The Forrest City times., 1891-03-20

arrange matters satisfactorily. With that conviction he went merrily on his way.
 CHAPTER ".
 A DUTIFUL SON.
 The original part of the village consists of two rows of buildings forming narrow street. The buildings have two flats; tho upper one is approached by staircase with thick wooden railing outside the wall ;and the landings of these outside stairs" form the rostrums of the fish-wives from which they haranyue their gossips. Poles jut out from windows carrying ropes to form & triangle, and on these hang men and wo- mems clothes to dry. On the stairs are broad-haunched women gossping to others below. on either side, or across the way. Beneath the stairs are others preparing bait, mending nets or clothes and also gossping.
 At the foot of one of these stairs Is Dick Baxter. To him approaches big lumpish man, jaun;ily. He is dressed in the latest fashion of tailordom has alargc signet ring on the third fiager of his left hand, and car res slim umbrella in his right, which makes his own figure the more conspicuous. He Is evidently conscious that such dandy is out of his elem snt in this place. He k u solution of Dick Baxter.
 ''Weel, Jeems, you are grand sight, but you might hae come sooner for your mither's ill great way about you."
 Thank you. Mister Baxter"
 That's as mucklc as to say that ought to call you Mister Cargill." said Dick. pity ingly. Ma. na, laddie, canna do that. l hae kent ye since you were a bairn running barefoot here in the Row, and you maun just thole me saying Jeems to t!,e end" Before Dick had finished his observation, the gentleman had ascended the staircase and entered the dwelling at the top. There he was saluted by an eldritch cry "Ye hae come at last, ye decvl's buckle. Whats keepit ye? Wait or get up and I'll learn ye manners. Did l not say that ye WAS to be here at twa o'clock and noo it's four?'
 This came from an old woman who was seated in m old-fashoned armchair. She wore high white ''mutch," which rendered her shrivelled features and shrunken eyes the more marked; and the passion on the face at this moment made 1t appear more haggard than 1t naturally was The lumpish dandy was not at all disturb ed. His mother, Bell Cargill, had been paralyzed In her lower limbs for ton years past; and although she was always expect. ing to recover and making her arrangements for that event. 1t had not yet come to pasa. She was constantly telling her ncighbors what she would do when she got up," and they kindly humored her hope. and the hope sustained her. She had been one of the briskest and strongest of the fish-wlves, and by singular business tact had been suc- cessful to a degree almost beyond precedent Although living in this poor dwelling. sur. rounded by her creels and ishing-tacEle-it was her humor to have all the relics of her trade about her-she possessed consider. able fortune, tho result of her own energy and industry. Bawbces had grown to shil. lings in her hands, and shillings to pounds. | Then, whilst she still carried her creel, she had started small fishshop in the High Street, Edinburgh, and out of that had grown two large fshmongery establish ments, one at the West End. and the other in the main thoroughfare leading to New ington. She had been careful in the selec- tion of her managers, and she had prosper ed
 She had once said-but she never repeat ed it--that the only mistake she ever made was in getting married; and tho only good her man had ever done her was In "deeing sune." But he had left her with . son as useless as himself.
 Notwithstanding all her prosperity, she clung to the abode in which she had been brought up. and out of which she had reap ed everything. Her son, however, had diff ferent ideas
 You sec, mother, I was detained by"
 Can ye not speak your native tongue, you idiots What's the use O putin on Gssn uxs.tt -l.x ID n
 T really thought that was speaking my native tongue as far as knew 1t. mother; but if there is any other form which will please you better shall Dc happy to adopt it," he answered. taking chair and seating himself on 1t care fully, as If he feared that 1t might break under him.
 The old woman eyed him all over, and the twinklng of her eyes showed that she had secret pleasure in his grand appear Ance, although she maintained her Queru- l0us manner.
 "Weel. you hae guid Scotch tongue in | your head If you would only mak, use O 1t; but you'll do nAething usefu'. You just | spend, and spend. and spend" If you would allow me, he said in lazy way, T am quite willing to take the man. agement of the business" Catch me lettin' ye do that. gied ye . tether O three months, and if had glen ye three msir there wonldna hae been ae Ien- 1 ny to ciink agin anither left us" "Very well" he said, shrugeing his heavy l builders, Il am content Only don't blame 1 !"
 "Na blame you, ye lazy loonl Oh, walt nll get up; and it'il na be lang moo or that Ma blame youl If ye had been half man ye would hae been the greatest tishmerchant in tho kintry by this time"
 l "ButI don't want to be nshmongee." | he said as before, and folding hts hands on his pannch.
 I "fish- merchant 1 said, and mair shame I toyel 10 It na the grandest trade and the brAvest trads in tho worlds Can ye m thiIlk I . what it means- men's lives gien to feed l tne llvin'f And ean VI - ohlnk what it haa 9M = Yonf WhnnS Won1 yoUr bounfo
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