Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-11-18
ALASTAIR'S CROSS.

bonny night for us indeed-and for the
work that's afoot, Ian Ban" Thus
voice cried aloud from the midmost Of
the silent group of oragsmen and fisher
men that stood waiting dourly round
the fast shut door Of Ian MaoAlastair's
cottage, perohed, like gull's nest, on
the ridge of the steep and shining beach
at Ronaldshay. Make haste, man,
make haste, and come along with your
self. It's tired waiting here we are. -
AYE. aye, it's ready and coming l
am, Macdonald, but hasty work Is aye i'll
work, and l was saying bit prayer In
an ORA minute here; that was all.
The door swung open now, and the
speaker came out into the half light
that sullen moon gave as she slipped
fitfully from olOud to cloud In the
windy sky. A handsome man. this fair
Ian, with eyes az blue ~ cornhowers,
and yellow beard that the wind was
tossing all ways ut once, but just now
his eyes were darkened and his faos set
with the same stern purpose that made
dumb the crowd of kinsfolk and neigh
bors around him. Come out, Alas
tairP he called, and tall slip Of lad
came out and stood waiting by his side.
His father had given him q strain Of
Danish blood rs we'll as Celtic, and his
mother had been kindly Irish of the
Irish. But Alastair Mac Alastair favored
neither fair Ian nor dark Aileen, for
his eyes were Of tho sea g shifting color,
and the soft hair under his fisherman'n
cap was duHky rcd. His eyebrows
were Of tho darkest, and. against the
sunburn Of cheek and chin his lips
showed ouriously colorleas and In odd
contrast to the sturdy men and strap
ping lads around him was his extreme
slenderness Of build, in spite Of the
rough blue clothes which seemed almost
to hide him.
II am here" no said, speaking In
Gaelic. as he stepped to his fathers
side, land the time IL here Ian Mao
Alastair says. And what do you want
Of me. neighbors2"
GO down to the beach, Alastair, !"
his father said CURLY, and the boy
obeyed silently. When their feet were
ankle deep in water, Ian MacA lastair
spoke again. did you pray before you
slept tonight. Alastair? Yesl that's
good. Strip now" His son lifted won
dering eyes to Ian's gloomy faoe. but
obeyod silently, and presently some one
muttered verse Of an old spell song
that changed the wonder In Alastair's |
eyes to comprehension.
Naked hands and mixed feet arc all that the |
soa has need Of;
Naked, OH the soul must 10 that tho ninth |
wave has greed of |
Naked heart for the stars to sift. naked limbs |
for the tide 10 drift |
Out from tho shore. TO come more TO the |
henrths that the spirit has heed Of.
When the murmur died, Alastair |
raised his head and looked round ON the |
darkened faces with Il Pickering smile
ON his pale mouth. SIS IL to drown my
self you've brought me here or will you
do 1t, Ian MacAlastair2 I'll lift no fin
ger to stop you, for long have been
knowing was tho needless mouth and
the useless hand among you, and my
red head bringing bad luck TO your nets
all the summer. Only I'd take 1t kindly
II you would do 1t quickly, friends--be-
cause it's bitter GOLD 1t IL waiting here"
"You shall not be waiting long, Alas
tair," Ian said heavily, "and neither
will you drown yourself nor We you.
We will be giving you chance, though
not In Ronaldshay."
"Ronalshay know" Alastair said
quietly, land It's glad would be II
you would kill mo here with your own
hand, father Mo- His hand slipped
from his fathers shoulder, "Then have
your will and your way, Ian MacAlas-
tair, I'll not Rainsay you.
"There's the moon, " Ian said ut last.
"now make ready" He stopped and
dragged some dark object at his feet
little higher up tho beach. 10 that It's
lower end only lay Ia the sea. Alastair
glanced at II and saw that 1t was u tree
trunk, weed covered and barnaole grown
with washing about In heavy soas.
Upon 1t a spar was dashed crosswise.
Alastair looked at 1t a moment longer,
then, In obedience 10 gesture from his
father, laid himself down upon 1t with
his arms outstretohed. Then Macdonald
and another man stopped over him,
lAshing his feet together and then re-
curing his arms TO the crosspieoe just
above the elbows. Two stout ropes hold
MIN by tho shoulders and went ovsv. his
body. crossing on the breast, and these
were drawn 30 tightly that Alastsir.
after enduring with olinchod teeth fora
minute. was forced 10 cry out. LOOSEN
It," Ian MaoAlastair said hoarsely, and
the others obeyed.
II am safe now, Alastair said, smil-
Ing, a. they drew back from him for .
minute. Your knots are fast. Maodon-
aid, and 40 are-ahl" They had raised
the CROSS upright now, and tho sudden
strain upon his overwrought nerves had
forced another cry from Alastair, but
the next rough movement he bore In ii.
lenoe and 1t was with shut lips and