The herald., 1897-11-14

luctant Thomas, Mistress Mary sat di-
rectly opposite to me with her chin
resting on her netted fingers and her
elbows on the table. Her mother. at
the upper end of the chamber occupied
herself with looking out of the window,
and occasionally clasping her hands in
the urgency of her supplications or Civ
ing vent to pitiful moan which indi-
Gated her sense of the hopeless iniquity
of mankind.
Then with more kindliness than she
had ever yet shown, Mary Gordon
asked me of my people of Balmaghie,
whether the call had been unanimous.
who abode with me in the manse, and
many other questions. To all of which
l answered as we'll as 1 could. For the
truth is, that the nearness of so ad-
mirable a maid and the directness of
| her gaze, wrought in me kind of des-
peration, so that it was all l could do
to keep from telling her then that l
came to the house of Earlstoun to ask
her to be my wife.
1 looked sideways at the Lady of
Earlstoun. She was mumbling at her
devotions, or meditating other and
more personal covenantings. Mary
Gordon and l were, in manner, alone
Mistress Mary" I said, suddenly
leaning toward her, my desperation
getting the better of my natural pru-
dence, II know that 1 speak wholly
without hope. But l came to-day to tell
you that / love you. l am but cot
ter's lad, but 1 have loved you ever
since l ferried a little maid past the
muskets of the troopers"
I looked straight enough at her now.
1 could see the color rise little in her
face. while a strange expression of
wonder and pride, with something that
was neither overspread her face. l
might have been warned, but I was not
to be holden now.
Before, l had no right, nor indeed
any opportunity to tell you this. But
now, as minister of parish, l have an
income that will compare not unfavor-
ably with that of most Of the smaller
gentry of the county"
The girl nodded, with swift harden
ing of the nostril.
1T will doubtless be a fine income"
she said, with a touch Of scorn. Did
l understand you to offer me your
manse and income?"
Il offer you that which neither dis
honors an honest girl to hear or yet
an honest man to speak. 1 am Offer
ing you my best service, the love and
honor of a man who truly loves you"
Il thank you, sir" she said, lifting up
her head and letting her eyes dwell on
me with some of their former haughti-
ness; Il am honored indeed. Your po-
Sition, your manSe, your glebe! How
many acres did you say it was? Your
income, good as that of laird? And
you come Offering all these to Mary
Gordon Sir, bid you carry your bus
mess transactions to the county mar
ket-place. Mary Gordon is not to be
bought and sold When she loves she
will give herself for love and love
alone. Aye, were it to poke-laden,
houseless cadger by the roadside or a
ploughnan staggering between the fur
rows"
And with that she rose and walked
swiftly to the door. could hear her
foot die away through the courtyard,
and going blankly to the window, l
watched her slim figure glance between
the clumps of trees, now in the light,
now in the shadow, and anon lost in
the yelowing depths of the forest.
Nor, though I watched all the long,
hot afternoon, did she return till she
came home riding upon her father S
horse, with Sandy Gordon himself walk
ing bareheaded beside his daughter as
if he had been escorting queen on her
coronation day.