The herald., 1896-05-03

conduct for the pair of them In few cold,
convincing sentences; he had now been
there some time and he was still stag
gering round the outworls, and undergoing
what he felt to be savage cross-examna-
"Mr. Frank!' she cried "What next, I
would like to ken?"
He spoke most kindly and truly"
What like did he say?'
| II am not going to tell you, you have
nothing to do with that" cried Archie
/ startled to find he had admitted so much.
| "Oh, have naething to do with itv' she
repeated, springing to her feet. "A'body
| at Hermiston's free to pass their opinions
upon me- but l have naething to do WI
1t! Was this at prayers like? Did ye ca
the grieve into the consultation? Little
wonder if a'body's talking, when ye make
a'body ye're confdants! But as you say.
Mr.. Weir-most kindly, most considerato.
ly most true, I'm sure-I have naethine
to do with it. And think I'll better be
going I'll be wishing you good-evening,
Mr.. Weir" And she made him a stately
curtsey, shaking as she did so, from head
to foot, with the barren ecstasy Of TEN.
per.
Poor Archie stood dumbfounded. She
had moved some steps away from him be-
speech.
"Kirstie!" he cried. 20. Kirstie, wom-
anv'
There was in his voice ring Of appeal.
a clang of mere astonshment that show.
ed the schoolmaster was vanquished.
/ She turned round on him. what do ye
Kirstie me for?" she retorted. what
have ye to do WI me? Gang to your ain
friends and deave themv
He could only repeat the appealing "Kir.
stie!"
"Kirstie, indeed" cried the girl, her
eyes blazing in her white face. "My name
is Miss Christina Elliott, I would have
ye to ken, and 1 daur ye to ca me out Of
it, If cannae get love, I'll have respect,
Mr.. Weir. I'm come Of decent people, and
I'll have respect. What have done that
ye shauld lightly me? What have donef
What have done? o, what have done?"
and her voice rose upon the third repetil
tion. "I thocht-I thocht-I thocht was
sac happy!" and the first sob broke from
her like the paroxysm of some mortal
sickness.
Archie ran to her. He took the poor
child in his arms, and she nestled to his
breast as to mothers, and clasped him in
hands that were strong like vices. He felt
her shaken by the throes Of distress, and
had pity upon her beyond speech. Pity,
and at the same time ,bewildered fear of
this explosive engine in his arms, whose
works he did not understand, and yet had
been tampering with. There rose from be-
fore him the curtains of boyhood, and he
saw for the first time the ambiguous face
of woman as she is. In vain he looked
back over the interview; he saw not where
q =
wilful convulstion of brute nature. a
(The recollections of the authors step-
daughter and amanuenisis, Mrs. Strong, en-
able the following summary argument to
be given of the intended course of the story
! from the point where it was interrupted by
the authors death:-Archie persists in his
/ good resolution of no farther compromising
| young Kirstie. Frank Innes takes advan-
| tage of the situation thus created to pursue
| the purpose of seduction which he has con-
| ceived; and Kirstie, though still really low
| ing Archie. allows herself to become Franks
| victim. Old Kirstie is the first to perceive
! something amiss with the girl. and believes
that Archie is the man to blame. He, de.
| string to shield her as far as may be, does
not deny Kirstie's charge; but goes to find
young Kirstie, who confesses the truth to
| him. Archie, loving her in spite of all,
promises to protect her through her trou-
BILE. He then has an interview with Frank
Ou Tie WHICH eIuS ny Archie SnOOts
ing Frank at the Weavers Stone. Mean
while the Four Black Brothers, enraged
with Archie as the supposed seducer of their
sister, seek him out with the purpose of
vengeance, and are just closing in on him
when he is arrested by the officers Of the law
for the murder of Frank. He is brought to
trial, and the presiding Judge is his own
father, the Lord Justice Clerk who like
an old Roman, condemns his son to death.
but presently afterwards dies himself OF
the ordeal. Meanwhile old Kirstie has dis.
covered the truth from the girl and COM
muncates it to the Four Black Brothers,
who, in a great revulson of feeling in
Arche's favor, determine on an action af-
ter the old manner Of their house. They
gather a following to force the prison In
which Archie lies condemned, and, after
great fight. rescue him. The story ends
with the escape Of Archie and young KRIS
tie to America. II do not know" adds the
amanuensis, what was to become of old
Kirstie but that character grew and
strengthened so in the writing that am
sure he had some dramatic destiny for
her.')
The End.