The times., 1897-12-19
tona Macleod

Staying thirst, consuming hunger. or
these unhappy housemates, OF desolate
hearts aud unfrequented lips, my Aunt
Elspeth was one.
IL was on oull Sunday afternoon that
the dark hour came OF which have spoken.
The ratn fell among the hills. There was
none on the north side of Strathgas, where
Teenabrae stood solitary. The remembrance
is on me keen just now; how sat there. on
the bench In front of the house, side by side,
with Morag, in the hot, August damp, with
the gnats pnging overhead, and not a
sound else, save the loud raucous surge OF
Gorromait water, thirty yards away. In a
chair near uss sat my Aunt Elspeth. Beyond
her Oh a milking stool, with his chin in mis-
hands and his elbows on his knees, was her
husband. There was gloom upon us all.
The day before, as soon as Gorromalt had
returned from Castle Avale, high up on
Strathmor, We had seen the Ilack east
wind in his eyes. But he had said nothing.
We guessed that his visit to the Englis hman
at Castle Avale, who had bought the Three
Straths from Sir EVAN Campbell. of Drum
doom, had proved fruitiess, or at least un-
satisfactory. 1t was at the porfiige on
the Sabba tn morning that he told US.
'And-and-we must 60, Archibald?'
asked his wife, her lips white, and the
deep withered creascs ON her neck ashy
gray.
He did not answer. but the tumbler
cracked In his grip, and the splintercd glass
fell into his plate. The split milk trickled
off the table on to the end Of his plaid.
| and so to the floor. Luath, the collie.
slipped forward, with her tongue lollinS
greedly; but her eye caught the stare OF
| the silent man and with " nine and 4 sud
| den insweep of her tail, sh sinnk back.
Itmust have beenn nigh an hour Ia tor, that
he spoke:
mo, Elspeth,'' he said. "Tbere will he
| no gong away from here Tor you and me
| till we 20 feet foremost.
Before the afternoon we had lea rd all,
how he had gone TO see this English lord
who had 'uSurped' Druindoon: how he had
not gained an interview, and had seen no
other than Mr.. Laing, the East Lothian
factor. He had had to accept bitter hard
terms. Sir EVAN Campbell was in Madras
with his regiment, a ruined man, he would
| never be home again. and, if home, would
he a stranger in the Three Straths, where
he and his had lived and where his kin
| dred had been born and had died during
| six centuries back. There WAS no hope.
This Lord Greyshott wanted more rent,
| and he also wanted Strathgorm for a deer
run.
wewere sitting, brooding on thesethings-
in our ears the fierce words that Gorran = IL
| had said. with bitter curses upon the sell
! ing OF Tile ncleDt Ianu ana the Deira ydl OF
/ the paople.
! Morag was la one OF her strange moods.
l sa w her with her shining eyes, looking at
the birch that overhung the small. foam
ing linn beyond us, just as though she saw
the soul OF IL, and the soul with strange
speech ID 1t.
''Where is Muireall?' she said TO me, sud
denly, I'm low voice.
! ''MuirealI?'' 1 repeated. "Mureall?
am not for Knowing, MoEag. Why do you
ask? Do you want her."
She did not answer, but went on.
fTIave you seen him again."
Him: whom
Jasper Morgan, this English lords
mo"
| long Silence followed. Suddenly Aunt
| Eispeth started. Pointing to a figure com
| ing from the peat-moss at the hitier end OF
| Stratbmor, She asked who IL was, as she
could not see without her spectacles. Her
husband rose, staring eagerly. He gave
| a grunt or disappointment when he recog-
| nized Mr. Allen Stewart, the minister OF
! Strathnor parish.
AS the uu man drew near We watched
! him steadfastly. l have the Thought that
each one of knew lie was coming to tell
US evil news; though none guessed Why or
what, unless Mcrag, nayhap.
! When lie had shak en- hands and blessed
sat down on the bench beside Morag and
| me. l am thinking tie wanted not to see
| the eyes OF Gorromalt; not to see the White
face of Aunt Elsrcth.
i heard him whisper to my dear that he
wanted her to 90 into tile house for little.
But she would not. THE birdeen knew that
sorrow was upon them. He saw no" in
| her eyes, and forbure.
And what is the thing that is on your
| lips to tell, Mr.. Stewart said Gorro-
| malt, at last. half mockingly. half suilenly.
And how are you for knowing that
| l have anything to tell, Gorromalt?'
''Sure, man, if a kite can see the shadow
| of a mouse mile away,it can see black
| cloud on hill near by"
Its a black cloud l bring, Archibald
| Campbell: alas. even So. Ay, sure, IL is
| HACK cioud.itis. God melt the paino it!'
"speak, mani"
| There is no good in wading in heather
| Gorromalt, and you, Mrs. Campbell, and
| you, too, Mary Cameron, must just be brave.
| 1t is Gods will
Speak, man, and don't be winding the
| shroud all the time. Let us be hearing and
seeing the thing you have brought to tell
! u.s."
1t was at this moment that Aunt Elspeth
| half rose, and abruptly reseated herself
! raising the while a deprecatury feeble hand.
"Is it about Muireall?' she ask ed ,quiv er-
| lnSlS- - Hc Nciib dhd 10 Tue dt
| kilbrennan, at sunrise: and the water s in
! spate all down Strathgorm. Has she been
| drowned? is it death upon Muireall? Is it
| Muireall? ] S it Muireall?''
"She is not drowned, Mrs. Campbell y
! At that she sat back, the staring dread
| subsidinE from her eyes. But ut tile minis
ter'S words Gorromalt SLOWLY turned his
face and body so that hefront ed the speaker.
| Looking at Morag, | saw her face, white as
4 q Hara i'm, " nt SiI afl,,yx-
''It is not death, Mrs Campbell" the
| old man repeated, with strange, uneasy,
| furtiye look as he put his right hand to his
| stiff, white necktie, and flutteringly fin
| gered it,
| In the name % God, man, speak outr'
| "Ay, ay, Campbell: ay, ay, hut l amspeak-
! ing]I am for the telling-but-but see you,
| Gorromalt, be pitiful-be -"
Gorromait rose. l never realized how tall
I he was. There was height to him, like unto
| that OF a son of Anak.
We'll, we'll, well, 1t Is Just for telling you
| I'll be. SIT down, Gorromalt. sit down, Mr.
| Campbell, sit down, man, sit down! All,
/ sure. now, that is better! Well, well, God
| save us all from the sin that is in us; but
ah. mothering heart,itis saving you would
| be II could. but-but--"
But whatt' thundered Gorromait with
| voice that brought Maisie and Kirs,een
| out OF the byrc, where they were milking
| the kye.
| HE has the mercy. He only! And 1t is
| this, poor people; 1t is this: Muireall has
| come to sorrow."
what sorrow is the sorrow that is on
! herr"
1.-The SORROW OF woman"
A terrible oath leapt from Gorromalt's s
/ lips. His wife sat in stony silence, her
staring eyes filming like those of n stricken
| bird. Morag put her left hand to her heart.
Suddenly Archibald Campbell turned To