The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-07

Copyright. 1896, by Irving Bachelor.
CHATTER 1.-THE R0BBER Or THE
LEAD HILLS.
II was at the change house OF the
"Kingss Rest" at the entering IN Of the
pass which leads 10 the lead mines Of
the Lowfher hills. that Sir James Stands
field and foregatherce. had been down
in the shire OF Dumfries. where in the
parish OF Morton there was word Of a va
cancy, owing TO the iil-do.ng OF the In
cumbent. So, having some influence with
Drumlanrfg, who had the chief say in
the matter, through my mother having
been q scrvant With the laird, i Jour-
neyed down with water to push my
claims. In the days OF my youth. II 10
true, / had companied with the hiH folk.
but long ago discerned the error or my
wars, desiring TO be married and seeing
no prospect OF II. rave In taking or the
Test, and asterward, by means OK Drum
laarig and the bishop OF Galloway, get
ting parish Ia which 10 settle DOWN
And how go the curatesT cried SIR
Jarnes so soon as he saw me. FOR he was
mostly Jovial man. and had now glass
M strong waters before him. How go
the curates in Uumfries2 Have they all
been rabbIed since the kings popish proc
iamation. or have they yet learned 70
read without their finger at the liner
that In the good parish OF Norton said
]. (which II Is my hope 70 obtain py me
good will OF Drumlaar.g."
I'VE are some kin TO him, nave nearo
say,'. said Sir James. pawkiiy.
aNo KIN whatsoever" I made answer.
with some heat, save that my mother
was sometime maid 10 the old Lady
Drumianrig.
aAnd Ieft o, her own accord 10 be mar
rsed to Gibby Bell. the Muirkirk carrier
vsIl do I mind of IT," said Sir James.
So we had a bite OF bread and stoup OF
ale together, and were merry IN SOBER
and sedate fashion, speaking cnieny OF
the evil state OF the country, OF the exac-
.taus of the kings men. which waxed
worse and worse. and the frenzy OF the
fanaticaI party that threatened TO turn
the world upside down II they had their
will.
presently the lass OF the change house.
a comeIy one and plump, 10 whom Tor
NV shaming. Sir James slandered me.
telling her that was merry eufate anu
ramesome. opened the door, anu cahhe
hon IN ia where we sat at table.
.scentlemen." she said. speaking very
uetl and clearly for country lass. bear
with me IL say that IL behooves you 70
set out ere IL be dusk, for there are III
folk about, and you might come 10 an
injury"
N 80 sportlve lad as this my friend
rere and one that hath beard 10 his
sacA wherein there is not yet hair OF
gray" .,,,
with spirit. 81 see nought the matter
with the young mans beard, nor ys.
seems he so merry as those whose 1913 $50
are 5rayer, and therefore might nave
more sense"
..Ani well said for brave iass!' cried
cir James The maid had me on the
hin that time and has thrown me fairy.
Here is a silver shilling for you. Marset'
what hast thou TO say TO that!
The plump, weli-shapen maid servant
took the silver piece between her tseth
and bit upon IL sedately.
IT say that your silver is better tran
vonr Wit (which God mendo. Sir James,
she said, and 10 oked at me as she SAID II,
fin a way that was not becoming 70 reply
to. SO that. instead. / looked with mod
esty upon the ground.
Then with that and no more we
mounted and rode away. both of US being
well horsed. Sir James riding upon
hackney OF gray. and on a roam which
Drumlanrig had given mo from Wing s
farmhoue-one OF the welches of Scaur,
as learned afterward, when they camo
upon me TO make mo restore It.
IT was By solitary pass mat broke a
run IN into the heart of the blind
.Hopes." that Sir James and l were rid
ing slowly. talking neaceably. and taking
solid pleasure in our conversation. For
Sir James had ever n leaning 10 the
things of the kirk. and. If his star had
risen in the right season, he had made
mono so Ill minister. So we discoursed
OF foreknowledge. OF the right Of the civil
magistrate. and of the Trim and Thum-
min. which are all vexed and difficult
questions. so that II was great pleasure
20 me TO dispute with one so learned and
discreet as Sir James. though he was. 10
my thinking. ever little over-Whiggish
In his beliefs. and. as | knew. had no
great opinion Of those ministers who had
taken the Test.
We went thus daintily and easily along.
pacing upon our nmblinE palfreys. when
al OF a sifden-"Craekl" there went off
n shot behind US, and Sir James horse
set its head down and spread its heels In
.he mir.
looked over my shoulder and saw a
tail young man. riding upon a heavy cart
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