The herald., 1898-11-13

IT think Will Anderson did the deed
with his ain hands,"
You do not know what you are say
ing, Roy"
II know, fine; Will Anderson did 1t
himself. He thought I would get the
blame of it, and so lose your respect
and liking"
You are clean mistaken! VIII did
not do it. l would as soon blame my
self. An act like that Is clean below
and beyond him. The very thought Of
blackening his heart and hands in yon
way could never enter into Wills
mind. Why, you fright me, Roy!-you
fright me! If could believe you-tut
-tut-the thing is impossible!"
What for are you setting youser in
such blaze O. passion? Let the black
mark pass. We have sweeter things
to talk about. I am asking you to be
my wife, and I want your Yes this
night 1 will not listen to No If
am right in thinking you love me.
Helen. say Yes 1 am that anxious,
am fairly trembling with the fear that
you did not mean aught by the smiles
you have blessed me with, and the kiss
you let me take this very night. Helen.
my dear lassie, say Yes If you don't
I shall go to the mischief"
whist, Roy! You do not surely
think 1 can be frighted into marrying
you. I am not that kind Of woman.
And if 1 thought you were a man like
to go to the mischief, for aught that a
woman might do to you, I would say
hundred-fold NO this minute.
But"
but you will trust me? You will
love me? Oh, my bonnie Helen, give
me the one word that will make me
prouder than king or kaiser. Will you
be my wife, Helen?"
And she answered YES" Then she
suffered him to taste the sweetness Of
her surrender. She allowed herself to
confess that she loved him dearly, that
she had long loved him. and would love
him to the end of life. And the tide
came murmuring up. and the purple
sunset frightened the seaward
stretches as they told in the eerie lone
illness of the rocks their tale of love,
and believed that it was something
quite new and special to their own ex-
perience.
Waiting for their return. the elder
knew what he would have to hear; and
he tried to prepare himself for it, If
Helen was resolved to marry this man
he must at least bear his disappoint-
ment without whimpering. and with
such silent dignity as became an elder
of the kirk. But it was a bitter trial.
For he found out that hour how great
was his dislike for Roy Anderson. and
how much he feared his influence over
Helen. Also, he felt a little hard to-
ward his daughter. She knew that Of
all the lads who went into the boats
this lad was the most Objectionable to
him. She knew that he mistrusted his
moral nature, and that the general
feeling in the village was not favorable
to him; though it was hard to say on
what grounds this prejudice existed.
For Roy was prompt observer of all
that the little community held in re-
spect-a constant sitter in the kirk,
and ready helper when there was any
stress of extra labor. But for all this,
his cousin, Will Anderson, who made
no particular efforts to please, who was
not a good singer nor a good story
teller, who was shy of women, and
whose sole claim to favor was a good
simple heart, was a far more popular
man.
If it had been Will Anderson! the
father told himself, he would not so
much have regretted the minister. He
could at least have respected VIII. and
would not have been ashamed of him,
among the great and honorable COM
pany of his forefathers. But Roy.
"Ah weel!" he said, as he saw the
young people coming home together,
there is room for hope yet. Promis- |
ing is not marrying" He rose as they
came near to him, and when Roy, with |
the pride of a newly-engaged man. re-
ferred to Helen as his future bride"
the elder grimly smiled. and answered: |
"Weel. weel, that will do for a pass
ing remark
Il hope you have no objections,
elder" said the lover, with a slight |
tone of offense at his want of apprecia-
ton.
mo, no! The circumstance is not |
likely to be far out O. the way was
the doubtful rejoinder
Il can assure you that love Helen
She is my first love, and 1 would die |
for her"
Nonsense, man! Only fools die for
love. Wise men and women very often |
live to thank God that they did not
get the first foolish desire O. their
hearts. We will make the exercise
now; it has been waiting an hour on
your self-seeking."
When the worship was over Roy. |
who wished to conciliate, said few !