Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-04-25
CHAPTER XIII.

Symngton brought one or two OF them
to call here to-day. liked them"
"And | am sure they liked you, my
darling" said Rodericl, with n tender
pride "Well it will be rather nice to
90 back for an hour or two to the old life,
and rest ones ears from the endless buzz
of machinery. Though l am fond of ma
chinery," added he, hastily and cheerlly
at is like presiding as temporary proVi-
dence over cosmogony of ones own
making, taking care that all the wheels
are kept going; doing ones utmost, and
waiting calmly for the final result, as one
must in all things. Yes l enjoy my work.
and l mean to enjoy my play, II l am
not too tired"
He had come in very tired-he often did;
but, refreshed with tea and tender words,
had now begun dressing for the Syming-
ton dinner, putting on his diamond studs,
brushing out his curly hair, and his wife
could see he rather liked the proceeding.
He was young man still.
She was young, too-not at all above
the pleasure of making herself pretty
as he told her she looked in her white
wedding dress, with her wedding veil
transmitted into shawl. He admired
her--they mutually admired one another
and took a childish pleasure in the
same.
81 wish | could give you carriage"
sighed Roderick, as he muiiled her in
hood and plaid for the ten minutes walk
under the fir woods through the clear
frosty December night
81 am content with my own two feet,
dear. Lady Symington offered the car
riage but declined"
"Qute right. The poorer we are the
more independent we will be. Always
stick to the principle, owe no man any
thing"
Except to love one another" Silence
added, gently. 81 can't help loving her
that sweet old lady-however rich she is,
And she is so cheerful, too. How she
laughed at my thick boots, and showed
them to the two young ladies she had
with her-most gentlemanly young ladies,
who dress almost like men, and pity
themselves for being only women! Now,
it may be very conceited of me, dear,
but never wished to be a man in all
my lifew
"Thank heaven for that" said Roder-
ick, with such energy that they both burst
out laughing, and so started merrily, Ian
tern in hand, through the solemn fir-wood,
and across the open, breezy, star-lighted
moor
Silence chung to her husbands arm,
''This feels like the old days-the days
when you used to walk home with us at
night" She paused and then continued
in the low smothered tone which he had
learned to understand now. odd you
ever think then that l loved you-that
it was heaven to me just to walk beside
you for a quarter of an hour? And now
we walk together always-through life
into eternity. Mol shall not lose you
even there"
He pressed her little hand nearer his
heart, but said nothing. They walked on
watching the round, red moon, which was
creeping up slowly through cleft in the
hills, Neither said, GLOW beautiful"
lust rs neither said, 81 am happy" but
they knew it without speaking.
So they reached, two humble pedestri-
ans, the Symington hall-door.
care you afraid?" asked Roderick, as
they paused to let carriage pass them
the Castle Tore carriage, full of very
resplendent McAllsters.
"Not afraid of my host and hostess,
but very much afraid Of the butler the
footman, and the groom of the cham
bers"
Nevertheless, let us face even them"
said Roderick, gayly, "for l am deter
mined to have pleasant evening"
1t felt like it when, having passed
bravely through the ordeal of the en-
trance hail. they found themselves in the
fine old drawing-room, rich with the
relics Of dozen generations of Syming-
TONS where Sir John and his wife re-
ceived their guests.
There was once popular song, "lf l.
had a thousand a year." wherein the
singer described what he would do with
that noble income-counted but small
one nowadays. But ten thousand a year
what could one do with that? l think
precisely what Sir John Symington did.
A rich man, of cultivated tastes, with
every right to crafty them, knowing
enough of sorrow to humble his heart to-
ward God and soften it toward his neigh
Dor; gifted with not only the power but
the will to do good, and having lived long
enough to reap the fruits of an honorable
youth in calm old age such q man is,
spite of his riches, not unlikely to enter
the kingdom of heaven. Ay, even in this
world, as you could see by his contented
look and quiet, stately bearing. They
were indeed quite picture, this old
couple: he tall and thin, she round and
rosy, with cheek like girl, and smile
like child, as they came forward to meet
the young couple, to whom life was only
at its beginning.
Thine own friend, and thy fathers
friend, forsake thou not Mr.. Jardine,
it is kind of you to come here to-day. l
hope it will not be the last time by many
that Blackhall honors Symington by en-
tering it's doors"
These words, spoken with antique for
mality, and in rather loud tone-Sir John
was slightly deaf-were heard by every
body. Everybody saw, too, how Lady
Symington kissed Mrs. Jardne on both
checks, foreign fashion in cordial wei
come. This might have been chance, or
wise and kindly intention, but it had its
effect. The MacAlisters, and all the
other neighbors, came forward ut once,
ignoring both the poverty and the mill
work, and added their greetings. These
''old families" as well as the clever Eng