The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-01-01


small town, where already there were
lawyers to spare. And for seven years
be kept his head well up in the unequal
struggle. For his fathers i'll name and
his wife's i'll health both weighed upon
him.
"He comes o. bad stock" said the
cautious folk of the Ferrytown.
Notwithstanding all this, when Allan
Tod died, in the eighth year of their
marriage, he left Allie Marchbsnks and
her three BARNS none so i'll provided
for. There was an insurance on his
own life, which oftentimes it had gone
hard with him to pay. There was the
house which be had built in the Ferry
town, and Ga last remnant of his faith
er's hodings) there was the little cottage
of Craiglee, on the verge of the prop
erty of Lochrysn, underneath the hill,
at the top of which Roger Marchbanks
dwelt.
1t was to the latter that Allie re-
tired. She could easily dispose Of the
red freestone house near the railway
station of the Ferrytown, for, luckily,
houses of that size happened TO be
scarce that year. So to Crsiglee, the
white washed cottage under the shaggy
brow of Cairn Ryan, Allie went and
The first night, after Miriam and
Gregor and little Rob had ali been long
laid down to sleep, the young widow
went herself quietly to a window that
gave upon the hill. 1t was at the cor
ner of the children's sleeping-room,
and she listened intently for their
breathings, as only mother does, be-
fore she entered. But as she came
halfway across the floor, she saw some
thing at the window which made her
heart spring within her. A small,
white-robed figure was kneeling on a
chair. Allie Marchbanks laid her hand
on her side, and stopped with short,
gasping indraw of her breath.
MOther!" said the figure at the
window. And in moment Allie the
widow was herself again. She had
thought for a moment that the white
sheeted figure might portend some ill
TO her treasures.
Miriam" she said, "what are you
doing there? Why are you not in
bed?"
Mother" said the little lass, " there
is a star up there; 1 have been watch
ing it. 1t burns 30 steadily, brighter
than all the rest. See, mother, just by
the edge of the wood"
Allie, the widow of Allan Tod,
looked forth. And 10, in moment
she became again the daughter of
Roger Marchbanks, the Cameronian.
! For that was the light in her fathers
sitting room window. And even as she
looked the shining light went down to
a pin. point. 1t was her father " tax
ing the Book" up al Lochryan. When
he had done with the reading of Scrip
ture, and ere he kneeled to begin the
prayer of intercession, very reverently
it was his custom to turn the lamp low
Those who knew not the spirit of the
man and of the people might have sup
posed that the thing was done from
motives of economy. But the wiser
knew that it was part of the Camera
MAN worship, and betokened the chas'
tened light which shone upon the
spirit, and the shutting out of earthly
things ere the soul of man ventured
into the immediate Presence.
So, even as Allie looked, the light
went down. And she read the mean
| Ing OF IL, as well as ii SHt Hau Deeu vi
there. Her fathers silver rimmec
spectacles were lying at that moment
upon the closed Bible. He was kneel
ing at his great oaken chair in prayer
Yet she felt that her father could pray
no real prayer that night, for the for
giveness of others trespasses fol-
Christ's sake had no part in it.
1t is bonny star!" said little Mi
riam Tod; 81 wish it would shine
brightly again"
And even as she spoke Roger March
banks rose from his praying unsatisfied
and his lamp went up again.
Down in the children's room a
Craiglee, a little, white-clad fgur,
danced and clapped hands.
"The star is shining again." sh
cried. And her mother prayed lon!
and quietly by her side. Meantime
up in the house ON the hill, Roge
Marchbanks thought long time oil
his daughter ere he took his lionel
candle and paced sternly along tn
echoing passages to his room. But we
a while God hardened his heart until
should be the time of the latter rain.