Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-11

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tai and stalwart Scotchman of about
eight-and thirty, rot aggressivcly high
rs g. chcckbonc and long Nc - lip, but
with Il fncc more cnuny than kind. and
a straight, cold mouth which had par
ticular terrors for the people who dis
pleased him.
Something or somebody had dis
pleased him now; and he looted posi-
lively forbidding as he marched pand
down in the limited space at his COM
mand, uttcring gubdued imprecat!on
when the oscillation of the carriage
caused Kim TO fall into one or other
of The seats, and then rcsumipg his diff
fcult promenade as before.
As general rule he loved the beau
tiful view which is to be .tccn on both
sides q the line, the heather changing
color ON the hills, the peeps At the rush
ing Dee. He was born and bred not
many miles from lIallatrr. and it was to
his seat among the Abcrdcruehirc hills,
the house in which he was born dcd in
which he hoped to die, that he was now
returning, after vis. to the Royal
agricultural show down in the unIon-
genial south.
lie was entirely Unattended as it WAS
his pleasure to be in mood such as
he was in at the time. When the train
reached tho BallatCr terminal he sprang
out upon the platform with his bug in
his hand and his rug ON his arm; and
refusing all offers of assistance and
swapping ont that he hpd no luggage"
L.. 4. 81.
along the road towards Craigendar-
roch, the "hill of the onks, which DOM
mates the highland village.
Leaving the Hill on his right. wall,
of about mile along gradually
ascending wood brought Sir Alexander
TO the foot of a hill which he proceed
ed to climb. About half way up on
small rugged plateau covered with
heather and short. rough grass, he
came to II rude dwelling which had evi.
IDENTIFY been couple OF lahorer's cot.
tagcs, but which had been transformed
by him into useful shelter or hating
place for the journeys of himself and
his household 10 and from kcchlecn
lodge, which was seven miles from o
railway station, and consequently "oii
the map"
The cottage was kept in order by an
old servant of the family, who had been
known SO long ns Jock" that he had al
most forgotten any other uamc. lie
had been head gamekecper I'm his time.
md n general nuisance by reason of
the liberties hc took. So that when fail
ing oyesight compelled him 20 give I'M
his post, aud he and his old wife settled,
,by their own choice, in hut adjoining
the cottage among the hills. nobGly
regretted him but Sir Alexander, who
found something piquant in The utter
ances of the old tongue that dared to
contradict him.
And he often spent on hour with the
grabbed old fellow, going out OF his
way, when shooting On the moors. to
rest with his gun on wooden chair
beside the smoldering, fragrant peet
fire.
1t was months since he had .r.en
there last, and when Sir Alexander, wet
Through 10 the skin with the Scotch
mist which was enshroudinC all the
hills. from Loch-na-gar on the one side
to Culbleen on the other, knocked
sharply at the locked door of the hut,
it was opened by Jock with an air Of
dignitied establishment
Il didna think to see We hcrearoots
for some time. sir" said he, morosely,
as he took his master bag and rug
and made way for him 10 enter.
Sir Alexander frowned rs he plllcd
off his gloves, and holding to Mrs.
'"Jock," who was deaf, and who curt
seyed and said nothing after her wont,