Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-10-13
CHAPTER XXlII.

alone with old Simon StrOther.
CHAPTER XXlII.
AS soon as Patsy has disappeared. De
liza attempts to ingratiate herself with her
surly companion.
Shall | read to you, Mr.. Strother?'
'What'll We be arter readin'?' he asks.
Il will read anything you please, Mr..
Strother. Do you take any interest in the
news? l have to-day's newspapers with
me-"
Ma, ma I care nobbut the news
Would you like to hear Il chapter out
of the Bible:"
Ma. ma! I care nobbut the Bulk
What do you care for then?'
II care nobbut ae thing. Ye'd best gang
your way"
But | have promised not to leave you
alone. 50 | must stay here till Patsy re-
turns
Gay! Dinna fash me then.'
And the old wretch places his elbows on
his knees and his head upon his hands,
and closes his eyes in intimation that he
considers the interview, so far as CONVEX
sation is concerned, to be concluded.
By and by Della recalls Kennett's as
scrtion that the old creature frets soreiy
after his native land, and makes a second
effort to interest him.
You have been in Scotland. Strother?'
"Aiblins I have-conscederln it's my
ain country
do you like it better than England?'
"Mabbe | do"
''Would you like to go back again.
CAY. but there's name left at hame as
! ken me noo."
"Ah. that makes Il great difference,
does it not? But you have good friends
| here to love you and look after you, and
beautiful place to live in. Do you ever
go to church, Strother? or to the kirk,
as you call it in Scotland?'
| AS she puts this simple question, a
| transformation seems to pass over the old
| man. He has been ordinarily intelligent
hitherto, but now he suddenly collapses
and becomes incoherent. His little blear-
ed eyes roll wildly; his hand is clinched
and the saliva bubbles from his mouth
and drops upon his grizzled beard.
The kirk-the kirk!' he utters. excit-
| edly, 'whall harm the kirk? Muster
Gray mamma do it, and the storm
mamma do it, for the water will come
doom and pit it DOT. And the poor nun,
whall dream the puir auld mon wha's
| been twenty year ABBOTT the place and
been main car full, and aye dune his duty.
| could max meestake at the lairst. Ye
| saw Muster Graw do it. didna we noo?'
| he eXclaims, making a dash at Della. who
| is backing toward the door, with serious
! thoughts of beating Il retreat downstairs.
"Ye maun say We saw the earle do it, or
I'll max We greet for the day we ever
met"
''Of course | saw him do it-evcrybody
saw him do it." she replies boldly, for she
can gather his meaning without compr-
| hendng his words; "but don't excite your
self in that way, Mr.. Strother, or you may
make yourself ILL.,
I'll, iHr he calculates. slowly. as he
wipes the sweat off his forehead with a
IA aged cotton handkerchief. 'Hae l been
weel sim the day? But twas an awfu'
! starm surely. Emo to burn the grondest
| edifeece that mon ever raised. And puir
| Simon was only the clark, and couldna
be expected to ken the reason of the fire
I Twas an awful sight to see it burn with
| the flames leekin' oop the rafterS and the
roof. and cracklin' through the beeldin'''
''Of what are You speaking| says De-
| LA. curiously. Have you ever been in a
! fire. Mr. Strother?'
The old man eyes her suspiciously. and
becomes silent.
DO tell me all about it," she coaxes
| Il love to hear story, and you tell it so
| WE'LL"
+! "Ay, But We want to drair the secret
| frae me. and We wullna do it, ma. ma.
| Simon's pur aud mon. but he can keep
| ~. Ins, - tl,,,,,,
| Indeed, | don't wish to know your
| secret, Mr.. Strother. l only want to hear
about the FIRE. Was it in Scotland:"
Ma. ma. 'twasna in my ain country
but twas an awful fire. But Muster Gray
! did it. and We saw him do it. and We Gamma
/ so back frae your spoken word
! "Of course not. | do not wish to do So
| ''Weel then, We maun be content. If We
! saw the earle DO it. We ken a ABBOTT the
| FIRE, and need name to tell it We"
| She laughs quietly at the trap the cum
ming old creature has set for her. and re-
| turns to the contempla ton of her book.
| little thinking of the import of Mr.,
| Strother's secret is to her.
/ Presently he fidgets about on the top
| of his bundle, and she asks him if he is
comfortable
Why don't you sit in a chair instead
| of on that great packet. Mr.. Strother
I'm sure it must be very hard seat
1t does weel emo for me-
But it would pack away so nicely un-
/ der the bed and your room would look all
the tidier without it,
"Ay, but | consides ~ s1~k xAar' it
is"