Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-11-30
ALASTAIR'S CROSS.

- 'AOiii lllC q
he inc silent group of cragsmen and fish
x ermen that stood waiting hourly rount
I'd the fast shut door of Ian MacAlastair,,
st cottage, perched, like gull's nest, OF
5" tho ridge of the stce, and shinino
IN beach at konaldshay. "NTake haste
ID man, make haste, and come along with
l. yourself It's tired waiting here wo
J. are.
d "Aye, aye, it's ready and coming !
= am, Macdonald, but hasty work is ave
II i'll work, and was saying a bit PRAYER
IN an ORA minute here; that was ALL"
: The door swong open now, and the
c speaker came out into the half light
c Tat a sullen moon gave as she slipped
4 fitiully from cloud to cloud in the windy
4 SKY. a handsome man, this fair Ian,
with eyes as blue as cornfowers, and a
yellow beard that the wind was tossing
all ways at once, but just now his tves
were darkened and his face set with
the same stern purpose that made dumb
the crowd of kinfolks and neighbors
around him. Come out. Alastairr'
he called, and tall slip of a lad came
Gu: ana stood waiting by bis side. His
father had given him strain of Dan
lSh blood as well as Celtic, and his
mother had been kindly Irish of the
liish. But Alastair MacAlastair favor
ed neither fair Ian or dark Aileer, for |
hlr eyes were of the seas shifting color, |
and his soft hair under his fsherman's |
cap was dusky red. His eyebrows
were OF the darkest, and against the
sunburn Of cheek and chin bis lips
showed curiously colorless, 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 al |
most to hide him.
81 am here" he said, speaking in 1
Gaelic, as he stepped to his fathers L
side, "and the time is here, Ian Mae II
A'aStair says. And What do You want n
If me, nois hbors?" "
"Go down to the beach, Alastair" :,
as father said CURLY, and the boy 7
'beyed silently. When their feet were hi
nkle deep in water, Ian MacAlaslar NJ
po'o again. odd you pray before &c
'ou slept tonight, Alastair? Yes' that's III
5ood' Strip now" His son lifted r,
eyes to Ians gloomy face, wi
nut tboyed silently, presently some one fa,
verse of and old spell song ne
nat changed the wonder in AIastairs no
yes to comprehension. vi
aked hands and baked feet are all that the w
sea has need of; :"
aked' on, the soul must go that the ninth !"t
wave has greed of! sol
aked heart for the stars to sift naked limbs
for the tide to drift -.
1t from the shore, to come no more TO the 80,
hearts that the spirits has heed of. ''N
When the murmur died, Alastair Tor
lsed his head and looked round on AL
c darkened faces with a Pickering me
llIe on his pale mouth. "Is it to De.
own Myself you've brought me here SOL
VIII you do it. Ian MacAlastaIr ? III Sui
no finger to stop you, for long have nan
been knowing l was the needless oac
nth and useless hand among YOU, no
my red head bringing bad luck to love
lr nets all the summer. Only I'd Ala
e it kindly if you would do it quick A
it's bitter cold it lsial
Waiting here" to b
You shall not be waiting long,
stair" Ian said heavily, "and neither Wv
you drown yourself nor we you.
will be giving youa chance, though -a--
in ROnaldshay."
Ronaldshay know" Alastair said
city, "and it's glad 1 would be if
would kill me here with your own
d, father-No"-His hand slipped
his fathers shoulder. "Then have
r will and your way, Ian MacAlas-
I'll not gainsay you"
There's the moon" Ian said at last,
make ready" He stopped and
'Sed somo dark object at his feet a .
higher up the beach, so that it's W
end only lay in the sea. Alas m
glanced Mt it and saw that it was n m
trunk. wood covered and barnacle su
n with washing about in the heavy ~. ~
Upon it spar was dashed cross. IN
ar looked at it moment longer. tn
in obedience to a gesture from 1 nm
ther' laid hms elf down upon it to,
his arms outstretched. Then on
ODald md onothor ,,oo,, I vol