The times., 1897-12-12

at least, | owe you nothing"
Father said Mary, did { ask you for
aught-or did Quintin?''
Nay said he griinly, mot even for my
daughter -
men, said she, do not refuse that
for nich you have not been asked
And how may you propose 70 hFe.
her father went on. "Ye would mol loDk
at him W tfsn he nassi kirk and giebe, frtinse
and stipend. And now yet take MIN by
force. W hen he is no better than heggar
at the dyke back. This 1t is To be d
womant"
She kindled at the words.
And what a thing to be mani Ye
think that woman's love consists III Sools
and gear-c comfortable beds and line ap-
parelIingp'
Comfortable beds are lot to be lightlied,
said her father, las ye will lind, my lass,
or a. be done r.
She did neit heed him but flashed on Wtth
her defiance.
.'You and those like you, think that the
way to wilma woman Is to bIde Till We nave
made all smooth, SO that there be not curl
on the rose leaves nor yet bitter drop n
the cup. Even Quintin, there, Thought thus
till he learned hettere'
She did not so. much as pause TO sntiie,
though | thiak her father did-but coyertiy.
Mo- she cried, Il love, and because
love l viii (as yop may say floutinGly1 bc
ready to lie at a dyke back ike tinker S
wench. | Will follow my nrln through the
world, because he is my man, and all the
more because he Is injured, despised, one
who has had little happiness and no salts
faction in life And now | will give him
that IL only viii make il all up to him.
With my loge l can do it, and l willV'
Her father nodded menacjngly.
''Ye shall try the dyke backs this very
nieht, my iassl And see how ye like them
| after the fine linen sheets and panelled
| chambers OF the Earlstoun."
| But her mother broke out at last.
mo, my BARN. she cried, married
or single We shall not go forth from US
| thus -"
| fiofd your tongue, woman!' roared the
| Bull, shaking the firmaTnent with his
! Voice.
| ''Ee not feared, my lass, We shall have
| your mothers countenance though your
| noddingat Us with unex xpect ed gra ciousnesS.
Hold your peace, l tell your
"a ye, Sandy when I have doneip
! Though he set you on the doorstep, I
| viii pray for you" she went on, and for
! company on the long way, | will give you
| copy OF nay meditations, which are most
| meet and precious"
Her husband laughed quick, mocking
laugh.
| better-but here comes the minister"
| turned somewhat shaGeraceely and
there, bowling 10 the laird OF EdrssLoun was
| GilchrisG of Duhscore, whom the Presoy-
terry OF Dumfries had lately depoSed. He
| was about to begin a Speech OF congratuia-
ton, but the Bull broke through.
! Marry these two!'' lie commtnded.
And with his finger he pointed at Mary
| ana myself, as II he had been ordering Us
| for iune tliate execution.
But" began the minister.
Instantly an astonishing volume OF sound
| filled the house.
But me no butts! Tie them up tftis mo
| ment or by the LordI Will eyisceEate yoJ
with my sword!''
And with that he snatched his great bas
ket-hilted blade from the scabbard, waere
it hung on pin by the side OF the door
So with a quaking minister, my own Aeas
daZed, and uncertain With the ThiTl pi
events and Mary Gordon giving her eaUa=i
back defiant glance for glance, we we're
married decently and in order.
Now - said Alexander Gordon, so SOON
as the Amen WAS out, go To youl
chamber with your mother, Mistress Mary!
Take whatever We can carry y-but no more
and get you gone out of this house will
the man you have chosen. | viii teach
YOU to be fond OF dyke backs and OF throw
ing yourself away upon beggarly, broken
mepl'
And he frowned down upon her as. with
head erect and scornful carria ge, she swept
past him, her mother trotting behind like
q fright enc child.
l think Alexander Gordon greatly de-
sired to say something to me while he
and l stood waiting for their return
For he kept shifting his weight from
one foot 60 the other, ROW turning to the
window, anon humming half a tune
and breaking off short IN the midst But
ever as he, came towar1 me with obvious
intent To speaky ne check ed himself
shaking his head savagefy, and so re-
suning again his restless marching 20 and
fro.
Presentl8umy lass came down with a
proud, highfooS on her lace, her mother
/ Following after, with a face all bebiub
bered with tears and wringing her hand.
silently.
Il bid you farewell, father Mary
said. TIN now you have ever been a
kind father to me. And some da you viii
forgive me this seeming disobedienee.p
Then ii was that her father made a strange
speech.
'Quntin Mac CleIlan has muckle to thanl
me for. Had it not been for the roaring oi
the Bull, he had not SO easily gotten a way
the dainty quey."
80 side by side, and presently when We
| got to the woods edge, hand in hand, MARY
Gordon and l went out into The world to
gether.