The herald., 1897-11-21

on this bitterest day we met again
without a greeting.
my Lady Mary" I said at last, II
have gone through much since I went
from your house of Earlstoun. have
yet much to win through. We parted
in anger. but let US meet in peace. I
am q man outcast and friendless. save
for these foolish few in this parish who.
to their cost, have made my quarrel
theirs"
She looked kindly down upon me and
paused q little before she spoke.
"Quintin." she said. there is no
anger in my heart. There is only a
great woe. have come from the place
Of Balmaghie, where my cousin Kate
of Lochinvar waits her good fathers
passing" l.
And ride you home to the Earls-
toun?" asked.
Aye" she said. a little wistfully.
And the saying cheered me. For this
river way was not the girls straight
road homeward, and 1t came to me that
Mary Gordon had wished to meet and
comfort me in my sorrow.
MY father is abroad we know not
well where" she said. "or he would
gladly support you in the way that you
have chosen. Perhaps your way is not
my way. but 1t must be a good way. Of
it's kind, the way Of mans con-
science"
She reached down a hand to me,
which I took and pressed gratefully
enough.
It was then that we came in sight
Of the white house Of Drumglass sitting
above the water-meadows. At the first
- = rA@ TO-
from mine.
"Is 1t true" she said, that which
have been told. that you are to wed q
daughter of that house?"
inclined my head without speech.
1 knew that the bitterest part of my
punishment was now upon me.
And did you come straight from the
Earlstoun to offer her also your posi-
ton. your good manse, your income
good as that OF any laird?"
We had stopped In a sheltered place
by the river where the hazel bushes
are many and the gorse grows long,
mingling with the broom and the firing
ing bog-myrtle.
my Lady Mary" said I. after a
pause. II offered her not anything.
had nothing to offer. But she let me
none other comfort!'
Then upon this day Of days why are
you not by her side, that her love may
ease the smart Of your bitter outcast-
ing?"
I'm yonder Kirk they work my
DOOM" said I, pointing over the water,
and ere another sun rises I shall be
no more minister of Balmaghie, but q
hnvnn1aoo tv,it
tree or reeking ing1e. l have nothing
to offer any woman. Why. should
claim this day any womans 1ove?"
-.-"Ah." she said, giving me the strang-
est look, 1T is-her hour. For II she
loves you she would flee to-day to share
your dry crust, your saplcss bite. See,"
she cried, stretching out her hand with
a large action, IF ! loved a man, T
would follow him in my sark to the
worlds end. If so be his eyes had
looked the deathless love into mine. his
tongue told me of love, love-only Of
love which feeds full on the scorns Of
Hfe and grows-lusty on misfortune!"
Lady Mary" l began.
But she interrupted me, dashinE her
hand furtively to her face. -
She pointed up toward the house Of
Drumglass. e-. t~
"Yonder lies your way. Go to the wo-
man you love-who loves you"
She lifted the reins from her horses
neck and would. have started forward,
but again I had gotten her hand. I
bent and kissed 1t without word. rever-
emily and sadly as one kisses the brow
OF the dead.
She moved away without anger and
with her eyes down-cast. But on the
summit Of little hill she half turned
about in her saddle and spoke q
strange word.
"Quintin." she said;~ Wherefore could
ye not have waited? Wherefore kenned
We no better than to take a woman at
her first word?"
And with that she set the spurs to
her beast and went UP the road to-
ward the ford at the gallop, till al
most feared to watch her.
' For long time stood sadly enough
after her. And grant that my
heart was like lead. My spirit had no
power in it. I cried out to God to let
me die. For 1t was scarce fair thing
that she should have spoken that word
when 1t was too late.
But this thirtieth Of December had
yet more in store for me. The die was
yet to be dinted deeper into my heart.