Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-07-06

Then he sat down III the sun at one OF
the windows and silently smoked. From:
time to time his eyes came coasting round
to me, and he shot out one of his ques-
tons Once it was. "And your moth
er?' and when / had told him that she,
too, was dead, "Ay, she was bonnie
lassier' Then, after another long
yours?"
| told him they were different gentle
men of the name of Campbell; though,
indeed, there was only one, and that
the minister, that had ever taken the
least note of me; but [ began to think
my uncle made too light of my position,
and finding myself all alone with him, /
did not wish him to suppose me helpless.
He seemed to turn this over i'll his
mind and then, ''Davie, my man" said
he, we've come to the right bit when ye
came to your Uncle Ebenezer. I've &
great notion of the family, and | mean
to do the right by you; but while I'm tax
ing q bit think to myself of what's the
best thing TO put you to-whether the
law, or the meenistry, or maybe the ar
my, wink is what boys are fondest Of
| wouldnae like the Balfours to be hum
bled before wheen Hieland Campbells,
and I'll ask you to keep your tongue
within your teeth. Nae letters; nae
messages: no kind of word to onybody
or else-there's my door,"
''UncIe Ebenezer," said /, Give no
manner Of reason to suppose you mean
anything but well by me- For all that,
| would have you to know that [ have a
pride Of my own. It was by no vii:
Of mine that | came seeking you; and
if you show me your door again, I'll take
you at the word"
He seemed grievously put out. "Hoots-
toots,'' said he, ''ca' cannie, man-ca'
cannie! Bide day or two. I'm nae
Warlock, to find fortune for you III the
bottom Of a parritch bowl; but just
you give me day or two, and say
sure, I'll do the right by you
Every WE'LL" said /, ''enough said.
If you want to help me, there's no doubt
I'll be glad of it, and none but III be
grateful
It seemed to me (too soon, I daresay)
that | was getting the upper hand of my
must have the bed and bedclothes aired
and put to sun-dry, for nothing would
make me sleep in such a pickle.
SIS this my house or yours?" said he,
in his keen voice; and then all Of a sud
den broke off. ma, na," said he, Il
dinnae mean that. What's mine is
yours, Davie my man, and what's yours
is mine. Blood's thicker than water;
and there's naebody but you and me that
ought the name" And then on he ram
bled about the family. and its ancient
greatness, and his father that began 10
enlarge the house, and himself that
stopped the building as sinful waste;
and this put it in my head to give him
Jennet Clouston's message.
"The limmer!" he cried. Twelve
hummer and fifteen - that's every day
since [ had the thinner row
pits bod, David, I'll have her
roasted on red peats before I'm. by
with it! A With-a proclaimed witch!
I'll aft and see the session clerk"
And with that he opened chest, and
got out very old and well-preserved
blue coat and waistcoat, and 4 good
enough beaver hat, both without lace.
These he threw on anyway, and taking
a staff from the cupboard, locked all
up again and was for setting out, when
a thought arrested him.
Il cannae leave you by yourself in the
house." said he. 'I'll have to lock you
out"
The blood came into my face. eff you
lock me out" said, ''itll be the last
you see of me in friendship"
He turned very pale and sucked his
mouth in. 6 This is no way" he said
looking wickedly at a corner of the floor
this is no way to win my favor, Da-
vid."
Sir" says I, with a proper reverence
for your age and our common blood,
do not value your favor at a boddle's
purchase. [ was brought up to have a
good conceit of myself; and if you were
all the uncle, and all the family, | had
in the world ten times over, [ wouldn't
buy your liking at such prices"
Uncle EbeneZer went and looked out
of the window for while. | could SEE
him all trembling and twitching, like a
man with palsy. But when he turned
round, he had smile upon his face.
''Well, WE'LL" said he, 1--WE must bear
and forbear. III no go; that's all that's
to be said of it."
''Uncle Ebenezer," said [, II can make
nothing out of this. You. use me like 4
thief; you hate to have me in this house
you let me see it, every word and every
minute; it's not possible that you can
like me; and as for me, I've spoken to
you as / never thought to speak to any
man. Why do you seek to keep me-
then? Let me gang back-let me gang
back to my friends [ have, and that like
me!''
INA, ma; ma, na," he said, very ear
nestly. Il like you fine; We'll agree fine
yet; and for the honor Of the house
could nae let you leave the way We came
Bide here quiet, there's a good lad; just
you bide here quiet bittie, and yell find
that we agree"
"Well, SIR" said [, after [ had thought
the matter out in silence, 'I'll stay q
while. It's more just l should be helped
by my blood than strangers; and if we
don't agree, I'll do my best it shall be
through no fault of mine"