The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-12
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WlfpT STUART SBOTD'

I Miss Colina's tender heart had mourned
| over this refusal of the desired shelter
but Miss Bethia was adamant.
1--WE have built this house to perpet-
uate the memory of our father. Kenneth
| Colquhoun; and what is the good of
naming a place the Kenneth Colquhoun
institute if we I'll il with Robert Adams
or William Watts? The thing would
be sheer idiocy."
Only two days before had Miss Bethia
quarreled finally with the old family
lawyer, Mr.. Josiah Meldrum, w. S.-who
had from the first thrown very Niagara
of cold water on the scheme, probably
because his sympathies were with the
revolving nephew-and had thence
forward announced her intention of
conducting the matter without interfer-
ence from nyone.
you do think you could reconsider
the question of name. BethiaP" in
quired Miss Colina. meel1ly. THAT case
Prof. Macmillan recommended seems
especially deserving. and the mothers
name was Colquhoun."
Edward Prouse! No, Colina; de-
cidedly not. There is certain to be
plenty of genuine Colquhouns in the
world. and. if we have but little pa
tience. they will find the Colquhoun In
stitute."
Even as she spoke there was loud
knock at the door, followed by the sound
OF a gruff voice in the hall.
''He says his name is Kenneth Colqu-
Eoun. mem. and that he's come TO STOP"
announced the maid, who had shown
the visitor into the drawing-room while
she warned her mistress of his arrival.
A fash of triumph leapt into Miss Ber-
tha's eyes.
There! What did say?" she cried.
rising at once to seek her visitor.
Miss Colina's heart sank when, en-
tering the audience chamber in the
wake Of her greater sister. she viewed
the applicant. In figure he was squat
and muscular. A certain horsey curve
OF his lower limbs, accentuated by the
tight cut of his neither garments. gave
the lie direct to his flowing white beard
and venerable locks, while small, rest
less, dark eyes squinted beneath his
bushy black eyebrows. Miss Colina was
shocked TO find how unlike he was to her
ideal inmate. But Miss Bethia had evil
IDENTIFY no misgiving. Welcoming the
man eagerly, she proceeded to interro-
gate him in a perfunctory fashion re-
specting the justice of his claim to the
benefits of the institution.
"Your name is Kenneth Colquhoun?"
"Yes, il is, and my fathers before
me-"
You are Scots, Of course?"
"Yes, m"
"But you speak more like an English
man."
Right you are. KnoclSin' about ere
and there hover the world. as I've done,
do learn one TO speak proper"
"And, of course, you have some pa
pers to show me--certifcate of birth,
and so on?"
mo. that 'aven't," replied the man.
shortly. MY papers was all wrecked
a-comin' from Australia, an l only land
ed with wot I'd got on"
81 suppose you have somebody here TO
whom you can refer us?"
The bare suggestion that his veracity
required backing appeared to insult
deeply the nspirant, who replied. with
of menace in his tone:
II could ave fetched plenty of wit
nesses from Australia; but il ia "a
suspected that I was a-comip' ere for to
be cross-questioned-"
mo. no, my good man." interposed
Miss Bethia. soothingly, "only there
must be certain formal inquiries"
Here Mr.. Colquhoun rose TO his feet,
and, muttering something to the eff
feet that he wouldn't stay for 90 be
houbteG," seized the shabby carpet bag
he had laid upon the floor beside his