Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-10-12

ately TO eat ana sleep. BEFORE we nau
reached a place of shelter, the gray
had come pretty clear, for though it still
rained; the clouds ran higher; and Alan,
looking in my face, showed some marks
of concern.
Eye had better let me take your pack,
said he, for perhaps the ninth time since
we parted from the scout beside Loeb
RannOch.
Il do very well, | thank you,' said |,
as cold as ice.
Alan flushed darkly "I'll not offer it
again" he said. I'm not a patient man,
David.
Il never said you were,' said l, which
was exactly the rude, silly speech OF
boy of ten.
Alan made no answer at the time, but
his conduct answered for him. Hence
forth it is to be thought, he quite for
gave himself for the affair at Cluny's;
cooked his hat again, walked Jauntily,
whistied airs, and looked at me upon one
side with a provoking smile.
The third night we were to pass through
the western end Of the country of Bal
quidder 1t came clear and coA, with a
touch in the air like FROST and norther-
" wind that blew the clouds away and
made the stars bright. The streams
were full, of course, and still made 4
great noise among the hills; but [ OBJ
served that Alan thought no more upon
AS for me, the change of weather came
too late; | had lain in the mire so long
that (as the Bible has it, my very clothes
''abhorred me-" | was dead weary, dead
ly sick, and full of pains and shiverings:
the chill of the wind went through me,
and the sound Of it confused my ears.
In this poor state. | had to bear from my
companion something in the nature of a
persecution. He spoke good deal, and
never without a taunt. Wing" was the
best name he had to give me. Here,
he would say. heres dub for We to
jump, my Whiggie! I ken you're fine
jumperr' And so on; all the time with a
gliding voice and face.
[ knew it was my own doing. and no
one else's; but | was too miserable to re-
pent. | felt | could drag myself but lit
tie farther; pretty soon, / must lie down
and die on these wet mountains like a
sheep or a fox, and my bones must whit
en- there like the bones of beast My
head was light, perhaps; but | began to
love the prospect, [ began to glory in the
thought of such a death, alone in the
desert, with the wild eagles besieging my
last moments. Alan would repent then.
| thought; he would remember, when /
was dead, how much he owed me, and
the remembrance would be torture So l
went like a sick. silly, and bad-hearted
schoolboy, feeding my anger against a
ter on my knees, crying to God for
mercy And at each of Alan's taunts |
Rugged myself. "Ahn' thinks I to my
self, Il have a better taunt in readiness:
when lie down and die, you will feel it
like buffet in your face; ah, what a re-
venge! ali, how you will regret your in,
gratitude and crueltyr'
All the while was growing worse and
worse. Once had fallen, my legs sim,
ply doubling under me, and this had
struck Alan for the moment: but [ was
afoot so briskly. and set off again with
such natural manner, that he soon for
got the incident. Flashes of heat went
over me, and then spasms of shuddering,
The stitch in my side was hardly bear
able. At last, | began to feel that
could trail myself no farther; and with
that there came on me all at once the
wish to have it out with Alan. let my
anger blaze. and be done with my life
IN more sudden manner. He had Just
called me Wing" [ stopped.
Mr.. Stewart said I. in voice
that quiyered like a fiddle string.
you are older than | am, and
should know your manners. Do you
think 1t either very wise or very
witty to cast my politics in my teeth !?
| thought, where folk differed, it was
the part OF gentlemen to differ civilly;
and If l did not, | may tell you l could
find better taunt than some of yours .
Alan had stopped opposite me, his hat
cooked, his hands in his breeches pock-
cts, his head q little to one side. He
listened, smiling evilly. as / could see
by the starlight; and when I had done
he began to whistle a JacObite air. 1t
was the air made in mockery of Gen.
CoDe's defeat at Preston Pans:
Hey, johnnie Cope, are We waukin yet?
And are your drums a-beatin' yet?
ana It came in my mind that Alan, on
Of hot ha4 L.
gagged upon the royal side.
WHY y, do ye take that air, Mr.. Stew
art?, said l. ''Is that to remind me
You nave been beaten on both sides?"
The air stopped on Alan's lips. ''Da-
vidp' said he.
but it's time these manners ceased"
| continued; ".and | mean you shall
henceforth speak civilly of my king and
my good friends the Campbells.'
II am Stewart -" began Alan.
OH says |, II ken We bear kings
name. But you are to remember, since
| have been in the Highlands I have
seen a good many of those that bear it;
that they. would be none the worse of
Washing"
DO you know that you insult me?"
said Alan, very low.
II am sorry for that said I, .'for I
am not done; and if you distaste the
SelHloH. uOuDl Inc plfllecue "a second
sermonl will please you as little. You
have been chased in the field by the
grown men of my party; it seems a poor
KIND OF pleasure to OUTAGE a boy. Both
the Campbells and the Wings have beat
en- you; you have run before them like
hare: 1t behooves you to speak of them
as of your betters.''
Alan stood quite still, the tails of his
great-coat clapping behind him in the
wind
This is pity he said at last.
There are things said that cannot be
passed over"
Il never, asked you to-" said I. "I
am as ready as yourself"
"Ready?" said he.
Ready I repeated. 81 am no blow
er and boaster like some that 1 could
name: Come on!' And, drawing my
sword I fell on guard as Alan himself
had taught me.
"David"' he cried. care We daft?
murder
That was your lookout when you in
suited me- said I.
''ItS the t11lthr cried Alan and he