The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-28
[Gopyright 1885. by Irving pacho.ler.l

in their night habits, looking tearfully
afraid. Nor could imagine for what
cause they We're brought out of their
warm beds at that time OF night. But
at the first glff of them as they came
through the doors, the women cast
their hands upwards and cried out as
in an agony:
''Cruel. cruel" they said, "to make
our BARNS bear witness against us!'
Ihen the sharp-faced man took the
BARNS in hand, being a boy and a girl,
questioning them none SO unkindly. but
rather as one that has suchlike of his
own and kenned the lit of their talk.
So the little James Thomson told how
that his father and mother came home
after being gone a long season. They
went to bed and began to talk to-
gcther, he lying meantime at the foot.
They told how that Philip Standstield
had done the deed, declaring that he
should now be laird of all before the
morrow's morn. ard that then he ride
in their skirt: that had been Ill to him.
and how he had promised them great
rewards fer helping him to cast the
body into the water so that II might
appear tina, his father had been
drowned,
So the lSd spoke, and when his father
and mother reproached him. he kneeled
down IL the kirk there and besought
them with tears running down his face
to confess. but, being hardened. they
would not for all his asking.
IT was s:ill more piteous when little
Anna Mark. that was daughter to the
III woman Janet Johnson, a BARN of
bu. rine year or thereby. with yellow
hair ana much Of 1t running every way
down her back. came forward. Being
50 little they had, perforce, to give her
a fuotstool to stand upon.
But all she could say was "Dinna
hurt my minnie, Draw man. dinna hurt
my minnier'
For II is strange thing that though
the woman was such an III wreatch, she
had not been i'll 10 tine BARN. But the
child loved her and that greatly. And
Dalrymple looked upon Anna Mark
and said. mo, TO, little lass. your
mothers life shall not be hurt because
of you. But II ye will tell what your
mother said when she came home that
night she was out late. you may help
Are ye sure of that" said the little
one ceasing her tears and looking up.
Then my minnie said when she cam
home that ii was all done and we'll
done, but not by her. She would yet
be lady and ride in her carriage. And
the Draw man that ged me the pennies
guarded the door with a drawn sword
and pistol in his hand"
At the word | minded that which I
had seen at the latch-hole of the door,
and my demon was made plain to me-
/ was about to rise and tell my tale:
but Umphray Spurway dragged me
back by the coat tail. For one of the
women suddenly lifted up her hands
over her head and fell forward over
the seat with the cry, "Oh. God! It IS
enough. 1t is true, all true; confess"
And the other also suddenly gave way
in like manner, crying. 1T is true, It is
true; but my sin is not unto death. Say
that my sin Is not unto death"
Then the little advocate in the desk
took his pen between his teeth and bun
to Philip Standsfield where he stood as
gray as dead man in the light of the
morning, Have ye anything to say?
VIII ye touch your father for the test
of blood?"
NO" said Philip, blackly, "thatI will
not"
Unphray spurwsy came forward
My Lord Advocate" said he, runs
1t with your will, If the parents of these
children are long time confined or ban
ished, that l should bind the lad ap-
prentice to my trade, which is a good
one, ard adept the little lass to be as
my own child in my home?"
at Ia well said, Umphrayw said the
Advocate Dalrymple. "and like your
good heart. Ya are little likely TO be
troubled with their forbcars, at least
till they are marrIage-muckle and set
tied in homes of their own"
AMI am ! free man and fully as
soilize, my Lord?" said /, making him
bow as hs came out Of lls 4, SIX.
fle II lied at me with n queer zmi;e
that have never yet go.;nn to TIM
bo.tCrn C. and made me all answer
that w-a barely civil.
"Aye. Mr.. Eell, ye are q free man, I
may say that; but not man of great
wisium or sense. with you- evi. spirits
and visions. If 1t had not been for
your good friend the Englishman here
ye had worn the hempen collar instead
Of ministering to the good folks of Nor
ton"
And this I still think to have been a
distinctly uncivil speech Of Stairs. and
when ! told Drumlanrig, my patron, he
laughed and swore that he thought so
too.
But the eyes OF the little advocate
flashed wildfre as they were turned on
Phillip Standsfeld.
"But as for you, murderer of your
father, We shall die the death, as I am
a true man and the kings advocate"
At this Philip Standsneld turned on
him the gaze of q fiend. The guard
ciashed out with him. In an instant
the kirk was clear and the kings off,
GERS marching UP the kirk road with
the prisoners in their midst.
At the door stood Umphray Spurway
with the BARNS in either hand, comfort
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