Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21
BY WILLIAM BLACK,
CHAPTER XIV.
AL1Na WITH coTEMPoRARY LIFE.
TEN FOR THE DISPATCH.
IN A NORTHERN VILLAGE.

letters He opened it mechanically, little
thinking; but the next moment his eyes
were staring with amazement. For these
were the words he saw before him: "Grand-
father very i'll; would like to see you.
Maisrie Bethune, Crossmains, by Cupar.
Then through his bewilderment there flashed
the sudden thought; why, the lands of
Bslloray were up in that Fifeshire region;
had, then, the old man, tired of his world
wauderings, and feeling this illness coming
upon him, had be at length crept home to
die, perhaps as a final protest And
Maisrie was alone there. among strangers,
with this weight of trouble fallen upon her.
Why could not these intervening hours, and
the long night, and the great distance, be
at once annihilated: he saw Majsrie waiting
for him, with piteous eyes and outstretched
hands.
He never could afterward recall with any
accuracy how he passed those hours; 1t all
seemed dream. And a dream it seemed
next day, when he found himself in dog
cart, driving through placid and smiling
country, with the sweet summer air blowing
all around him. He talked to the driver, to
free his mind from anxious and futile fore
casts. CrossmainS, be was Informed, was a
small place. There was but one inn in it
the Balloray Arms. Most likely, if two
strangers were to arrive on a visit, they
would put up at the inn; but very few peo-
pie did go through-perhaps an occasional
commercial traveller.
And where is Balloray House-or Bal
loray Casrle?" was the next question.
Just in there sir, said the man, with a
Jerk OF his whip toward the woods past
which they were driving.
And Of course it was with great interest
and curiosity that Vincent looked out for
this place of which he had heard so much.
AT present nothing could be seen but the
hign stone wall that surrounds so many
Scotch estates; and, branching over that, a
magnificent row OF beeches; but by and by
they came to a clearing in the "pohcies;"
and all at once the Castle appeared
in sight-a tall, rectangular build
ing, with battlemented parapet
and corner turrets, perched on
spacious and lofty plateau. Ii looked more
modern than he had imagined to himself;
but perhaps it had been recently renovated.
From the flagstaff overlapping the highest
of the turretS flag idly dropped and swung
In the blue ci the summer sky; no doubt
the proprietor was at home-in proud
possession; while the old man who con-
sidered himself the rightful owner of the
place was lying, perhaps stricken nigh unto
death, In some adjacent cottage or village
inn. Then the woods closed round again;
and the mansion of Balloray was lost from
view.
Vincent was not in search of the pictur-
esque, or he might have been disappointed
with this village of Crossmains-which con-
sisted of but one long and wide thoroughfare
bordered on each hand with q row of bare
and mean-looking cottages and Insignificant
houses. When they drove up to the inn, he
did not notice that it was a small two-
Etorieo, drab-hued building of the most
commonplace appearance; that was not what
he was thinking of at ali; his heart was
beating high with emotion-what wonder
might not meet his eager gaze at any in
slant? And indeed he had hardly entered
the little stone passage when Maisrie ap-
peared before him; she mad heard the vehicle
arrive, and had quickly come downstairs;
and now she stood quite speechless-her
trembling, warm hands clasped in his her
face upturned 10 him, her beautiful sad ewes
all dimmed with tears, and vet having a
kind OF JOY in them, too, and pride. She
could not say a single word: he would have
to understand that she was grateful to him
for his instant response to her appeal. And
perhaps there was more than gratitude; she
seemed to hunger to look at him-for she
ndO uOb seen ullu IOT 80 long Wulles per-
haps she had never thought to see him
again.
Have you any better news, Maisrie?"
said he
She turned and led the way into little
parlor.
Yes" said she (and the sound of her
voice startled him, the Maisrie of his many
dreams, sleeping and waking, had been all so
silen). Grandfather is rather better. l
think heis asleep now-or almost asleep. 1t
is q fever-a nervous lever and he has been
80 weak, and often delirious, but be is
quleter now-rest is everything"
''Maisrie," be said again Gin his bewilder-
menD sit is a wonderful thing to hear you
speak. I can hardly believe it. Where
have you been all this while? Why did you
60 away from me?''
q went because grandfather wished it,
said she. Il will tell you some other time.
He is anxious to see you. He has been
frettiug about so manv things; and he will
not confde in me-not eutirely-I eau see
that there is concealment And Vincent"
she went on, with her appealing eyes fixed
on him, don't speak to him about Craig
Royston!-and don't let him speak about it.
You know, when be got i'll in Cairo it was
more home-sickness than anything else, as
think; and he said he wanted to go and die
In his own country and among his own
people; and so we began TO come to Scotland
by slow stages. And now that we are here.
there is no one whom ne knows; he is uuite
as much alone here as he was in Egypt: far
more alone than we used to be in Canada.
1 fancy he expects that message may come
for me from Balloray-that 1 am to 90
there and be received; and of course that is
quite impossible; / do not know them;
they do not know me; don't suppose they
are even aware that we are living in this
place But if he is disappointed in that it
is Craig-RoystOn he will think of next-he
viii want to 20 there 10 seek out relatives
on my account. Well, Vincent, about
Craig Rovston-"
face became sufused with sort of piteous
embarrassment
But l understand, Maisrie, quite wellp'
sale he, boldly. "Why should you be
troubled about that? You have found out
there is no such place?-but 1 could have
told you so long ago! There was a district
so named at one time-and that is quite
enough for your grandfather-a picturesque
name that takes his fancy, and be brings it
into his own life. Where is the harm of
that2 There may have been Grants living
there at one tlme-and they may have inter-
married with the Bethunes; anyhow
your grandfather has talked himself
into believing there was such a re-
lationship; and even if it is a de-
lusion, what injury does it do to any hu-
man creature? Why" he went on quite
cheerfully, to reassure her and give her
comfort, Il am perfectly aware that no
Scotch family ever had Stand Fast Craig
Roy stonp as its motto. But ii the phrase
caught your grandfather's ear, why should
:. r IL.