Majesty's mail-pouches; myself next to him
alongside myself the Rev. Mr.. Mackenzie,
my companion, Free Church minister to
the tiny fold in grand Strathglass. and resi-
dent in the Free Church manse, by Fas-
nakyle.
And how came to be guest of this
man who, capable of filling New York
pulpit. is passing devoted and sacrificed
life among the lowly of these tempest-rid-
den mountains, has spice of humor in it
worth the telling. He had been cycling in
Norway, and, returning to Scotland. came
to the same little hotel which housed me in
Edinburgh. With like sympathies and
longinRs to know all strangers can tell
each other. we had tumbled into an &C.
qaintance and mutual living at break
fast; were in my own room directly, FEAST
ing on pile of several hundred delicious
old volumes had dug out of the second
hand shops of Edinburgh; and while thus
gosthering at each other in glorious way
we we're suddenly overtaken by little ro-
nance.
Bursting into the room in great state Of
trepidation our kindly landlady of st. An
drew's, Mrs: Steele, breathlessly stated in
the richest Aberdonian dialect that we'd
ding dinner and a wedding itself were in
the process of spelling for the want of q
.'meenister." They had come all the way
from Alloa, poor souls! with kith and kin,
! everything and everybody would be ruined
| if my friend "dinna COON ava doom the
cofee-room an join the puir bodies di-
reotly."
No; my friend was obdurats. II was his
vacation. Besides. how did he know they
were right in their lines" But the. brisk
landlady had him there. She had been q
their '.lines'' herself; and the pair were
entitled to succor ON that score. No,
again; because he had been cycling,
was in grays, and knickerbockers, to
boot; and who ever heard of a clergyman
regulation blackp But l had him there;
and soon saw him clapped inside a black
evening suit of my own. But oh: Scotch
perversity! he had no white collar and
choker. Then cornered him again; this
time with Yankee paper collar and a
ha'penny white muslin tie; and were now
sure of victory. for under these conditions
we got him to the landing below. Here he
baked completely. On how slight thread
hung the fate of this wretched couple then!
He had not the form Of service with him,
and proceeding without it was utterly out
| of the question. Bless those second hand
books, this time they were the recourse.
babe the landlady hold the man of pray or,
and with visions loss and the aroma of a
scorchinR dinner prompting she held him
like wise. In moment more l had
bounded to my room, with emotions of de-
feat, hope, victory, had swept my eyes
along the mildewed covers of my second
hand books. and finally pounced with
exultant delight upon a little
brown volume of 1856, Ander-
sons Minister'S Directory, Bound
ing back to our captured 'meenister," I
placed this in his hands, opened at page IL.
and before he could offer further protest
that vigorous Scotch landlady and myself
had him in front of the blushing bride and
bridegroom, perspiring through an Estab-
| lished Church form of marriage ceremony
and within ten minutes time Isabel Nc
Cartay Cameron, and Charles Mcdonald
mannan, kingdom of Scotland, were made
man and wife; I had set my name down
With boldnees an6 flourish as one of the
witnesses; the ''rosy cheekit' Alloa girls
accompanying the pair had hustled the
bride until the window panes ratified. TO,
the one FIRST rubbing her left shoulder
against brides left shoulder will first be
married; with laughter and jest and many
sally at the captured parson, We all par.
took Of the Wedding dinner, done to turn,
end all the more graciously served as the
the landlady got two prices for
at least two plates of it; my
friend got . sovereign for his enforced cler-
ical labors; and !. with the good fortune