Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-28

L. C.. -. our
farm, -lany generations,
payinel me Duke of Hamilton and
all p-ospering in moderate way. My
father had been enabled TO send me to begin
the study of medicine at the University of
Glasgow, and had attended lectures there
for two winter sessions, but whether from
caprice or from some lessening in his funds,
he had recalled me, and in the year 1865 1
found myself cribbed up in this little island
with lust education enough to wish for more,
and with no associate at home but the grim,
stern old man, for my mother had been dead
some years, and 1 had neither brother nor
sister.
There were two youths about nv own age
in the island, Geordie and Jock Gibbs, but
they were rough, loutish fellows, good
hearted enough, but with no ideas above
fishing and farming. More to my taste was
the society of Minnie Fullarton, the pretty
daughter of old FuIlalton of Corriemains.
We had been children together, and it was
natural that when she blossomed into
buxom, fresh-faced girl, and 1 into 4 square,
shouldered, long legged youth, there should
be something warmer than friendship be-
tween u.s. Her elder brother was corn
chandler in Ardrossan, and was said to be
doing we'll, so that the match was an eligi-
BILE one, but for some reason my father OBJ
jected very strongly to our Intimacy and
even forbade me entirely to meet her.
LAUGHED at his commands, for was hot
headed, irreverent youngster. and continued
to see Minnie, but when it came to his ears
it caused many violent scenes between US,
which nearly went the length of bows. We
had a quarrel of this sort just before the
eauinoctial gales in the spring of the year
in which nv story begins, and left the old
man with his face flushed, and his great
bony hands shaking with passion, while L
went jauntily off to our usual trysting-place.
1 have often regretted since that was not
more submissive, but how was l to guess the
dark things which were to come upon us?
1 can remember that day well. Many
bitter thoughts rose in my heart as 1 strobe
along the narrow pathway, cutting savagely
at the thistIes on either side with nv stick
One side of our little estate was bordered by
the Combera cliffs, which rose straight out
of the water to the height of a couple OF
hundred feet. The top of these cliffs was
covered with green sward and commanded
noble view on every side. l stretched my
self on the turf there and watched the
breakers dancing over the Winner sands and
listened to the gurgling Of the water down
beneath me in the caves OF the Combera.
The whole air was prickly with the smack
OF the sea. Away to the north there was a
piling up of clouds, and the peak of Goat
fell in Arran looked lurid and distinct.
There were no craft in the ofing except one
little eager, painting steamer making for the
shelter of the Clyde, and a trim brlgantine
tacking along the coast. l was speculatlng
as to ner destination when 1 heard light
springy footstep, and Minnie Fullarton was
standing beside me, her face rosy with exer-
else and her brown hair floating behind her.
"Wha's been yexing you, Archie?" she
asked with the quick intuition OF woman
hood. 1.-THE auld man has been speaking
a boot me again; has he no'?''
1t was strange how pretty and mellow the
accents were IN her mouth which came so
raspingly from my father. We sat down
on little green hilloek together, her hand
in mine, while 1 told her Of our quarrel in
the morning.
''You see they're bent on parting u.s." l
said; but indeed they'll find they have the
wrong man to deal with if they Try to
frighten me away from you"
'I'm mo- worth it, Archie, she answered,
signing. "I'm over namely and simple
for one like you that speaks well and is a
scholar forbye."
You're too good and true for anyone,
Minnie" 1 answered, though in my heart
1 thought there was some truth in what she
said
"1ll mo- trouble anyone lang" she con-
tinued, looking earnestly irto my face. 81