Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-01-02

~ SDantef was replaced Dy little straw
hat, and light dress. summary in col
or and texture, but more in keeping
with her rustic surroundings, seemed
as grateful and rare as the sunshine.
Without knowing why, he had an i'm
preston that it was of her own max
ing-a gentle plagiarism of the style
Of her more fortunate sisters, but with
a demure restraint all her own As she
recognized him faint color came to her
cheek, patty from surprise, partly from
some association. To his delighted greet
ing she responded by informing him
that her father had taken the cottage he
had just passed, where they We're spend
ing a three weeks vacation from his
business. 1t was not so far from ST.
Kentigern but that he could run up for
a day TO look after the shop. Did the
consul not think it was wise?
Quite ready to assent to any sagacity
in those clear brown eyes, the consul
Thought it was. But was it not, like
wisdom, sometimes lonely?
All, mol There was the loch, and the
hills, and the heather; there We're her
flowers. Did he not think they were
growing we'll? And at the head of the
loch there was the old tomb of the Nc
Huhshes, and some of the collins were
still to be seen.
Perhaps emboldened by the consnl's
smile, she added, with a more serious
precision, which was lost in the sympa-
thizing caress of her voice: tAnd
would you not be getting off and com
ing in and resting wee bit before you
go farther? 1t would be so good of you,
and father would think it so kind And
he will be there now if you are look
ing .
The consul looked. The old man was
standing in the doorway of the cottage,
as respectfully uncompromising as ever,
with the slight concession to his rural
surroundings of wearing a Tam O'Shan-
ter and easy slippers. The consul dis
mounted ard entered. The interior was
simply but tastefully furnished. 1t
struck him that the Scotch prudence and
economy, which practically excluded
display and meretricious glitter, had
reached the simplicity of the truest art
and the most refined wealth. He felt he
could understand Grey's enthusiasm,
and, by an odd association of ideas, he
found himself thinking Of the resigned
face of the passenger ON the Sbyscraper.
Have you heard any news of your
friend who went to Rye" he asked
pleasantly, but without addressing him
self particularly to either.
There was a perceptible pause-doubt-
less Of Difference to her father on the
part of the young girl, and of the usual
native conscientious caution on the part
of the father-but neither betrayed any
embarrassment or emotion. "No. he
would not be writing yet, she at
length said simply; ''he would be wait
ing until he was settled to his business.
Jamie would be waiting until he could
say how he was doing, father, y she APP
pealed interogatively to the old man.
AYE, James Cow would not fash
himself to write compliments and gossip
till he knew his position and work, -
corroborated the old man. Hell not
be goin 1900 miles to send us what
we can read in the St Kentigern News.
But, F" he added suddenly, with recall
of cautiousness, perhaps ye will be
hearin of the ship?'
1.-The consul will not be remembering
what he hears of all the ships, /" inter
posed the young girl, with the same
gentle affectation of superior worldly
knowledge which had before amused
him. We'll be wearying him, father, .
and the subject dropped.
The consul, glancing around the room
again, but always returning to the
sweet and patient seriousness of the
young girls face and the grave decorum
of her father, would have liked to ask
another question, but it was presently
anticipated, for when he had exhausted
the current topics in which both father
and daughter displayed quiet sagacity
and he had gathered sufficient knowl-
edge of their character to seem to justi-
fy Grey's enthusiasm. and was rising
to take his leave. the young girl said
timidly:
Would We not let Bessie take Your
horse to the grass field over yon and
yourself stay with us TO dinner? 1t
would be most kind, and You would
meet great friend of yours who will
be here "
Mr. Grey?' suggested the consul
audaciously. Yet he was greatly sur
prised when the young girl said quiet
ly, AYE, =
Hell be comm in the loch with
his yacht, said the old man Its not
so expensive lyin here as at Bannock,
I'm thinkin, and the men cannot gang
ashore for drink. Eth, but it's an awful
waste o. pounds, shillin's and pence,
keepin these gowks in idleness with no
feeshion nor carryin of passengers =
Aye, but it's better Mr. Grey should
pay them for being decent and well be-
haved on board his ship than that they
should be out of work and rieting in
taverns and lodging houses And you
yourself, father, remember the herring
fishers that come ashore at Ardie, and
the deckhands of the excursion boat,
and the language they'll be using