The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-22

done all could to hang Catriona's father,
and nothing the least material to help
myself. To tell the truth, I fancied
neither one Of these ideas Suppose, by
holding back Neil, the girl should have
helped to hang her father, l thought she
would never forgive herself this side OF
time. And suppose there were others pur-
suing me at that moment, what kind OF
gift was l come bringing to Alan ? and
how would like that?
l was up with the west end Of that wood
when these two considerations struck me
like cudgel. My feet stopped OF them
selves and my heart along With them.
What Wild game is this that have been
playing?" thought l. and turned instantly
upon my heels to go elsewhere.
This brought my face to SiiVermilis; the
path came past the village w4h crook,
but all plainly visible: and. Highland or
LoyIand, there was nobody stirring Here
was my advantage, here was gust SUCH
conJuncture as Stewart had cozlnselled me
to profit by, and I ran by the side of the
miii-iade, fetched about beyond the east
| corner of the wood, threaded through the
midst of it. and returned so the west
sewage. whence | could again command
the path, and yet be myself unseen.
Again it was all empty, and nv heart be-
gan to rise.
border of the tree, and no hare or eagle
could have kept more particular watch.
When that hour began the sun was al
ready set, but the sky still all golden and
the daylight clear; before the hour WAS
done it had fallen to be half rairk, the i'm
ages and distances of things were mingled
and observation began to be difficult. All
that time not foot Of man had come east
from Silvermills and the feR that had
gone west were honest counsryfolk and
their good wives upon the read to their
beds. If were tracked by tie most cum
ming spies in Europe. judged 1T was be-
| yond the course OF nature they could have
any jealousy of where l was; ana. going
little further home into the wood, lay
down to wait for Alan.
The strain of my attention. had been
great, for l had watched nos the path
only, but every bush and field within my
vision. That was now at an end. The
moon, which was in her first Quarter. glis-
tened little in the wood. All round
there was stiffness of the country. and
as lay on my back the next three or four
hours, had fine occasion to review my
conduct.
Two things became plain to me-that I
had had no right to go that day to Dean,
and (having gone there) had now no right
to be lying where l was. This (where
Alan was to Gomez was just the one wood
in all broad Scotland that was, by every
proper feeling, closed against me; adj
mitted that and yet stayed on, wondering
at myself. thought of the measure with
which had melted to Cstriona that same
night; how had prated OF the two lives l
carried, and had thus forced her to enjeop-
andy her fathers; and how l was
| here exposing them again, it seemed in
wantonness. A good conscience is eight
conceit of my behavior than I seemed to
stand disarmed amidst throng of terrors;
| of a sudden sat up. How if / went now
| to Prestongrange caught him las l still
easily mighty before he slept. and made
full submission? Who could blame me?
that was followed, despaired of getting
clear. and so gave in. Not Catfiona; here,
too l had my answer ready; that could
not bear she should expNse her father.
So, in moment. / could lay all these
troubles by, which were after all and truly
none Of mine: swim clear of the .Appin
murder; get forth out, Of handstroke
of all the Stewards and Canpbells. all
the Wings and Tories, in the land;
and live thenceforth to my own
| mind, and be able to enjoy and to inn
prove my fortunes, and devote come hours
of my youth to counting Catrinna. which
would be surely a more suitable arrange
ment than to hide and run and be followed
like hunted thief. and begin over again
the dreadful miseries Of my escape with
Alan.
At first thought no shame OF this capit-
ulation; l was only amazed l had not
thought upon the thing and done it ear
lier; and began to inquire into the causes
of the change. These traced to my low
ness of spirits, that back to my late reck-
lessness, and that again to thu common,
old. public. disconsidered sin OF self-in-
diligence. Instantly the text came in my
head, "How can Satan cast out Satan?''
Whaf9 IT fbnnohfl L had hv soff.inH,,1.
gence, and the following of pleasant paths.
and the lure of a young maid, east myself
wholly out of conceit with my own char
acter, and jeopardized the lives of James
and Alan? And was to seek the
way out by the same road IS / had en-
caused by self ndulgencey must be cured
by self denial the flesh I had pampered
must be crucifed. / looked about me for
that course which l least liked to follow;
this was to leave the wood without wait
ing to see Alan, and go forth akain alone,
in the dark and in the midst OF my per-
picked and dangerous fortunes.
l have been the more careful 10 narrate
this passage of my reflections because I
think it is of some utility and may serve
as an example to young men. But it must
not be thought was SO great ars extremist
as to act upon my principle outright.
There IS reason (they say) in planting
kale, and even in ethic and religion, room
for common sense. 1t was already close
on Alan's hour and the moon was down.
If l left (as I could not very decently
whistle TO my spies to follow mel they
might miss me in the dark and tack
themselves to Alan by mistake. If /
stayed l could at the least OF it set my
friend upon his guard. which might
prove his mere salvation. | bad adven-
tured other peoples safety in = course of
sef-indulgence; to have endangered it
| again, and now on mere design of pen
ance, would have been scarce rational.
Accordingly. had scarce rlse,, from my
place ere set down again, but already in
different frame of spirits. and equally
marveling at my past weakness and re-
| joicing in my present composurs.
Presently after came cracking in the
thicket. Putting my mouth near down to
the ground, | whistled a nots or two of
Alan's air. An answer came. III the like
guarded tone, and soon We had thralled
together in the dark.
as this you at last, Davie?" he whis.
pered
"Just myself" said I.
God, man. bnt I've be wearring to see
vel" says he. 1--WE had the longest kind
OF a time. A'day. I've had ms dwelling
into the inside of stack of hay where |
could nae see the nebs of my ten fingers;
and then two hours of it waiting here for
you. and you never coming. bod, and
we're none too soon the way il is with me