The herald., 1898-11-13

been taught to define with imperious
| clearness the line between right and
wrong. When she was his wife and
had the lad always in her care, she
was sure he could be made to see
| things with her eyes. Alas! women in
love tell so many lies to themselves.
The dim doubt. however. grew sud-
denly, and in one fateful hour. to a
certainty, she could not deny or toler-
ate. 1t was a stormy night nearing
the new year. The elder had gone to
a kirk session. and Helen had given
to the CHEEKY home-place wonderful
air of cozy beauty. The fire danced
and blazed on the snow-white hearth.
on the deal furniture, scrubbed with
meal till it was like ivory; on the gay
ly patched cushions and crockery; on
the house plants in the window, and
the prints and ballads upon the walls.
Roy came in out of the storm, laugh
ing and shaking the frozen snow out
of his black curls. He threw Off his
plaid, took Helen in his embrace, and
then snuggled comfortably down
among the cushions of the big chair
she had placed near the fire for him.
A little table was spread with bread
and milk. and he eat heartily, and re-
lated to Helen as he did So the par
ticulars of a trip to Glasgow, from
which he had just returned. Then they
became more loving and confidential,
and some evil influence prompted Roy
to say:
"I must cen tell you strange thing
that I have found out about my cousin
WILL He is wanting to buy share
in North Sea trawler and wherever
he has got the siller for that outlay is
mair than good folk KEN
"It will be true siller If it be in Will
Anderson's purse" answered Helen.
But what way did you hear o. it,
Roy? Father never spoke O. the like.
and he mostly kens what Will is
planning"
"Weel, the lad thought to keep this
plan secret, for some reason-good or
ill-but as it happened, Lucky Hislop
gave me letter that she thought was
mine, and it wasn't mine--it was
| Wills. The dotted auld wife is losing
her sight, I'm thinking"
you surely didn't open it. Roy. You
would never do the like O. that?" said
Helen.
II wasn't noticing the directions
very clearly"
| "When did you get this letter."
| 90 it is vera near a week SINCE"
"Man, Roy!"
"Weel, what's the matter with your
"You never said a word before about
! it."
"I'm sorry said a word the now.
| What are you looking at me in that
way for? Your eyes are like two pis-
tolls"
II was wonderng-I was wondering
-" She ceased speaking, for Roy had
taken a letter from his pocket and was
offering it to her
"Read that" he said.
| 'Is it Wills letter."
"Ay, it is-read it, and see what the
sneak has been planning, and never
| saying a word to any one-friend or
kim"
She drew back with dislike and an
ger. II would not touch 1t. for a the
siller in Arran. Roy, you have no right F;
you have not the shadow OF rlgnt
with that letter. 1t Is just downright
theft to have it in your pouch. You
are, maybe, wronging your cousin
Will by keeping it from him. GO to
him at once and make what plea you
can, for the wrong you have done.
Oh, Roy! Roy! can't believe 1t! l
can't bear it!"
"Parfect nonsense! What are you
crying about? A poor wife you would
make for any man If he could tell you
naething but what everybody might
! ken. The letter came to me In the reg
ular way. I might say it was q kind