The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-04


from temptation, for the best o. US dinna
expect strength 10 resist Il.
Christina turned her face to her mother
and then left her answer 10 Jamie Lauder.
lie came in at rhe moment with little
tartan shawl his hand. which he gal
lantly threw across the shoulders of Mis-
tress Binney. 81 hae just bought II
from a peddler Loom, lie said, "It's
bonny and soft, and il sets you weel and
/ hope you'll pleasure me by wearing II. "
His face was so bright his manner so
charming, that 1t was impossible Tor Jane
Binnie TO resist him. You're a feech-
ing, hettering laddie," she answered, but
she stroked and fingered the gay kerchlef
while Christina made her observe how
bright were the coiers OF Ii, and how
neatly he soft folds fell around her.
Then no door OF the inner room opened
anc Andrew came sleepiiy out.
"The FISH is burning, and the oat cakes,
too, for I'm smelliug them ben the
house" he said, and Janet ran TO the
frealao and hastily turned her herring
snd cslfes.
"Jm Ioared you'l no think much o.
your meat toughb,' she said regretiully,
";he tea Is fairly ruined.
Never mind the meat, Andrew, we
diDna live 60 eat. -
"heysr mind the meat! What parfect
noussnsel There's something wrong WI
folk that diana mind thsif meat"
Ntcl, lnCH you buDuluna Do go vain
o yourself, mother Nou were preenlng
like young lsssie when l got sight o
you-and the meat talking care o. itself. "
'Me vain Ma, nal Naebody that
kens Janet Binney can say she's vain. i
wot weel, that / am a frail, miserable
creature, wi little need O. being vain,
either o. myself or my BARNS. But draw
to the table aud eat I'll warrant the
fish will prove better than its bonnie.
They sat down with pleasant content
that soon broadened into mirtb and
laughter, as jamie Lauder began TO tell
and to show. how the peddler lad fieeced
and hethsrsd the fisher wives out OF their
bawb bees, adding at the last that he
"couldna come In sight o their fine
words, they were that civil TO him..
"Ou, ay, senselessly civil, nae doubt o.
it,n said Janet. "A peddler aye gives
the whole village At o. the Hbeiri tiles.
The like o. Jean Robertson spending a
crown on him. The words are no to seek,
that she III get from me in the morning"
Then jamie took a letter from his
pocket and showed II TO Andrew. Rob
ert 1oddy brought IL this afternoon" he
said, 'snd, as you may see, 1t Is from the
Hendersons o. Glasgow, and they say
there Will be a berth soon for me in one
o. their ships. And their boats are good,
and their captains good, and there
| chances for a fine sailor on that line L
may be captain myself one O. these
| dsysln and he laughed so gaily and look
| ed SO bravely into the face OF such bold
| idea that he persuaded every one else TO
expect il for him. Janet pulled her new
shawl a little closer and smiled; her
thought WIS After all, Christina may
| wait longer and fare worse, for she 5 turn
ed twenty; yet she showed a little re-
serve as she asked:
"Are you then Glasgow born, jamie
! Lauuder?n
"Me Glasgow bornl What are you
! thinking %? Pm from the auld East
! Neuk and I'm proud o. being Fifer.
| A my common sense comes from Fife.
| There's name loves the Kingdom MAR
| than jamie Lauder We're a Fife the
| either. / thought you knew ii.
At these words there was momentary
| shadow cross the door, and little lassie
slipped in, and when she did SO, every
| one put down their cup TO welcome her
Andrew Redeemed 10 the roots of his
hair; his eyes filled with light, tender
smile softened his firm mouth, and he
put out his hand and drew the girl to
the chair which Christina had pushed
close to his own.
"You're a sight for sair e'en, Sophy
Thraill," said Mistress Binney; but for all
that she gave Sophy a glance, in which
there was much speculation, not unmix-
ed with fear and disapproval, for II
was easy TO see that Andrew Binney loved
her, and that she was not at all like him,
nor yet like the fisher girls OF Pitten-
cragie. Sophy, however, was not respon-
sible for this difference, for early orphan
age he'd placed her in the care OF an
aunt, who carried on dress and bon
| net-rnaking BUSINESS in Largo; and she
| had turned the little fisher maid into a
| girl after her own heart and wishes.
She came frequently, indeed, TO visit her
! own people in Pittencragie, but she had
| gradually grown less and less like them;
ana there was no wonder that Mistress
! Binney asked herself fearfully, "What
| kind OF wife at all she would make for
a Fife fisheruan?' She was so small and
| gently. che had such lovely face, such
| fair ripping hair, and her gown was of
| blue muslin made In the fashion of the
| day, ana finished with a lace collar round
! her throat and ribbon belt around her
slender waist. "a bonny lass for a car
riage and pair" thought Janet Binney,
"but whatever will she do WI the creel
and the nets, no 10 speak o the BARNS,
and the housework?h
Andrew was too much in love to con-
| slider these questions. When he was six
years old he had carried Sophy in his
| arms ali day long; when he was twelve
| they had padded on the sands and fish
ed, and played and learned their lessons
| together. She had promised then TO be
his wife, as soon as he was a man and
| had n house and boat OF his own; and
| never lOr one moment since nhu AnuFeN
| doubted the validity and certainty of
! this promise. To Andrew, and to An
drew's family, and 10 the whole village
! OF Pittencrsigie the marriage OF Andrew
/ Binney and Sophy Thraill was fact be-
| yond disputng. Some said, cit was the
| right thing and more said IL was 1.-The
| foolish thing, " and among the latter was
/ Andrews mother, though az yet she had
/ said il very cautiously 10 Andrew, whom
| she regaraed as "clenn daft and senseless-
| ly touchy about the lassie. -
! But she sent the young people out OF the
house while she red up the disorder made
/ by the evening meal, though, rs she
| wiped her tea cups, she went frequently to
/ the little window and looked at the four
\ young things sitting together on the bit
Of turf which carpeted the top of the
| cliff before the cottage Andrew, as a
/ privileged lover, held Sophy's hand (;
| Christina sat next to her brother and
facing jamie Lauder so IL was easy to
see how her face kindled and her manner
softened TO the charm OF his merry con-
| versation, his snatches of breezy sea-
| song, and his clever bits OF mimicry. And
/ n lauet vailed "a and aatfinO hpr