Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17

wi the minister to a meetin'. l conde-
scended not on particulars either O. time or
place, necessity not being laid upon me-"
Sir James was visibly relieved.
II will not forget this, Robin" he said,
making his wonted grimace OF pain as the
servitor eased his coat over his rheumatic
shoulders.
/ There is a fire in your bedroom, never
theless," said Robin; her leddyship bade
me say that she wished not to be dsturbt."
At this Sir James clapped his hands sud
denly together
Come, ben, Umphray; come your ways
benz" he said, heartily. Robin, put a fire
in the parlor-not her ladyshIp's parlor, but
/ the other"
/ There is a guild fire in the east room,
sir" answered the old man gravely, as If
saying his prayers; II lichtit it as soon as
her :eddyship gaed up to her bed. Also |
! took ben the guardevne and"
Robin" said my grandfather with equal
| gravity, your wages are raised a pound in
the half year"
Il thank ye kindly, sir" said the man
noddng with simple gravity.
"Tak that bairn with ye. Robbin," added
| Sir James, his eye suddenly falling on me; ;
"or, stay, let him have some supper in the
parlor first, and then lay him in the blue
room that is next to mine"
/ At these words, glad to be rid of my
! grandfather for little, / went gladly with
Robin to his pantry. 1t had the word Still
room" printed legibly on the door and smelt
of cheese Here Robin would not let me blde
| long, saying that IL was cold and unfred; but
| putting a tumbler of milk and a liberal
wedge of pastry upon a tray, he took my
/ na,, InJ tN,,I t,,to tI,,I
which, like most of the rooms in the old
house of New Milns, had old arras about the
| walls. The curtains were drawn close. The
fire Robin Green had lighted was sparkling
and spelking over the great iron dogs. Bill
lets of birch We're piled up beside it, and Sir
James sat tossing first one and then another
upon the heap absent -mndedly, talking all
the While to the English cloth merchant
! AS soon as Robin saw this he set down the
tray on the table u and going over to his
| master, he took the billet Of wood out OF his
hand and led him back to the table. Sir
James looked at the birch faggot, then at the
| hand on his arm. The old servitor was Arm
and respectful. So without intermitting his
discourse for moment, my grandfather
permitted himself to be led back to the table
and installed opposite the great oaken
guardevne, which, with its silver capped
square bottles and shining ladies and rum
mers, looked most comfortable and appetiz-
ing.
Then Robin Green went back to the
hearth, and, STOPPING over the fire, he care
fully removed the entire armfuH OF faggots
which Sir James had tossed on. blowing out
each if it had caught, and laying it at the
side SO that presently the whole room was
full of the acrid bite OF wood smoke, and the
tears began TO run down my cheeks into the
milk | was drinking
But Sir James continued his story without
stopping TO notice Robin Green, and as he
talked the tears ran down his cheeks also,
but whether from the pity of the tale he was
telling or because OF the wood-reek ] know
not.
My grandfather had compounded a steam
ing glassful for his guest and then for him
saf, but so absorbed was he in his narra-
tive that he quite forgot at the end OF the
operation to add the spirit to Umphray Spur
ways glassan omission which the Eng
lishman Immediately repaired without com
ment, reaching his hand for the decanter
and pouring in the rich yellow liquid with
liberal hand all the time looking Sir James
In the eye and noddng at the proper places
in the story, as II that were his sole concern
My grandfather after having hidden me
haste and dispatch my supper, because IL
was late and my mother would wish me in