The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-01-18

things mean if they did not indicate
treachery and foul play?
l am not ashamed to say that my
limbs trembled and the cold sweat stood
on my forehead, as, after a moments
hesitation, l set my teeth, and, stepping
quickly forward, knocked at the door.
1t was opened by a man with a very
evil and f~orbidding cOuntenance n but
one eye. He was no other thar Donald
Frazer, the detestable parasite Of An
drew Macintyre, against whom my good
friend Fielding had particularly warned
n4e. 1t might have been fancy, but it
seemed to me that his greenish gray
eye spanked with a kind of malignant
triumph at the sight of me. l think a
spider might SO regard the fly that ven
tured innocently among the meshes 90
his web.
Yet he readily made way for me to eli
ter, and went at my request to tell Kate
that | wished to speak with her. He
was gone some time, and [ was sure
hat he was informing Macintyre of my
presence, before carrying the message
to Kate. 1t would have surprised me
little had / been refused speech with
her, but presently | could hear her fresh,
girlish voice, high and sweet and clear,
singing The White Gockade:"
III sell my rock, I'll sell my reel,
My rippling-kame and spinning wheel,
To buy myself a tartan plaid,
y broadSWOrd, durk, and white cOckade.
q he's 4 ranting, rowing blade.
O he's a brisk and bonnie lad.
Betide what may, my heart is glad
To see my lad WI his white cockade.
She sang it ~defiantly as she came down
the wide staircase, a flush on her brave
young face, her eyes shining with a kind
of passionate enthusiasm, the sweetest
maid, It seemed to me, in all broad
England, and. to my mind at that mo-
ment the foolishest. She seemed like a
reckless child playing with fire, and l
could have snatched away the white
cOckade she wore at her breast and
crushed it beneath my heel.
Yet, as she came nearer, / was con-
WINGED that she was but playing a part.
for more than once [ noticed her glance
apprehensively about her, and | felt her
hand tremble as [ clasped it in mine.
Yet even at that moment, in a position,
as | believed, of imminent peril, my
heart leaped with JOY to perceive that
all trace of the coldness that had been
for some time between us had passed
away, and that she was unfeignedly re
joiced to see me.
This is a pleasure l did not antici-
pate" she said, in a formal voice, and
With a slight side glance at Fraser, who
stood again leering beside the door.
"NVill you come this way, if o please:'
She led the way upstairs, and | fol
lOwe4 her into a sitting room brilliantly
lighted with wax candles as though for
the reception of a distinguished guest.
| closed the door behind me and was
about to speak to her, when she laid her
finger on her lips, and, taking one of
the candles, looked beneath the table.
2nd behind the couch and even opened
the door of an empty cupboard and
glanced hurriedly inside. She was very
pale, and the candle trembled in her
hand as she returned it to its place.
Then she suddenly sank into a chair,
covered her face with her hands and
broke into stifled sohs.
why, Kate" said I, "this is not like
you. What is the matter?"
Indeed, II scarce know, Frank" she
faltered, raising her pale face and smil-
ing family through her tears. "It is
very silly and childish of me, but II
frightened. Andrew and his mother