The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-17

where 1 stood trembling at my grand
fathers elbow, clutching his coat
sleeve. S4t
And so this puker is my son-the
bantam that hath disinherited his own
father. l will have no more folly. /
will take him and he shall learn to
chop wood and seour pots for them
that really love me. He hath face
like a dishclout, and / doubt not the
spirit of a sheep maggot. L will train
him better Faith, we will see if the
law of the land will deny a son TO his
own father"
What would now have happened
know not, for at his sons threat Sir
James sat STILL and. as it were, bereft
of speech. Eut Jfmphray Spurway,
who up TO this time had been listening
with a smile on his, lips, suddenly
whipped a pair of pistols. out of his
pockets and laid them Bonded on the
table before him. go
Enough and to spare of i'll talk he
said, "out of this house with you on
the instant, Philip Stansfield, you de-
bauched man and blasphemer of your
father"
z The young man was bold enough,
but the pistols daunted him sorely, and
with shrill cry of fear his companion
clasped his arm to draw him away.
''As for you, Janet Mark" Spur
way continued, speaking to the woman,
you shall be whipped from here to
Moreham-aye, if have to lay on the
laslles myself,''
from Philip Stansield and a snarling
like that of trapped wild beast from
his companion, the pair went forth
into the night, vowing vengeance upon
US all.
The three gentlemen sat a long time
silent without touching the wine which
remained, nor so much as emptying
their glasses. Then Umphray Spur
way rose.
Let US take the boy home to his
mother" he said.
And with that he handed one of the
pistols to Sir James, reserving the other
for himself. Tie minister placed HIM
self next to my grandfather on the in
ner side, and commended his life and
work TO God in moving words. I
thought nc might have spared prayer
for my grandfather and me, but he did
not.
In this order we were just about to
go up the steps of Brydson's change
house, and adventure forth into the
night, when of q sudden before us there
appeared the strangest little figure.
A lassie BARN stood at the door bar
ring the way-a girl of years or
thereby. Her head was a tangle of
light brown curls, which the fire light
Melted with gold. Her eyes danced
light. Her mouth smiled red. She
herself seemed to-snile and dance as
if she could hardly keep her feet still.
l thought she Looked kindly and pretty
and little more than a babe, but at
sight of her the women folk of the
house came running Indignantly for
ward to thrust her forth
Ny mither-where have We put my
mither?" cried the child.
DOT o this, deii'st bratr' they an
swered as with one voice. and would
have driven her forth into the night
with their hands. but that she seemed
TO fit before them up the steps and TO
disappear in the darkness. After a mo-
ment'S hesitation Umphray Spurway
followed, and we all found ourselves in
the crisp silence of the winters night.
looked all about me for tlN little fig
ure in the dress of red soldiers blan-
ket but / saw her not 1t was cold.
and a stray pellet of hail or two spat
in our faces. for the frost was too keen
to let the snow come down with any
freedom, though the sough of the wind
from the north told us that it was not
far away.
For several hundred yards beyond the
circle of the yellow lights of the change
mouse WINDOWS the street OF the village
of New Milns is bounded by the kirk
yard wall. AS We passed along think
we all looked up apprehensivelys to it.
And /. for one, felt certain all that
while that Philip Stansfield's gun bar,
rel would be peering down upon US
from its long. irregular ridge.
But what we made out was quite diff
ferent. Again we saw the little girl
she stood erect upon it, just by the
Intel of the gate post. her blanket
swarthed figure blotting out slim belt
of stars. Again we heard her voice
speaking to us as she had done on the
steps OF the inn.
MY mither. I'll men. what have We
done with my mifher?''
Go home, little one cried Sir
james; go home where you belong.
IFS no seesnly hour for a BARN to be \
sitting on the wall of the kirkyaird.''
II want my mitherI / will not go
home without my mitherr'
The answer came down to us with
a strange Tilt, as though the speaker
were speaking and dancing, too. Then
after a pause: