The herald., 1897-12-05

@~.Av@~-A>
I ing me hand, "step ben WI me-
there's brandy in the cupboard as auld
as yourself
| But, as for me, I had thought Of
nothing but the look in Mary Gordon's
eyes.
| Brandy" cried Jean Hamilton, cal
exander, think shame you that are an
| elder and have likewise been priyi-
legged to be sufferer for the cause Of
truth, to be speaking about brandy at
| this hour O. the day. Do ye not see that
I have been refreshing the soul Of this
poor, weak, downcast brother with ap-
propriate meditations from my own
spiritual diary and covenantings?"
She took again her little, closely writ
ten book from swinging side pocket.
Let me see, we were, 1 think, at the
third section and the
| Lord help us-Im avail" cried San
dy Gordon, suddenly, and vanished up
the turnpike stair. Mary Gordon held
out her hand in silence, permitted her
eyes to rest a moment on mine in calm
and friendly fashion, without anger or
embarrassment, and then softly with
drawing her hand, she followed her
father UP the stairs.
| I was again left alone with the lady
Of Earlstoun
"Tis a terrible cross that I must
bear, in that my man hath not the in
| born grace Of my brother-ah-that
proven testifier, that most savory pro-
| fessor, Sir Robert Hamilton. For our
! Sandy is a man that cannot stand
prosperity and the quiet of the bush.
In time of peace. he becomes like a
rusty horologe He needs afIiiction and
the evil day, that his wheels may be
taken to pieces, oiled with the oil of
mourning, washed with tears of bitter
ness, and then set up anew. Then, for
| a while, he goes on not that ILL.,"
| Your husband has come through
| great trials." I said. For, indeed, l
scarce knew what to say to such a wo-
man.
"Sandy-O, aye!" cried his wife. "But
what are his trials to the ills which
have endured with none to pity. Have
not I suffered his carnal doings we'll
nigh thirty years, and held my peace?
Have I not wandered by the burnside
and mourned for his sin? And now,
worse than all, my children seek after
their fathers ways"
Janet Hamilton" cried a voice from
a window of the tower, "is there no
dinner to be gotten this day in this
house of Earlstoun?"
The lady lifted up her hands in holy
horror.
Dinner, dinner-is this a time to be
thinking about eating and drinking,
when the land is full of ravening and
wickedness, and when iniquity sits un-
ASHAMED in high places?"
Never We heed fash your thumb
about the high places. Janet, my wo-
man." cried her husband from the
window, out of which his burly, jovial
head protruded. "E'en come your ways
in, my denty, and turn the wall-gaun
mill-happer O. your tongue on the lazy,
guid-for-naething besoms in the kitch-
Ell. Then the high places will never
steer We, and We will hae a stronger
Istomach to wrestle WI the rest O. the
sins O. the times!''
Sandy, Sandy, We are a mocker! I
fear ye have been looking upon the
strong drink"
Faith, lass" replied her husband,
with the utmost good humor, Il was
cen looking for it, but the plague O.
muckle OF there is to be seen"
The lady of Earlstoun arose forth
with and went into the tall tower from
the lower stones, of which her voice.
raised in flyting, could be distinctly
lheard. .a--,,
"Ungrateful madams," so she ad-
dressed her subordinates, "get about
your business Hear ye not that the
laird is quarrelling for his dinner.
which ought to have been served half
an hour ago by the clock"
Nay, tell me not that keeped you
so long at the taking of the Book, that
there was no time left for the kirning
of the butter. Never ought is lost by
the service of the Lord"
Thus 1 sat on the we'll kerb, listen
ing to the poor wenches getting. as the
saw hath it. their kali through the
reek. But at that moment 1 observed
Sandy Gordon's head look through the
open window. He beckoned me to him
with his finger in a cunning manner.
I went up the stairs with intent to find
the room where he was, but by Curl
Gus mischance, I alighted instead on
the long oaken chamber where 1 had
been entertained of yore by Mistress
Mary.
I found her there again, busy with
the ordering Of the table, setting out