The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-07

andcr-IOnifa. AlcNanucl-joiit" -
harum-scarum lass. "A veriiable cniiu OF
Nature. Jean Is girl OF gehue "aSS'
upon whom the new minister makes n
deem impression. Qulntin's parents come
10 holm establish him In his new home
whore ne is to live with his brother foo'
Ouintin decides 20 return 70 thelr nome
An Ardarroch with them because he wants
10 sec Mary Gordon whom he has known
since childhood Mary IS the daughter Oh
Alexander Gordon. the laird OF h"iisuouH
n noted C0venanter. Mary has fepeiiee
acainet her strict upbrnging and has De-
come an adhcrent OF the state Church.
XVI
TIE BONNY LASS or EARLSTOUN.
=, was my intent 10 accompany my
fafner and mother back 20 Ardarroch
fn name OF an escort but chleny 'hat
/ might accept the invitation or lhe ,llru
81 Earlstoun and once more see VA
Gordon the lass whose image l had car
,led 40 long on my heart. For, strange
as il NAV appear when she went forth
from The kirk that day she left look
behind her which went straight TO my
heart -,. -.
again out Of my heart But 40 What
could. 10 was not 20 be- 10 would arise
coming between me ana the very paper
7
began TO learn 30 boy heart
God forgive "a sinful mani At these
times 1 ought ofumos TO have been thihk-
ing Of something else. But when a man
carries such "a passion IN his heart' an
the panopy or heavenly love Is impotent
10 restrain thoughts that ily swiil as the
light from hilltop to hilltop at the sum
rising -.
So / went home to Ardarroch' where
With a kind OF gratitude. I stripped my
coat and fell 10 the building OF dykes
obout the home park, and the mending
~ managers and cOrn-chests, till my no
Their demonstrated.
"Ouintin. are We not ashamed you Win
n parish Of hungry souls, to be knock,h
al nails and lftin' mucke sianes on the
hill-sidos O. Ardarroch?'
But Anna kept close to- me. understand
ing my mood We had always loved one
another ! had used 10 say that II was
Anna who ought 10 have been me MINIS
ter For her eyes were full OF % TAR ana
gracious light the gentle out-shining oil
true spirit within. And as for me- dtter
mad been with her awhile. / was a pet
Ter and a stronger man-at least one less
unfit for holy office.
Riqnt gladly would ] have taken Anna
heck with me TO the manse Of Balmaghie'
hut I knew well that she would not go
"Ouintin." she would say, "our father
and mither are not so young as they once
we're Nv father forgets whites ana me
bord lads are not to trust 10. David
there (, forever on the trot TO ,his arm
town and the othcr-to the Olachdh %
Tohn TO the New Town Of Galloway OF 10
Balmaclcllan-'us AN one 10 MN ilr ear,
NOT hide M home after the horses are cut
~ tho collar. and the chain draps from the
svinelc-trce into the furrow' -.
,'put eoncdav We will find q lad Anna
nd tt.r Won also will be leaving AlUaf-
roob and the auld folk behind ye-
Nv sister smiled a quiet smile ana her
ewes were far away.
.Mavbc- maybe she said, tempsIa'o'y'
"hut that day IS not yet 80
"Wae never lad come woon YET ANN" 3
was not there Johnny Of ironmacanny'
Peter TAFT frac the Bogue or
"Avo." said Anna. "they came, ana they
caod away 10 ithor lassos that were read
Ter 10 like them. For never saw lad YET
chat could like ass well as my great SHY
brother. who should be thinking more
about his sermon making than about put
ting daft thoughts into the heads OF maid
ems"
Affcr this there was silence between
us FOR "a while. We had been sitting In
tho barn with both doors open. The
wide arch 10 the front opening out INTO
the quadrangle Of the courtyard let I'm
"a cool. drawing sough of air. and the
smaller door lct 80 out again. and gave
MS az the same time a sweet eve-hlink
into tho orchard. where the apples were
hanging mellow and pleasant. on the
branches. and the leaves hardly vet loosen
Ing themselves for their fall The light
srcd through the leaves from the west
erinc sun. dapplnr the grass and waver-
ing upon the hard-beaten earihen floor
OF the barn.
81 am going over by 10 Earlstoun,"
said 20 Anna. without looking M
Anna and I spoke but half our talks
out loud. We had been such close COM
rades all our lives that We understood
much without needing 10 clothe our
thoughts IN words.
Apparently Anna did not hear what
said so 7 rcneated it.
"DinraW was an she answered
"Ana wherefore should 7 not?' ! per-
sisted. arrumontativelv "the laird most
kindly invited me. indeed laid IL on me
like an obligation 20 come
eye are going over 20 Earlstoun 10 see
the iaird?"
why yes" sald "that IS. he has
desire 10 see me. Tie is the greatest Of
al the Covenant men, and we have much
IN common 10 speak about
Tomorrow ne Will be riding by 70 the
market an kirkcudhright whore he has
business We can ride with him to the
cross roads OF Ciachan Pluck and talk all
mat your heart desires Of Kirk and
state"
Anna" said seriously. "I am going
20 the house Of Earlstoun tomorrow.
In a moment She dropped her pretense
o. banter "Quintln. We will only make
your heart the sorer. laddie."
and wherefore" said T.
"sce the sparkle on the water ont
there" she said. pointing 10 the bosom
% Loeb Ken far below us: cts bonnv
But can We gather q in your hand or
wear II I'm your bosom? Dear and 40.
Nrhtsome Is this good smell of anrlos ana
az orchard freshness. but can We fold these
and carry Them with YOU 10 the hare
manse Of Baimaghie FOR comfort 10 vo,,r
heart. no more can We take the prlde ~
the great mans daughter. the glance ~
proud eyes the word OF accustomed IA
obedience. and bring them into subiectlor
10 a poor mans love"
Love can do ali" said 7. sententlouslv
Aye she said where love is. 4 can
indeed work all things. But. / bid We re-
member that love dwells not yet In Mary
oordon's heart for any man. Hers is not