The times., 1897-11-14
TEE STANDARD BEARER.
BY S. R.
Cooa,inued from last s.nday.)
rnr rYRs nF A MAID.


for the liberties dweit Jnickest-in Cars
phairn. in the GIenkens and il mine own
Balma ghie.
As went over the hill from farm
town 10 farnl-toWn, The herds would cry
down a ..Well done!'' from among the
sheep. Old men who had seen the high
DAYS of the Kirk before the fatal home
coming OF King Charles, rough, buirely
men, who had done their snare oi hiding
and fighting in the troubles, young men,
who, like myself, had heard but the mur-
mur OF the fray, came 10 shake my hand
and bid me strengthen my knees anu
81 lex 10 my testimony.
lsuU nowhere was 1 more warmly Wei
coined than in the gOCd house OF Drum
glass The herd lads and plouGhmen
were gathered at tue house end when L
came up the lOaning, and as 1 passed. one
OF them came forward with his blue bon
net in his hand.
Fear not, sir, he said, with a kind
OF toid, sell resi- pegting difTmencei i speak
for all our lads with hearts and hands
We viii light for you. Keep the word Of
your testimony and We Will sustain you
and stand behind you. IL ye Will unIuu
the blue banner again. we VIII plant deep
the staff
Anu from the little group of stalwart
men at the barn-end there came low
murmur OF cUrrCboration, We viii up
hold your
strange is 1t today to think on these
things, when most men are SO lukewarIn
for principle. But III those days the
embers OF the fires of persecution were
yet warm and glowing, and men knew
that they might again be blown up and
fresh fuel added thereto.
''COme ava cried Nathan Geuimell,
heartily, from where he Sal on the great
outer bench of fIIoss=oak by the doOr-cneek,
worn smooth by generations or stuers;
come ava, minister, ana tel us the news.
Faith, IL makes me young-hke again 10 hear
that there is still a man that thinks on the
Covenants ana the blue banner wi the
white cross. And though tney forget the
auid flag moo, nae see4i a. gang stacherLn
doom the streets o the loon y Edinburgh
vi a the Iolk cryin', Up WI the Kirk
an down WI The HING ull there wasIla
SOLDIER dare show hIs face. nor a Kings
man 70 De louHa between tie castle and
The Holy Food house. Hecn-how-aye. aud
Drumglass has seen tnat."
Inen We went IN, andby che fireside, look
ing very wistfuIly ouI OF her meek eyes at
me- stood The young lass, Jean Gemnen.
: he came forward holding out her hand,
saving 10 word, but the teaTs still wet on
ner Iashes-why 1 know not. And she
listened as her father asked OF the dolngs
al the Presnytery, and looked eager and
i
Presently her father went forth ON some
errand about the work OF the plough lads,
and the lass and 1 were lett together il
Uhe wide kitchen.
And they VIII put you forth out Of house
and hOmey" she asked, looking at me Win
sweet, reluctant eyes, The eyes OF a mourn
ing dove. She stood by the angle OF the
hearth where the broad seat begins.
sat on her fathers char, where he had
her 4
comely lass She was, with the pale cheeks
and the blush that went and came re-
spousive TO the beating OF her heart.
/ had not answered, being busy with look
ing at her and thinking that / wished
Mistress Mary Gordon as gentle and bidd
able as TINS lass. So she asked again.
They VIII not put you forth from your
Kirk and parish, Will they"
Nay, that / know noti' 1 said. smiling.
doubtless they viii try"
%, I could not listen TO another minister
after"
She stopped and sighed.
Then ! told her, being stirred within NE
by her emotion, OF the Two VINO had stood
byme in the Presbytery, and how little hope
had that they would see it out 70 the end.
Tis fight that mUsl flght alone!
1 said.
For / knew well that it would come to
that, and uhaJ a. soon as the affair went
past words, those TWO who had stood al
my shoulder would fall behind or be con
tent TO bide snugly al home.
Not alone" SAID the young lass, quick
ly, and moved q step toward Ine with her
hand held out. Then, with a deep and
burning blush, her maiden mUdesty checked
her and she stood, red ike a july lose in
the clear morning.
she swaNed a. If She would have fallen
and. leaping up quickly, caught her in my
arms ere she had time to fan.
Her ewes We're closed and the blood had
eDbed from her face and left her pale L
the very lips. ] stood with her lighi
weight in nay arms, thrilling strangely V
Iur never woman rad lain theIe before
Presently she gave long, snatcline
breath and opened her eyes. 1 saw the
tears garner IN them as her head lay still
ln the hollow Of my arm. Tie drops did
not fail, but gathered slowly like wells
that are fed from beneath.
You VIII not 90 away" she said
and at last lifted her lashes, with
lttle pearl shining wet On each, as q
swallow that has dipped her wings in q
pool
Then, because l could not help it, |
did tnat - nich had never done TO any
woman before. / stopped aud kissed tn,
wet, sweet eyes, and tnen, ere / knew il
witn a little cry Of frightened Joy, ths
glri arms were about me and she lifted
up her face and kissed me again and again
and yet again.
When l came 10 myself, I was conscious
OF another presence in the kitchen.
looked up quickly, and there, before me
standing with a switch swaying in hel
hand, was AleNander-JOnita. l could not
nave supposed that she could have looked
80 stern.
''Nel?' she said, as if waiting for ms
explanation.
4 love your sister, I said, for indeed
Though / had not thought thus OF tbemattel
before, there seemed nothing else to u,
said.
But the face OF Alexander-Jonita di,
not relax. She stood gazing at her sister
whose head rested quiet and content Oh
my shoulder.
jean" she said at last, knowing tha
which you know, why have You don,
this2"
The girl lifted her head and locke,
at JoniUa with kind OF glad defiance
Sister" she said, you do not under
stand love. You do not know what one
would do for love-
''You love my sister Jean2'' she said
turning 10 me with a sia Fpness In he
words Ike the prickng of a needles
point.
Yes" I answered, but perhaps little
uncertainty.
Did y0d know as much when you cani'
into the Kitchen"
No, said !.
For, indeed, I knew not what TO saw
never having been thus tangled up witl
women's affairs in my lie hefore.
i thought not" said Jonita, curtlv
Then turning 10 jean How cid this com,
about" she asked.
Jean lifted her head, her face lly-pal
and her body swaying a little To me.
I Thought he would 20 away and that
should never see him again. She said. J
little nifIrnllr