Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-11-09

one way to shut your testimony out; and
that is to put you in the dock. There,
you would be in the same pickle as Mr..
Thomson's kinsman. You will object
that you are innocent; well, but SO is he.
And to be tried for your life before
Highland jury, on a Highland quarrel,
and with a Highland judge upon the
bench, would be brief transition to the
gallows."
Now [ had made all these reasonings
before and found no very good reply to
them; SO [ put on all the simplicity
could. I'm that case, sir, said |, i
would just have to be hanged-would l
notw
"My dear boy cries he, Ego in Gods
name, and do what you think is right
1t is a poor thought that at my time of
life | should be advising you to choose
the safe and shameful; and | take it
back with an apology. Go and do your
duty; and be hanged, if you must, like a
gentleman. There are worse things in
the world than to be hanged"
mot many, SIR said |, smiling.
"Why, yes, SIR" he cried, livery many.
And it would be ten times better for your
uncle Ito go no further aield) if he were
dangling decently upon a gibbet."
Thereupon he turned into the house
| saw had pleased him heartily and
there he wrote me two letters, making
his comments on them as he wrote
This says he, lis to my bankers, the
British Linen company, placing credit
to your name. Consult Mr.. Thomson;
he will know of ways; and you, with
this credit, can supply the means.
your money; but in the affair Of a friend
like Mr.. Thomson, | would be even
prodigal. Then, for his kinsman, there
is no better way than that you should
seek the advocate, tell him your tale,
and offer testimony; whether he may
take it or not, is quite another matter,
and will turn on the d. Of A. Now
that you may reach the lord advocate
well recommended, [ give you here let
ter to a namesake Of your own, the
learned Mr.. Balfour of Pilrig, a man
whom | esteem. It will look better that
you should be presented by one of your
own name; and the laird of Pilrig is
much looked up to in the faculty and
stands we'll with Lord Advocate Grant.
with any particulars; and lido you
knowD | think it would be needless to
refer to Mr. Thomson. Form yourself
upon the laird, he is a good model; when
you deal with the advocate, be discreet:
and in all these matters, may the Lord
guide you. Mr.. Davidv'
Thereupon he took his farewell, and
W
while Alan and [ turned our faces for
the city of Edinburgh. AS we went by
the footpath and beside the gateposts
and the unfinished lodge, we keut look
ing back at the house of my fathers. 1t
stood there. bare and great and smoke
less, like a place not lived in only in
one of the top windows there was the
peak of nightcap bobbing up and down
and back and forward, like the head of
rabbit from a burrow. / had little well
come when l came, and less kindness
while | stayed; but at least | was
watched as [ went away.
In the meanwhile Alan and | went
slowly forward upon our way, having lit
tie heart either to walk or speak. The
same thought was uppermost in both,
that we were near the time of our part
ing; and remembrance of all the bygone
days sat upon us sorely. We talked
indeed of what should be done; and it
was resolved that Alan should keep to
the country, biding now here, now there,
but coming once in a day to a particular
place where [ might be able to COM
municate with him, either in my own
person or by a messenger. In the mean
while [ was to seek out a lawyer, who
was an Appin Stewart, and a man there
fore to be wholly trusted; and it should
be his part to find ship and to arrange
for Alan's safe embarkation. No soon
er was this business done than the words
seemed to leave us; and though [ would
seek to jest with Alan under the name
of Mr. Thomson, and he with me on
my new clothes and my estate, you
could feel very well that we were near
err tears than laughter.
we came by way over the hill Of Cor
storphine; and when we got near to the
place called and-be-Thankful, and
looked down on Corstorphne boys and
over to the city and the castle on the
hill. we both stopped, for we knew,
without a word said, that we had come
to where our ways parted. Here he re-
peated to me once again what had been
agreed upon between US: The address of
the lawyer, the daily hour at which Alan
might be found, and the signals that
were to be made by any that came seek
ing him. Then [ gave what money l
had "a guinea or two of Rankeillor'
so that he should not starve in the
and looked over at Edinburgh in silence.
held out his left hand.
"Good-bye," said |, and gave the hand
little grasp, and went off down the
hill.
Neither one of us looked the other in
the face, nor so long as he was in my
view did | take one back glance at the
friend L was leaving. But as / went on
my way to the city, / felt so lost and
lonesome that [ could have found it in
my heart to sit down by the dyke and
cry and weep like a baby
1t was coming near noon, when I
passed in by the West Kirk and the
Grassmarket into the streets of the CAPT
tai. The huge height of the buildings,
running UP to ten and fifteen stories,
the narrow arched entries that contin-
ually vomited passengers, the wares of
the merchants in their windows, the
hubbub and endless stir, the foul smells
and the fine clothes, and a hundred 9th
er particulars too small to mention,
struck me into a kind of stupor of sur
prise so that [ let the crowd carry me
to and fro; and yet all the time what |
was thinking of was Alan at Rest-and-
be-Thanlful; and all the time although
you would think / would not choose but
be delighted with these Draws and nov
eltles) there was a cold gnaWing in my
inside like remorse for something
wrong.
The hand Of Providence brought me in
my drifting to the very doors of the Brit
ish Linen company's bank.
DUST there, with his hand upon his
fortune, the present editor inclines for
the time to say farewell to David. How