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

,o,oa 4, knew not so much as where
7 would sleen that night. had ten pounds
in nv pocket. and when that was zone
well. would surely not be worse OH imam
a Kings Blue Gown. was 10 minister
to a scattered people. mostly OF the pooi
est R,It at the worst ! was sure OF an
inglcnook, a bed In the stapie-ioi.' anu
a porringer OF brOse al morn anu ech
anywhere in Scotland And am sure
that ofttimes the Gallilean nshermeh hau
not so much.
Ny mother threw her arms ABOUT my
neck
80 laddie laddie We are ganging far
away ON a rough road and a lonely. bnd
kens II your auld mither VIII ever look
on We again. Quintin. this Is sair hear.-
break. But I ken | haze mysell 10 ,na',n
for 1T. ! bred you 20 the Hlli-r oin' ~
was your ain mither that TOOK ye III me-
arms TO the sweet conventcles on tho
green bosom OF the Cairnsmulr tha' ue
lectable mountain. ] he'd we Daptlseu a.
the Holy Linn by guild Master Simple,
and never a whinge or a greet did We gaze
when he stappt we into the tnickes'
the Jaw
And the remembrance seemed In part
TO reconcile nv mother 10 the stern Cam
eronian ministry / was about to take up.
And what stipend are they promising
ye?" she said presently. after she hau
thought the matter over.
"Nothingi" / answered calmly.
"Nocht ava'-no a bawbee-and a that
siller spent on your colleging'
Then my mothers mind took new
tack.
"And what will pulr Hob gaup to do.
puir fellow? lie has had nae ither thoct
than you since ever he was laddie.
Oh a
ct am thinking now that he has some
other thought in his mind
Ny mother fell back a step. mo las
siet" she cried: "a laddie like him.
Hob is no week-old bairn-chicken.
mother" said /. lie will be five and
thirty If he is a day."
But our Hob-to be thinking o
lassiel'
"At what age might We have been mar
ried mother" / asked knowing that
| could turn her from thinking OF HOBS
| presumption.
"Me-I was married at seventeen, and
your father scant score! Faith. there
| was spunk in the countryside then. MOO
| a lass will be over by four-and-twenty
| before she gets an offer-ava. and not
think herser ayont the mark for the
| wedding rlng-when I had sons ana doch-
ters man and woman muckle.
! "Then." said l. Eye will not be hard
| on Hob if he marries and settles him.
| self down at DrumgassH'
Ny father clapped me on the shoulder.
God speed yei" he said: II need not
| tell We to be noways feared. Ana II We
come to the bottom Of your purse-Wen'
! your father is no rich man. but there
| will be aye a bit Of yellow siller for We
| in the cupboard OF Ardarroch.'
/ had meant 10 take my way past Ears
] toun without calling. And with that intent
| IL was i'm my mind 10 hold directly over
| the moor past Lochinvar. But when &c
| came to the pinch / simply could not do
| It.
! So TO the dear gray tower among the
woodlands I betook me once more. My
| ewes had been looking for the first CLINT
1 Of If over the tree tops for miles ere /
| came within sight Of II. There ana
| there" so ! said TO myself. under that
white cloud. by the nick of that HILL where
! the woodland curls down, that Is the
place" At last l arrived
"Ouintin Mac Clellan, come your ways
I in. Welcome are ye as the smell o the
/ supper brosew cried Alexander GORDON
/ coming heartily across from the far
| angle of the courtyard at slshl Oh me.
"Whither away so trayel-harnessed!
ITO the Upper Ward said /, ito make
beginning on the widest minister
! charge in Scotland.
You are. then, truly bent on leaving
/ all. and taking upon you the blue bon
| net and the plaid of the Remnant?'
Il have already done it, said /; burn
| ed my boats, emptied my house, sold my
penishing and my bestial. And now with
| my scrip and staff / so forth-whither
| / know not perchance TO a hole in the
| hedgeroot and the death of a dog
Tut. man." cried Alexander Gordon,
otis not thus that the Apostle Of the
| Hll-Folk, the bearer Of their banner
| should go forth. Bide at least this night
with me. and / will set you up the wa
tersldo and fit you with beast to ride
| on fOrbye.'
II thank you from my heart Earlstoun.
| This is spoken like a true man ana from
| the heart. only Alexander Gordon would
| offer il. But ! would begin as ! must end.
| If / am 10 be the poor mans minister
| must not set out on my pilgrimage rid
| ing on the back Of Earlstoun's charger.
! | must tramp II. moss and mountain, dub
| and mire. Yet. friend Of mine, l could
not 20 without bidding you kindly
| adieui'
AT least bide till the mistress and
! Mary can shake ye by the hand! cried
| Alexander Gordon
And with that he betook him TO the
| nearest window and without ceremony
| pushed it open-for the readiest way was
| ever Sandy Gordon's way. Then he road
| ed for his wife and daughter till the
| noise shook the tower like an earthquake.
| In "a moment Mary Gordon came out
= and stood on the doorstep with her I'm