The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-26

THIN. SHAKING OFF HIS WIFE, HE
SWUNG THE DOOR OPEN.
thot came along the rain-wet face OF the
hills. with a prolonged moaning ana SOD
bling.
Down in the big room that was kitchen
and sitting room in one. where Zorro
malt sat. for he had risen from his bed,
for all that he was so weak and giddy-
there was semi-darkness. His wife had
pleaded for the oil lamp. because the
shadows within and the wild wind with
out-though. / am thinking, most OF the
shadows within her brar-flled her win
dread but he would not have 1t, no, nor
a candle even. The peats glowed. red
hot: above them the small. narrow pine
logs cracked in a scarlet and yellow
blaze.
Hour after hour went by. in silence.
There were just the three OF us. Morag?
All. did Corromalt think she would
THEN. SHAKING OFF HIS WIFE, He
SWUNG THE DOOR OPEN.
stay AT Teenabrae. and Muireall near by.
and I'm the clutch OF the death frost.
and she her sister dear, not TO go to
her? He had put the ban upon us, soon
as the blood was out OF his brain, and he
could half rise from his pillow. No one
was to go to see her; no one was TO send
word to her;no one was to speak TO her.
At that Aunt Elspeth had fallen on her
knees beside the bed. and prayed TO him
10 show pity. The tears rained upon the
relentless. heavy hand she held and
kissed.
AT the least" she moaned. Eat the
least let some one go to her. Archiebald;
at least a word. Only word, only one
word
Not a word. woman. not a word. Let
her be- The wind will blow her soul
against Gods heavy hand"
But though Gorromalts word was law
there. there was one who had the tide
coming IN az one car and going ont at the
other. As soon as the rainy gloom deep
ened into dark. she slipped from the
house. | wanted 10 80 with her, but she
whispered to me 10 stay. IL was we'll
did was able to keep back from him
all night the story o. Morag's going. He
thought she was i'm bed. 50 bitter on
the man was his wrath. that I'll as he
was he would have risen and ridden or
driven over 20 Kilhrennan had he known
Morag had gone there.
Angus McCullum. Gorromalts chief
man. was with the horse In the stable.
lie tried 10 prevent Morag taking out
Gealcas. the mare-shc that went faster
and surer than any there. He even put
hand upon the lass and said a rough
word. But she laughed. | am told: and
7 think that whoever heard Morag laugh.
when she was Strange" for all that she
was 50 white and soft she with her hair
~ sunlight and the blue. blue eyes q
her-whoever heard that. would not he for
standing in her way
So Angus had stood back. sulenly Civ
ing her help. but no longer daring 10 in
terfcrc. She mounted Gealcas. and rode
..saNs
the wind went Looping 20 ard fro among
the crags on the braes as though II were
mad with fear or pain and complaining
Wild. wild-fhc lamentahlc cry OF the HIS,
Hour after hour we sat there. We
could hear the roaring sound OF Gorro-
malt water as Il whrlcd Itself over the
HIM. The stream was in spatc. and would
he boiling black. with liyld cl0ts OF foam
every here and there on the dripping
torrent. Tho winds cn1lesss sourh came
inio the house. and walled in the key
holes and the chirlgs. Rory. the blind
collie. lay on a mat near the door. and
the long hair OF his Zen was blown up
ward 9ld this way, and that by the ground
draucht
once or twice Aunt Flspcth rose ard
stirred The porriige that seethed and buh-
lei IN the pot. Her husband took no
notice He was IN a daze. and sat u.
his fankod leatherr arm chair. with hls
arms lain along the sides ard his down
clasping hands catching the red CLEAN
81 the peats. and his flce white aud set,
Ike that az a dead man looking out Of
grated prison.
Once or twice. an hour or 30 before,
when she had begun I Groom some hymn.
ne had harshly checked her. But now
when she hummcd and az last openly
sang the Gaelic version OF '~rhe Lords
MY Shepherd" ne paid no heed lie was
nos hearing that. or cnythlng she did.
He brooded. doubt not. upon doom for
tho man and the son Of the man. who
had wrought him this evil.
His wife saw this and so had her viii
AZ last. She took down the great Gaelic
Bible. and read Chrtst's words about little
ch.ldren. The rain slashed against the
window panes: outside the wind moansd
aad saughsd and moaned FSvn the ken