Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-17
CHAPTER XXEI.
Provost Partan Visits His Limekfln.

Provost Gregory Partan had risen betimes
In the morning in spite of his late vigil. A
man does not carry the burden of a munich
pality for nothing, but at such a time when
so many rogues were about, it was not
Gregory Partan, the faithful magistrate.
who would spare himself.
Now l do not know whether you are
connoisseur in smells, as 1 have the for
tune or misfortune to be. But to me every
room l was ever in has its own bouquet,
just each flower and the bark of every
tree has its particular odOr.
That of Gregory Partan's little parlor,
where mostly he did his business, was a
very peculiar and composite one / have
never met it during all my travels through
the countries of the world save in the
houses of the well-tO-do towns folk of the
trading bOroughS in Scotland 1t Is scent
compound of wel-Dolished antique furni-
ture Of hartshoru other unguent used
upon shining mahogany and rosewood In
this il not a close smell of I'M
opened windows; for at most times the win
dow stood several inches open. propped
with book or the edge of a chance piece of
timber picked up upon the quay. A trace
of strong waters too, Of excellent quality,
might have been separated and distin-
guished by the delicate noStril, and much
more than a trace OF the leather binding
of Gregory Partan's great ledgers. These
stood on shelf above the proVoStS desk
alongside of the official library of his office.
the town dues book, the burgh records and
large thin octave pound on curious black
gold, which contained the rates charged by
the officers of his maiesty's excise for
every article, from imported heather be-
SONS to fore:gn-built ships carrying his
majestys flag.
Here, then. Provost Partan sat, and in
the simplicity Of his heart cast up the bills
Of lading of his Latest venture. For the
COrramantee, described as carrying wooden
goods, wines. and spirits to the colonies
belonged wholly TO Provost Partan of the
town of Abercairn. though Philip stanton
master, entered a owner
IT'S an awesome thing for provost
an an elder o the kirk To hae TO deal wi
blakes an blackguards. But what can a
God-fearin' man do? Siller he maun make
or he is nOcht thocht o. in this land O.
gospel privileges. An there's simply nae
siller in the country. Foreign ventures we
maun a try If We are not to eat yin anither
up like minrows in a pond But, oh, the
risk, the risk! Forbye the uncertainty
whether ye will ever see hilt hair O.
sic dells ickpennies againi
There's MAR nor twa thOosand paunds
worth o guild gunpoother in that ship-twa
hunder and sixty casks o. strong speerit
(Guid forbid that ony Christian man should
pour drap OF doom his hassD-forbye guns
and whingers an bully knives for the
heather that fear ma their Maker to cut
yin anither's threats wi'-Heeyen send them
speed, And a that gear at the mercy o.
a set o regardless looms as defle the
face o. clay! A that stiller dependin' on
Sickle WAITS ana runnagautes as Philip
Stansfield that slaughtered the daddy o.
him-or gat the blame o't-o' Saul Mark
that is as muckle waur than Philip STAINS
feld as he is waur than Gregory Partan,
But what a sallor-what supercargo, He
is rae guild at the fechtin', but he brings
hame siccan balance sheet as haesna en-
tered the port for thirty year. How does
he manage il? It's safest no speerin' Greg
Dry, lad TAX your gowden guineas
Jingle them on the table, see that they
arena clippit- But never ask whaur they
cam frae. Manor whatna fine ship gaed
don wi the flames mountin' higher than
her riggin'. oh. Gregory Partan. man gin
a the minister says is true, yen hae to
answer for this! But there's aye day for
repentance-and I've lang. lang to Ieeye
yet. Hoots-whats a the fret. Gregory,
you and me will jUist tax COR mornin' to
FRIGHT ava sad thochtsr'
So saying the provost rose and from a
recess in the wall concealed cleyerly he
hind the window shutter he took a square
bottle and poured it into a dram glass
which also stood in the recess.
Here's to the lads on the Corramantee-
a guild delivery, safe return and a heavy
bag when Saul renders his next accoontp'
1t was a lorg toast for so little glass
but to even Things the provost filled IL up
again and yet again-till indeed the right
rubic began to creep back to his cheek
and even tinse the lower portion of his
ma gisterial nose Gregory stood at the
window and tasted with lingering relish
of palate the excellence of his own private
store.
They'll be clear DOT twenty guild sea
miles by this. and nOcht on this side O.
Scotland fit TO catch themr'
He lifted the bill of lading and glanced
down at ii again. Private ventures o. the
captain and supercargo-I haze no concern
with these. But 1 had the gatherin' in O.
thae ORA looms That's where the prof,
comesp'
tween the ages of eleven years and ak.