The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-21
.a.er.. eare chnckled and sneered in

waters edge chuckled n sneered IN
answering derision.
A standard bearer, God wot, Rene
rade and traitor. rather. A man VINO
could not keep his plain vows. whose
errine and wandering heart went after
,a,fties one that had broken a maiden's
beart-unwitting and unattended. did he
nretend2 Faugh-that was what every
| Iovelace alleged as his excuse.
7 had thought myself worthy 10 do
hattie for the purity Of the XIX OF my
fathers. / had pretended that ner ihhe-
| pendcnce. her position and her power
were dearer than life 10 me. saw It now.
II was mine own place and position l had
been warning Tor.
Alec had not set myself above my
| brethren? Had I not said. Get far from
me. for | am holier than thou.
And God. who does not pay his wages
IN Saturday night. had waited. so now
Ve came 10 me. and said. VINO ART thou'
Quintin. Mac Clellan, that shouldest dare
to touch the ark of GodE
And az I looked across the dark wa
tiers. I saw the light burn clearer ana
! clearer I'm The Kirk Of Crossmichael. They
were lighting more candles that 'hey
might see the better to make an emu
God speed them" cried ]. in the dark
ness. new are NVNiAt 49,
they could do nothing. except II VIZ
permitted Of Him. Shall I step into the
boat tha, rocks and ~clatters with the
little wavelets leaping against its sac
Shall I call John. the ferryman. ana go
over and make my submission before
them all? 7 could tell them what an
unworthy. for-sworn. ill-hearred man l
am"
thus T stood by the riverside. Almost
- IL sg.- 10 a., aVN aloud
that I would make this acknowledgment
and reparation-when through the dark
ness | saw a shape approach.
A voice said I'm my ear. "Come-Jean
Gemmell Is taken suddenly I'll. She would
see YOU at once"
Then | was aware hat this thirtieth or
December was 10 be my great day. when
the six walls were to be loosed upon me.
! knew that the Lord. whose name 7 had
taken i'm vain. was that day TO smite me
witt a great smiting-because. being UNI
worthy. | had put out my hand TO stay
the ark Of the Covenant Of God.
Hob" says ]. us she yet alive2'
alive" said he. abruptly. why. bless
the man. she want you TO marry her.
Marry said !. 81 am a minister OF
the Kirk. / have ever spoken against
irregular marriages. How can / marry
without another Minister
Hob laughed a short laugh. He never
though much Of my love-making.
Better marry than burn" quoth he.
.'Nrr. Hepburn. Of Buittle Kirk. is here.
He came over to hearten you In the day
of your adversely
Then 7 recognized the hand Of God in
the thing and bowed my head.
So. i'm an aching eXpectant silence. !
followed Hob over the moor. and mp
by the sides Of the frozen MOSES. TO
the house OF Drumglass. He knew the
way blindfold. which shows what a won
derful gift he had among the hills. For
I myself had gone that way ten times for
his once. Yet. that night. save for my
brother. I had stumbled blindly among
the quags.
Presently we came 10 the entering In
the yard. Lights were cleaning here and
there. and ! saw some of the servant men
clustered at the stable door.
There IS a hush OF expectation about
the place. as If they were waiting for
some notable thing which was about TO
happen.
Nathan Gommell met me I'm the outer
hall. and shook me by the hand silently.
like a mourner at a funeral. Then he lea
the way into an inner room. Hepburn
came forward. also. and took my hand.
He was "a man Of dark and determined
c~ountenance. yet with singularly lovea-
BILE eyes. which now beaconed kindli-
ness.
Jean sat on a great chair, and beside
her stood Alexander-Jonita.
When / came i'm Jean rose firmly TO
her feet. IN looked about her with a