Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-03-13

have not spoken of it to 80 many. but
you've been good frien to me, Saun-
ders. and 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 go my ways
to him who seeth from the beginning"
Hear till him." said Saunders; .sman.
yer hoast (cough) is no near as sair as Il
was i the back end. Yell be here lang
after me, but lang or short, weel do We
ken, Robert Fraser, that ye need no to
pit yersel RIGHT wi me- Hev no kenned
ye since ye war the size O. twa scrub
bers?"
Il thank you, Saunders" said Robert,
"but am we'll aware that am to die
this year. No, no, not word. It Is
the Lords will. It's more than seven
years now since l 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, just
plenty to lay him decently in the kirk
yard among his forebears. had been
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 SO called
one day at the infrmary to get word
with Sir James. He was very busy
when | went in and never noticed me
till the hoast took me. Then on a sud
den he looked up from his papers and
quietly said, Come into my room, lad
dieP Aye, he was good man and a
faithful, Sir James, if ever there was
one. He told me that with care l might
live five or six years, but it would need
great care. Then strange, prickly
GOODNESS came over me, and l seemed to
walk light headed in an atmosphere sud
denly rarefied. think know now how
the mouse feels under the air pump.
"What's that?" queried Saunders.
"a cruel ploy not worth speaking Of"
continued the stickit minister. "Well,
found something in my throat when
tried to thank him. But l came my
ways home to the Dullarg, and night
and day l considered what was to be
done, with so much to do and SO little
time to do it. 1t was clear that 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 | should do. Harry must go;
must stay. l must come home to the
farm and be my own man, then could
send Harry to the college to be doctor,
for he had no call to the ministry as
once thought l had. More than that,
it was laid on me to tell Jessie Loudon
that Robert Fraser was no better than q
machine set to go 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 re-
pent any of them. l would do them all
over again We're they to do, but it'sbeen
bitterer than thought"
The stickit minister took his head off
his hand and leaned back in his chair.
1.-THE story went over the country that
I had failed in my examinations, and l
never said that l had not. But there
were some that knew better who might
have contradicted the report if they had
liked. l settled down to the farm, and !
put Harry through the college, sending
all but bare living to him in Edinburgh.
| worked the work 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. Whiles
Harry did not think that he got enough.
He was always writing for more and
not so very pleased when he did not get
it. He was aye different to me, ye ken,
Saunders, and he Gamma be judged by
the same standard as you and me-"
Il ken," said Saunders M'Quhirr, a
spark of light lying in the quiet of his
eyes.
WELL" continued Robert Fraser,
lightened by Saunders apparent agree
ment, ''the time came when he was clear
from the college and wanted a practice.
He had been ill advised that he had not
got his share of the farm, and he wanted
it selled to share and share alike.
"Now I kenned and you ken, Saun.
ders, that it's no worth much in one
share, let alone two. So got the place
quietly bonded and bought him old Dr.
Aitken's practice in Cairn Edward with
the money. l have tried to do my best
for the lad, for it was laid on me to be
my brothers keeper. He doesna come
here much," continued Robert, "but
think he's not so i'll against me as he
was. Saunders, he waved his hand te
me when he was gaun by the day!"
"That was kind of him." said Saun
ders M'Quhirr.
"Aye, was it MOI" said the stickii
minister eagerly, with soft look in his
eyes as he glanced up at his brothers
portrait in cap and gown which hung
over the china dogs on the mantelpiece.
81 got my notice this morning that the
bond is to be called up in November,
said Robert, $50 I'll be obliged to fit"
Saunders M'Quhirr started to his fee
in moment. Never" he said, will
the spark Of fire alive now in his eyes
''never as lang as there's beast OF
Drumquhat, or poun in Cairn Edward
bank" bringing down his clinched fis