Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-16

breaking in on the preachers sermonizing
~ tell you plainly that had l muckle
to ill my belly as a sroat day, l would
never trouble my father again"
Come this night only to the great
house, continued Mr.. Bell. "bde to supper
and the worship of the family altar. Then
will | beseech for you a new heart. L feel
that for this very purpose l have been sent
to New Minis from the wicked city of
Edinburgh.
The devil fly away with my father and
you both-to Edinburgh if he will! Think
YOU | would frequent his table to have him
forever grinning at me like a Sleeps head
on the tonGs? Ye dog in bandstrings'
Chere he broke out in sudden fury. What
is your concern in the matter! Know you
to whom ye Speak?'
Philip Stansfield suddenly left the wo-
mans side. He strobe across to where l
stood trembling at my grandfather's elbow.
clutchng his coat sleeve.
And so this puker is my Son-the BAN
tam that hath dSinherted his own father.
l will have no more folly. l will take him
and he shall learn to chop wood and scour
pots for them that really love me. He hath
a face like a dish c.out and, doubt not,
the spirit of a sheep maggot. 1 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 I know
not for at his sons threat Sir James sat
still and, as it were, bereft Of speech. But
Umphray Sparway. who up to this time had
been listening with a smile on his lips. sud
denly whipped a pair of pistols out of his
pockets and laid them Bonded on the table
before him.
Enough and to spare of ill-talk," he said.
"Out of this house with you on the instant,
Philip Stansfeld, you debauched man and
blasphemer of your father!"
The young man was bold enough, but the
pistols daunted him sorely, and with a shrill
cry of fear his companion clasped his arm
to draw him away.
tinued. speaking to the woman you shall
be whipped from here to Moreham-aye
If 1 have to lay on the lashes myself!'
At which, after a yolley of oaths from
Philip Stansfield and 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
norS much as emptying their glasses Then
Umphray Spurway rose.
Let us take the boy home to his
mother he said.
And with that he handed one of the MIS-
tolls to Sir James. reserving the other for
himself. The minister placed himself next
to my grandfather the inner side and
commended his life and work to God in
moving words L thought he might have
spared a 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
of a sudden before US there appeared the
strangest little figure
A lassie BARN stood at the door barring
the way-a girl of six years or thereby
Her head was tang,e of light brown curis.
which the freight netted with gold Her
eyes danced light. Her mouth smiled red.
She herself seemed to smile and dance as
If she could hardly keep her feet still. /
thought she looked kindly and pretty and
little more than babe but at sight of her
the women folk of the house came run
ming indignantly forward to thrust her
forth.
My mither-where have We put my
mther?' cried the child.
loot O. this. deil'st bratr they anspered
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 moments hesitation Umphray Spur
way followed, and we all found ourselves
in the crisp silence of the winters night
l looked all about me for the little figure
in the dress of red soldiers blanket. but
saw her not. 1t was cold and a stray pel-
let 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 il
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 Minis Is bounded by the kirkyard
wan. AS We passed along I think we all
looked up apprehensiyely to It. And I for
one felt certain all that while Philip Stans-