The times., 1897-12-05
:THE STANDARD BEARER.
By S. R. CROCKETT.
(Continued from Iast sunday.) }
XXI.


which like an army Of trainbands heset
the gray tower.
Suddenly something gay glanced through
the wayeung sunsprays and the green
scatter Or Ine shadows. A white summer
gown, d dainty hat, white pNmed, but
grneAOn TIE Dnght leather bowed head,
with tears In Une eyes-and loi Mary
Gordon standing alone ana All sorrow Dy
tie NaterpOois OF the Deueh.
1 had never learned TO do such things,
aud even now / cannot tel wnat il as
Lnat came over me. For without a mo-
meHU's hesitation, L kneeled on one knee,
ana taxing neT hand 1 kissed IL Nith
infinite love and respect.
she turned quickly upon me, dashing
the tears lnUIil ner lace with her hauu.
''QuinLn!n she cTied-I think before she
thought.
.-maryr" l said, for the first time in
my HE 10 nlv lady's face
Amy ale you here" she asked, anx-
IO1sly. 'Iou have heard what they say
OF nay fsther?''
II na.r neard and come TO Know?
1 said quietly.
sne cIaspeu her hands in front Of her
breast, ana then let them fail loosely down
IN sort of slack despair.
1 wIlI tell you, she said. 1T is partly
true. But the worst is not true
She was silent for awhile, as If she
were mastering herself TO speak.
Then sne burst out suddenly: But what
right have you or any other person to de-
nldnd suchtnings OF me? Is hot my father
Al. -sluun. k;4ristDlny ana np
has name or fame like him In ali Scot
lsnu? 1ne that accuse him ale but jealous
OF hinl-even you would be glad, like the
Others, 10 see him hunlilIa ted-brought
low
lou GO me wrong" said /, quietly:
yOu Know IL. Mary, / came because
have no friends on earth like you. And
tue Gulng troubled me-
4 knOw-I know she said. Il think
It hath well-High driven me mad, as IL
hath my poor father
She put ner hand 10 her forehead and
pressed a., AZ II it mad been fun OF great,
SnroDbing pain.
,OLld have held IL Tor her.
Then we moved side by side a little
along the path, both being silent. My
thoughts were with hers. i aW her
pain. / feit her pnde, her reluctance to
speak.
Presently we came to a retired place
where there was an alcOYci cut out Of
Gift, -entTaut, filled with all GOODNESS
and the stir of leaves.
Hither, as II moved by one instinct, we
repaired. Mary sat her down upon the
stone seat l stood before her.
There was a long waiting without
word 81 oxen, 80 tnaJ ma sple came and
tucked his tan on branch near by with
cut seeing us. Then cooking his eye down
ward, ne fled with loud screams OF anger
E1d prOtestation.
i WIN tell you ALL" she said, suddenly.
But ala the same il seemed as il she could
not find il in her heart TO begin.
You know my fatner-rOot and branch
you know him. Or else / could not tell you.
He is a man. he has great repute, So
iuu a record or bravery tnat none dares
point the finger. Through ali Scotland and
the low countries 1t is sufficient for my
father 10 sa y: l am Alexander Gordon, OF
EarIstOun.'
But as 1 need OF TO tell you, very
strong man is a very weak man. And
80 they trapped him, William Boyd being
the traitor. For my father had known
him in Holland and aided him with money
and providing when he studied as one
of the lads OF the Hill-Folk at the Uniyer-
sity OF GToningen.
This a man like William Boyd could
not forgiYe-nelther repay. But he hated
and bOde his Time. For, though / am but
young, ! see that nothing breeds hate
and malice more readily than helping
hand extended to a bad man.
$50 hating my father IN secret, he met
him al the Ulachan OF st. John as he came
home from the market at hirkcudbrght
wnere he had been dining with kenmure
and my Lord Maxwell. You know how
IL is with my father when he comes home
from market. He is kind, he is generous
Tne World is not large enough TO hold his
heart. Wine may be in, but wit Is not
out.
80 Boyd and two or three of his
creatures met him in the highway. My
Father had ortentimes thwarted and OBJ
posed Boyd. But now his stomach was
warm and generous within him. So he
cried 70 them, "A fair good cen 70 sc,
gentlemen
~ nereat they glanced at one anpther,
hearing the tnick sUammer IN my ratner's
voice.
And good cen 70 You, Earlstoun'
they answered, taking off their hats to
him.
The courtesy touched my father 1t
seemed that they wished to be friends,
and nothing touches big, careless gen
tlemau like Alexander Jurdun more than
the tnOugnt tnat others desire 20 make up
quarrel and he Will not.
so with that he cried, Let US bury
bygOnes and be friends.
- Agreed, answered Boyd, waving his
hand, Joyfulig. let us go TO the change
house and toast the recOnciia ton in a
toss OF brandy This he said, knowing
that my father was on bis way from mar
ket'
For this, said l, not thinking Of my
place and dignity, will ] reckon with
William Boyd
Mary Goroon went on without noticing
10y interruption.
so, though my father told them that he
could not go, that his wife waited for
him by tue croft entrance, and that his
daughter was TO meet him, yet upon their
cTying out that he must not be heRpecEed
IN the matter Of the drowning OF an an
Gent enmity, my father consented to go
with them.
Mary Gordon looked before her a long
time without speaking. They knew,n
she said, THAT he was TO preside that
night at a meeting OF the eldership and
commissioners OF the Hill Folk So they
brought hiIn as they had made him TO the
meeting"
There was long silence.
And this is alp" l asked. For the ac-
cusatlOn had been far greater than this.
As live and must die, that is all. The
other things which they testify that he did
that night are but the blackneSs and foul
ness of their own hearts,"
i viii 60 speak with him." / said.
Mary Gordon had been seated upon a wall |
which Jutted out over the water. She
leaped 20 her feet IN an instant, and caught
me by the wrist, looking with an eager
and intent LOOK into nay eyes.
You must not-you shall notir she cried.
MY father Is not to be spoken 70. He is |
not himself. lie has sworn that he Will
answer no man, speak to no man, have
dealings with no man TIL tie shame be
stadnched, and his fnnocencY made m an. |
pearl" ~
But ] viii iiring him 10 himself. /" said.
i WIN reason with him, and that most
tenderly."
Nay" she said, taking The eagerly hy
the breast of my coat, Il tell YOU he viii |
not listen to a word"
Is is my duty l answered.
Wherefore?n she cried. sharnlv. 0You
are not his minister