The times., 1897-11-21

the thought. And & he rushes by the waters
edges chucEled and ene cred i'll answering
derision.
a standard Beareri God woti Renegade
and traitor, rather. A man who could not
keep his plain vows, whose erring and
wandering heart went after vanities. One
that hadbroken ma iden Sheart-unwitting
and unintended, did he pretend? Faugh-
that was what every LoVelace alleged as
his excuse.
l had thought myself worthy to do
battle for the purity OF the Kirk of my
fathers. l had pretended that her inde-
pendence, her Position and her power were
dearer than life to me. | saw 1t now.
1t was mine own place and position l
had been warning for.
Also, had l not set myself above my
brethren? Had l not said, get far from
IRE, for / am holier than thou?"
And God, who does not pay his wages
on Saturday night, had waited. So now
He came TO me and said, WHO art thou.
Quintin Mac Clellan, that tEou shouldst
dare To touch the a Tx of God"'
And as | looked across the dark waters,
I saw the light burn clearer and clearer in
the Kirk OF Crossmicbael. They We're
lighting more candles, that they might
see the better to make an end.
God speed theml'' cried !, in the dark
ness. They are doing Gods work. For
they could do nothing, except it Were
permitted of Him. Shall l step into the
boat that rocks and clatters with the
little wavelets leaping against its side?
Shall / call John, the ferryman, and go
over and make my submission before them
all? / could tell them what an un worthy,
forsworn, ill-hearted man / am
Thus | STOOD by the riverside. Almost l
had lifted up my voice TO cry aloud that
would make this acknowledgment and
reparation, when through the darkness
saw a shape approach.
A voice saiu IN my ear: Come Jean
Gemmell is taken suddenly i'll. she would
see you at Oncei"
Then ! was aware that this thirtieth OF
December was 20 be my great DAY, when
the six walls were 10 be loosed upon me. l
knew that the Lord, whose name l had
taken in vain, vas that day TO smite me
with great smiting because, being un-
worthy, had put out my hand to stay the
ark Of the covenant of God
Hob" said l, lis she yet alive?"
Alive" said he, abruptly; why, bless
the man, she wants you To marry her"
,Marryl" said l. Il am q minister of the
Kirk. 1 have ever spoken against irregular
marriages. How can / marry without an
other minister"
Hob laughed a short laugh. He never
thought much of my Iove-iuaking.
BETTER marry than burn" quoth he.
Mr. Hepburn. OF Buiutle Kirk. is here. He
came over to hearten you in the day of
your adversely
Then l recognized the hand OF God in
the thing and bowed my head
So. IN aching, eXpecJanu silence, / fol
lowed Hob over the moor ana up by the
sides OF the frozen MOSES 10 the house Of
Drumglass. He knew the way hlindfold
which shows what a wonderful gift he
bad among tie hills. For myself, / had
gone that way ten times for his once; yet
that night save for my brother had STUN
bled blindly among the quags
Presently we came to the entering in
of the yard. Lights Were cleaning here
and there, and 1 saw some Of the servant
men clustered at the stable door.
There was a hush OF expectation about
the place, a 5 il they were waiting for some
notable thing which was about u happen.
Nathan Gemmen met me in the outer
han and shook me by the hand silently,
like a muurner at a funeral. Then re led
the way into the inner room. Hepburn
came forward also and took my hand. He
was a man Of dark and determined coun-
| tenance, yet with Singularly lovea ble eyes,
which now beacOned kindness.
Jean sat on great chair, and beside
! her stood Alexander r-JOnita.
When l came in Jean rose firmly TO her
! feet. She looked about her with u proud
! look like one that would say, see, all ye
! people, this is he!'
"Quintin,' she said, and laying her thin
/ fingers on my shoulders, she looked deep
into my eyes.
Never did meet such look. 1t seemed
| TO be compound Of life and death, the love
/ earthly and the love eternal.
Good friends" she said, calmly turning
! to them, as though she had been the minis
ter, and accustomed to speak, I have sum
| moned my love hastily. l have somewhat
| to say to him. Whi you leave Us alone Tor
/ ten minutes j have word TO say in his
ear alone. 1t Is not strange, is il, at such
/ a timer
! And she smiled at them, While I stood
dumb and astonished. For l knew not
! whence the lass, ordinarily 50 still and fond
had gotten her language. She spoke as
/ one who has made up his mind, and @
whom fat and prepared words come with
out effort
When they mad gone, she sat down on
/ the chair again, and, taking my hand
motioned me- TO kneel down beside her.
Then she laid her hand 20 my hair, and
| touched it lightly.
''Quintin," she said, You and I have
not long 10 sit sweethearjhg together. |
! must say quickly that which / have TO sa Y.
| / n, you VIII say, a bold, inmodest lass.
You remember il was that couTted you
/ compelled y0u, followed you, spied on you
/ But then, you see, l loved YOU Now
Nay" she said, interruptng my words
more with her hand than with her voice
! 'misJudge me not. / am TO die 10 die
soon. 1t has been revealed to me that ]
| have battered the life eternal for this. and.
| since it is 50. want TO drink the sweetness
! 0f it to the cups bottom. / have made a
/ bargain with God. / have pray ed, and
have promised, that If he will put it in
| your heart TO W ed with me for an hour, |
! VIII take with gratitude aud thankfulness
| all that lies waiting over there-beyond tn,
Black River
she waved her hand down toward the
/ water.
/ smiled and nodded hopefully and com
j fortingly to her. At thai moment [ felt
! that nothing was too great for me to do.
And it ma tier ed little when married her.
| | had ever meant to be true to her, sa We
! in that which | could not helD-the love
| OF my heart Of hearts, which, having been
another's from the beginning, was not
mine TO give.
Jean GeuHnen smiled.
- thank you, QuintIn," she said this
| is like you, ana better than I deserve Had
| II been matter of days or weeks l would
never have troubled you. But tbs only the
matter of an hour or twol"
she paused IA little, stroking my head
fondIy.
And afterward You viii say, rernem-
| berlng me, Poor young thing-she loved
ne-loved me trulyi'
An, Quintin l think l should have made
| you a good wife. Love helps all things
they say. Put your hand below my head
| Quintin Tell me again that you love me.
! Sweetheart (now she was whisperiug), do
you KNOW have to tell you all that you
should say TO me? Is that fair, that !
should make love to you and to myself
| too?"
l groaned aloud.
GOD help US, jean" said; we shall yet
be happy together"
Ana atthe moment 1 it felt thai