Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-17
Copyright, 1899, by s. r, Crockett)
CHAPTER I.
Meet Nv Father

pack henneleu, lne lying priest lnat SIAN
dered me- the fatted English calf that die
inherited me and the gap-toothed old hound
that begat me-and did me other disservices
beelde,"
These are the first words that ever re-
member hearing my father speak--clcarly
that is, for must have both seen and heard
him often enough in my Innocence before
that I grew word-conscious.
| can recall the scene yet as clear in my
minds eye-aye, clearer than the dinner l
have this day eaten or the pattern on the
lnced-sik wnistcoat which lies folded in the
drawer at my elbow
1t was in the wide kitchen or house place
OF James Brydson's change house or com
mon wayside inn which sits on the brae
overlooking the little Scottish town of New
Minis. low door it had, to enter which
your head had to bow and your feet stimuli
taneously TO descend till with a crick and
double twist of the spine presently you
found yourself within and after the sunshine
blinking and snuezlng in the blush smother
of the peat reek that billowed and belled
between you and the thatch. But Brydson's
inn was mostly frequently by weavers and
they had bowed backs anyway. So its pc
culiarity of access mattered little, though
now and then gentleman or hill farmer
broke his head on the crossbeam.
| remember | was sitting on a creepie
stool by the peat fire warming my feet at
the red glow and admiring the glinting Of
the little flames on my new silver shoe
buckler. j had gone thither from the lodge
Yeti. which was my mo hers dwelling, cling
ing to my grandfather's hand. AS ! went
my feet had hardly touched the ground, so
firm a hold he took of my wrist and such
long strides as he conquered the ground
withal. Sir James StansGeld of New Milns,
he was called, fine outstanding, well-re-
garded man any in that country. rever-
end of demeanor, gracious Of speech and
exceeding seemly to the eye with his broad
brimmed hat wide -skirted coat of fine blue
cloth white silk undercoat white stockings
and the silver buckled shoes that were cop
les in great of mine There was no finer
gentleman in all the eouthlands of Scotland
than my grandfather.
He seemed at once to ennoble and to IL
Illuminate that smoky little hostelry as he sat
in the high h-backed elbow chair and tapped
the bare boards lightly with his glove tips.
With him were Mr. John Bell, preacher of
the gospel in whose discourse my grand
father sc metimes delighted (at other times he
would laugh heartily at his simplicity, and
Umphray Spurway, the old manufacturers
great red Englshman from Yorkshire, at
whose laugh you seemed to see the rafters
dlrl as he threw back his head and blat-
tered applause with his palm on the white
secured deal of the inn table.
To these three gentlemen, sitting at their
wine in the change house kitchen of New
Milns that snowy December night in the
year of our Lords grace IL there entered
a fourth, and with him presently fifth at
sight of whom silence fell upon the men
and constraint upon the women folk. James
he Ian ~ h
occasions and l mind nothing OF him. But
Mistress Brydson, the landlady, sat in the
corner by fickering cruisie lamp deftly
and silently as spider spinning web
across windowpane and smiling good
humoredly all the while she glanced UP and
caught the eye of this one and that among
her guests proud, / ween, that Sir James
himself did not disdain to leave his great
furnished house to sit with his guests in her
kitchen. proud woman, as all might see,
was Lucky Brydson, smiling and Decking at
her ease as the white bone knitting pins
clicked and twinkled in the cross lights.
Shyly and at times slying whispering, nod
ding and confdlng secrecies to each other
as girls Will, her two daughters Blsple and
Margit, stood by the door of the inner room
where the entrance to the cellar was.
suppose they were bonny enough rosy
checked weuches. | was not yet OF an age to
note or care. But this know. that Elspie
was kind to me, and often gave me fine
farles OF cake with honey in the comb spread
thereon literally. I had no fault to hnd with
Espeth Brydson that night or any night,
but sat composedly munching my piece and
busting the crumblings from my hosen, lest,
when returned to New Milns. my grannie's
eye should note that | had been eating be-
tween meals; u henous sin in the decaogue
OF Lady Griselda Stansfield, which must in
deed have been written upon two tables of
stone.
The talk had been brisk and merry all
the evening and such Of 1t, as can re-
member now. goes to show how debonnair
and kind my grandfather was when he
escaped from his wfe's leading strings FOR
an hour unbinding his wits and ungrding
his walstband in place where mirth was
not counted ungodliness and laughter COM
pared with trlte asperty) to the cracking
OF thorns under pot.
"Ha. Elspe, lass.' he had cried. when he
came in crooking finger to the elder
maid by the inner door come hither TO
my knee. Nay, what. never bashtul? Why,
tits but yesterday that you would have run
to II and climbed for kisses. And today
YOU are as welcome-eyery whit"
Whereat right merrily Umphray spurway,
the Englishman laughed but not so the
minister Mr.. John Bell.
The girl came slowly forward lifting the
corner of her white apron with one hand
and picking blushfully at 1t with the other.
Sir James lifted one OF the tall candle
sticks and held 1t up, so that its light fell
on the perturbed face and shrinking figure
OF this tall slip OF lass,
"Ods fish," he cried this will never do,
! must find match for YOU my lady. You
grow overly handsome. We Will have heads
cracked, and all the young gamecocks Of
the neighborhood tearing at each others
combs for your sake | am u magistrate.
and / will not have the lads quarrelng in
my parish IL can help 1t, Mistress Bryd-
SON | must have this pretty Elspeth OF yours
shaokeled and handcuflered ere she begin to
breed Ill blood among our youth
The girl tossed her head and bridlel like
a wilful country beauty.
II desire not to be welded she said.
biting at strand OF her flowing dark hair,
rs II she had spite at IL; ut is poor
business, besides
"Dravo' well said, my lass said the
Englishman, shifting mis- knee; It's an
opinion l have always held myself"