The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-08
PART III.

PAET III.
Certainly not as, ell. colleague'-fhe
Doctors voice kept wonderfully steady
but assistant perhaps, to take any
little duty you cannot overtake your
self. for the day will be a strain, and
il would relieve yoAl to have man
at your command
1t was exasperating that after all this
care had been taken, and every risk OF
collision had been anticipated, that
man like Gormacl< should suddenly
ph,nge into the affair and create
crisis which might have ended in gen
eral confusion. For a generation Cor
mack had sat contentedly on a back
seat. and supported Dr'umsheugh and
the front bench in the government OF
the affairs of the commonwealth, and
his unexpected interference is only an
other illustration of how a donce man
may at a time lose his head.
Ave been wunnerin' hoo a the fouk
can be seanit at the marriage, John. an
ave hit on "a bit plan which micht be o
use tae ye."
The fathers regarded him with horror,
as one bereft of his senses, and Johns
face, after one swift stare of astonish
ment, hardened into steel.
Its thochtfu' o. we, Gorunaclk, tae TAX
peety on puir, helpless, distraclSit
cratur, an a. wud be glad tae hear the
result O. yir deleeberations. for we a
ken We hae a terrible gift o ingenuity"
and even after that Gormack continued
on his course.
1t wudna be wise-like tae see the
Free Kirk fouk hangin' aboot the doors,
or wanderin' up an doom the passages,
or rammin' themsels intae pews whar
there wesna room for them, like stirks
intae byre."
John encouraged Gormack 10 pro-
cced with such irony that even Winnie
felt the atmosphere. and Hilloclxs indi-
Gated TO Drumsheugh that he ought to
intervene.
Moo. a. ives thinkiR that We micht
set a corn measure AT ae end o a pa ssage
20 a stool at the ither, and lay stack
ladder ON them. WI a plaid or sic-like
on 1t, We cud get grand seat for maybe
twelve fouk, an"
"Yere an awfu' hand, Gormack.
when We talk tae jokin', but We Gamma
draw the Beadle; ma, ma, he hes his plan
ready. an he's no tae tell it till the day
come" which was very shrewd OF
Drumsheugh. but it took him all his
time-the Doctor had to assist-to
smooth John down and induce him to
segard Gormack's suggestion as a fool
ish and irreverent jest. 1t was four
weeks before the outraged functionary
had worked off his Indignation, during
which time he bantered Gormack with
out mercy-entreating him to bring
forward any new suggestions for the
seating of the people, and offering him
the duty OF church officer on the great
DAY, till the approach thereof redueei
him TO solemnity which filed :he
kirkyard with awe.
After Carmichael had left the church
On the Sunday before his marriage,
Burnbrae appeared at the precentor's
desk and read this letter from DR.. Dav-
idson:
The Manse of Drumtochty.
Dear Brethren of the Free Church:
Z have the honor and pleasure 10 invite
you all TO be present in the parish
church on Friday afternoon at two
O'Clock, when your minister and my
friend is to be married TO Miss Catherine
Carnegie. of Tochty, and to ask that you
will take the pews set apart for your
farms, and which will be ready for your
coming.
Believe me, your faithful servant,
ALEXANDER DAVIDSON.
1t is said that Ghe last possible person
IN the Glen was seated and ready at
twenty minutes past one-some arrived
ut noon-and the coming of the FREQ
Kirk was an event 20 be remembered.
Many a time had they visited the Kirk
yard following the dead, and at a time
some one like Burnbrae would turn in
from the road 10 stand awhile beside
the grave which held his kinsfolk. but
ocross the door of the Kirk no exile uf
AZ had ever passed. Sometimes Free
Kirlman lingering behind n funeral
would look in at the window and identi-
s. the place where he sat in former
days. but this he would not have done
in the presence of a neighbor The past
with its tender memories had secret
hold on the heart of Drumtochty. but
ii feeling OF wlstful regret ever
touched the heart Of Burnbrae az he
looked ON his former Kirk. he gave no
sign. and none would have expected
him. Burnbrae hesitaied for an instant
al the foot OF the outside stair which
led 20 the gallery. and II was pretty 20
zee Drumshcugh. who hud been lying in
vcit for this. coming out 10 receive him
et the top. and eScortirg him with
much cordiality 10 his ancestral pew
When Understanding about below
in theexcrcisco Of hosp-slity-happened