The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-08-09

of the few things that the friends had
never spoken of, though every one
knew why DIR. Fraser did not visit his
brothers little farm. "He's gettin' i'll
VII the big fowk moo an thinks maybe
that his brither wad dae him nae credit"
That was the way the clash of the
countryside explained the matter.
81 never told you how | came to
leave the college, Saunders" said the
Younger man, resting his brow on
hand that even the horn of the pillow
could not make other than diaphanous.
NO" said Saunders quietly, with
tender CLEAN coming into the humor-
some, kindly eyes that lurked under
their bushy tussocks of gray eyebrows.
Saunders humor lay near the fountain
of tears.
"No," continued Robert Fraser, 81
have not spoken of it to so many, but
you've been a good friend to me, Saun
ders, and l think you should hear it. |
have not tried to set myself right with
folks in the general, but | would like to
let you see clearly before l go my ways
to him who seeth from the beginning"
Hear till him." said Saunders;
oman, yer boast Cough is no'near as
sair as it was i the back end. YEN be
here lang after me, but lang or short,
weel do ye ken, Robert Fraser, that we
need no to pit yersel RIGHT VII me. Hev
| no kenned ye since ye war the size o.
twa scrubbers."
"I thank you, Saunders" said
Robert, -" but l am well aware that
am to die this year. No, no, not a
word. 1t is the Lords will. It's more
than seven years now since | first
kenned that my days were to be few.
1t was the year my father died and left
Harry and me by our lane.
" He left no siller to speak of, ju t
plenty to lay him decently in the kirk
yard among his forebears l had been
a year at the Divinity hall then and was
going up to put in my discourses for
The next session. | had been troubled
with my breast for some time and 30
called one day at the infirmary to get a
word with Sir James. He was very
busy when l went in and never noticed
me till the boast took me. Then on a
sudden he looked up from his papers
and quietly said, Come into my room,
laddie!' Aye, he was good man and
faithful, Sir James, if ever there was
| OuG. I1t bOlI lDc llldb Will CdI U i
might live five or six years, but it would
need great care. Then strange
prickly GOODNESS came over me, and
seemed to walk light headed in an
atmosphere suddenly rarefed. | think
| know now how the mouse feels under
the air pump"
What's that?" queried Saunders.
g A cruel ploy not worth speaking
Of" continued the stickit minister
"Well, found something in my throat
when | tried to thank him. But came
my ways home to the Dullarg, anC
night and day considered what was tC
be done, with so much to do and sc
little time to do it. 1t was clear thai
both Harry and me could not go through
the college on the little my father had
left. So late one night saw my way
clear to what l should do. Harry mus
90; must stay. must come home tC
the farm and be my own man. then
could send Harry to the college to be {
doctor, for he had no call to the min
istry as once | thought | had. More
than that, it was laid on me to tel
Jessie Loudon that Robert Fraser was
no better than machine set to 90 five
years.
"Now all these things l did, Saun
ders, but there's no use telling you
what they cost in the doing. They
were right to do, and they were done
| do not repent any of them. would
do them all over again were they to do
but it's been bitterer than | thought
The stickt minister took his head of
his hand and leaned back in his chair
"The story went over the country
that | had failed in my examinations
and never said that had not. Blu
there were some that knew better who
might have contradicted the report il
they had liked. | settled down to The
farm, and put Harry through the col
lege, sending all but a bare living tC
him in Edinburgh. | worked the worl
of the farm, rain or shine, ever since
and have been for these six years The
stickit minister that all the world
kens the day. Whites Harry did no
think that he got enough. He was
always writing for more and not so very
pleased when he did not get it. HI
was aye different to me, we ken, Saun
ders, and he Gamma be judged by thu
same standard as you and me-"
g. KEN" said Saunders M Quhirr,
spark of light lying in the quiet of hi
eyes.
WE'LL" continued Robert Fraser
lightened by Saunders apparent agree
, ment, " the time came when he wa
} clear from college and wanted prac
tice. He had been i'll advised that b.
had not got his share of the farm, an,
he wanted it selled to share and shar
alike.
"Now I kenned and you ken, Saun
ders, that it's no worth much in on
, share, let alone two. So Igot the plac
: quietly bonded and bought him oil
3 DR.. Athens practice in Cairn Edward
. with the money. | have tried to do M
: best for the lad, for it was laid on m
l to be my brothers. keeper. He doesn
/ come here much" continued Robert
{ "but | think he's not so ill against me a
t he was. Saunders, he waved his han
Q to me when he was gaun by the day."
l "That was kind of him." said Saun
/ ders NJ Quhirr.
t "Aye, was 1t not?" said the stick
g minister eagerly, with soft look in hi
4 | 1. i. l. l.. -