The herald., 1897-11-28

| an ignorant lass can love. They tel
me that by tomorrow you will be nC
longer minister You will be put out
of the manse like bird out of a har-
ried nest. And at first l was glad
when I heard it. For thought I. he
will come and tell me. We shall be
poor together She said the truth, fol
indeed she knoweth somewhat. the
Lady Mary: Love is not possessions,
No, but it is possessing. And l had
but one-but one. And that she has
taken away from me-
She lifted her kerchief to her lips
for fit Of coughing had taken her.
! In a moment she drew it away
glanced at it quickly, and 10! it was
stained with clear and brilliant red.
Then she laughed abruptly. strange
! hollow-sounding little laugh.
II am glad-glad." she said; "ah. this
is my warrant for departure. Well do
l ken the sign. For l mind when my
brother Andrew saw it first. You will
get her yet and with honor
Come, Jean" said I. the air is
shrewd. You are i'll and weak. Lean
upon my arm, and l VIII take you
home"
She looked UP at me with dry, bril-
liant eyes. There was nothing strange
about them. save that the lids seemed
swollen and unnaturally white.
"Quintin," she said, 'it was foolish
from the first, was it not, lad O. my
love? Did you ever say a sweet thing
to me like one that comes counting a
lass in the cleaning? Say it now to
me,-will you not? I would like tc
hear how it would have sounded"
1 wds silent. 1 seemed TO have no
words to answer her with.
She laughed little.
Il forgot. Pardon me, Quintin. You
are in trouble to-day-deep trouble.
should not add to it. 1t is 1 who should
say loving things to you. But then
then-you would care more for flouts
and anger from her. than for the naked
sweetness Of poor Jean Gemmell' s
heart"
And the very pitifulness of her voice
drew cry of anger out of my breast
At the sound of it. She stopped and
leaned back in my arms to look into
my face. Then she put up her hand
very gently and patted me tenderly on
the cheek, like one that comforts a
fretful child.
Il vex YOU" she said, you that have
over much to vex you. But 1 shall not
vex you long. See" she said, there is
the door, Yonder is my father stand
ing by it. He is looking at us under
his hand. There is Jonita, too, and
your brother Hob. Shall we go and
tell them that it is all a mistake. that
there is to be no more between us ?
That we are free-free, both of US
you to wed the Lady Mary: 1 to keep
my tryst-to keep my tryst-with
DEATH"
At the last words her voice sank to
whisper. Something broke in her
throat, and seemed to choke her. She
fell back in my arms with her kerchief
again to her mouth.
They saw us from the door. and AL
exander-Jonita came flying toward us
over the short grass Of the meadow.
Jean took her kerchief away-with-
out looking at it, this time. She lifted
her eyes to mine, and smiled, very
sweetly.
Il am slad-glad," she whispered.
"do not be sorry, Quintin. But do just
this one thing for me, lad-but only
this one thing. Do not tell them. Let
US pretend. Would it be wrong, think
you, to pretend a little that you love
ne? You are a minister. and should
know. But, if you could-why, it
be for long Quintin."
She spoke coaXingly, and withal most
tenderly.
Jean, do love youn' cried.
And for the first time I meant it.