Evening star., 1902-03-15

able time. was old David Glendinning.
John advanced with his hand outstretch-
ed. and swift gladness Of welcome on his
face, which. however, was instantly DASH
ed when the old man, with one of those
tremendous gestures to which only common
folk can attain in moments OF great mental
distress. threw down the poor little pic
voluntarily with his hand outstretched,
thinking that sudden madness must have
overtaken Fairlie's father.
Where are my two daughters? Give
them up to me. charge you by God and
His Christi" cried David Glendinning. ad-
vancing upon John with a threatening air.
The young man stood aghast and speech
less.
.'Yeur daughters" he repeated after him
in the blankest astonishment. why.
where are they? Surely no Ill has come to
to either of themT
high above his head as II to strike John
to the ground but instantly changing his
intention, dropped 1t again and spoke In an
altered voice and in that Bible English
which the Scottish peasant uses so natural
ly in times of strong excitement.
"If you have hidden them away from
me I beseech you by heaven and your
hopes Of salvation to let me see them. Ye
naebody kens yet. and l will TAX them
hame again wi me.
John Glendonwyn's face had been grow
ing paler and paler during these words,
and ne stood thinking. The old man adj
vanced and caught his hand eagerly and
fretfully.
John he cried hoarsely. II aye thocht
mair o. We than ony o your kind, and never
that ye desired i'll to me and mine. Let
the BARNS come back to the old man, their
father And before God, name shall be the
wiser-nane shall cast word or look upon
them. A. shall be forgiven and forgotten!
Sir" said poor John, hanging his head.
las God sees me | know nothing of what
you say 1 wish / did. I have heard moth
ing either of Fairlie or Kate. TIL this
moment | was ignorant they had left home.
Nv thoughts and my prayers were with
them there-that is, with Fairlie-and-and
with Kate. too. I would have given my
life to serve either of them
AS he spoke the old mans face had been
putting on its grimmest gray wolf express
sion. - -
by the God you have invoked 1 will make
YOU confess. Look on that writing and
deny it if you dare
He dashed scrap of crump.ed paper In
to John GIendonwyns hand. There came
a curious prickling mist. dry and tense:
into the young mans eyebails as he tried
to read and for a moment he could not
gather the sense. Concerning the hand
writing. however, he was in no doubt 1t
was Rupert's. 1t read as follows:
1.-The carriage will be waiting at I o'clock.
Walk out along the Drumfern road till you
meet it. The coachman VIII nave blue
ribband-knot on his whip and the same
up your left hand. 1t will be best not to
wait for F.'s return from school After
that trust me to care for all.
'.Wet" cried David Glendinning in a
voice astonis lingly loud and strident. do
YOU own your handiwork? If not. | will
go to the judges of the land, as have al
ready been to your own father. and see II
they will right me-
"And what said my father" said John,
his cooiness coming back to him quite sud
denly.
..Say-what could he say. but that he had
begotten monster. breaker-up of homes
an evil beast that had brought him
naught but trouble and vexation all the
days of his life? Then he told me where l
should find you. and sent me on my way.
He said that he would not move so much
as one of his little fingers to shield you In
what you had done"
"My father said that" groaned John, sit
ting down; '1et me think. do not see my
Wayi [ do not understand.
LET me see my daughters. I tell you;
give me back my Fairlie, my Kate!" cried
the angry father, "or by the God whom
have served these sixty years I will slay
you with my hand. and He will hold me
both scathless and guiltless!''
John looked up quickly at David Glendin-
nings appeal.
See" he said. Il would have stricken
off that right hand had 1t written such
| words But they are none of mine. Look
at these and theser' He thrust a half
| finished college essay. half dozen note
DOCKS ana 1nnumefaDie scattered papers
which happened to be on the table across
to the old man. He opened desk in which
were all Fairlie's little simple notes. and
| the first three pages of letter which he
had begun to her.
"These are in my handwriting" he cried.
Compare them with that which you have
| shown me. l leave the verdict to your
SELF
| The old man dropped into chair, search
ed long and earnestly in his pockets for
the spectacies which he had already on his
nose when John came in. Then when the
| young man gently pointed them out he
the papers on the table. There was indeed
| no similarity. The essays and papers We're
written In small. neat. collegiate script.
The crumpled paper which David Glendin-
ming had brought. the other hand was
uniformed and clumsy in handwriting.
But in spite Of this the old man was but
half convinced.
But ye may have forged the hand q
| write he said, doubtfully. "Ye are a COL
| lege-bred man and may bes able for sic
| things. l hae heard o the like. But what
matters the paper? / tell We my son heard
them speak-speakin' aboot you the nicht
Which one?" said John quickly. His
head was buried between his palms and he
was thinking deeply.
1T. 1T was Vas, Kate Kat, that spak' your name
| malst, viii said but it was wee Fairlie
that graf" replied the old man, after
| pause.
John Glendonwyn put a neatly folded
bundle OF papers into the joiners chipped
| and roughened hand. His old Sunday hat
| lay on the table and his ludicrous blacks .
| runkled and crinkled, worlds too big for
| his shrunk shanks. hung about him like a
| winding sheet and tapped he moved
There" said John Glendonwyn 'is
every scrap of paper that has passed be-
tween F;airie and myself. / had one note
| from Kate the week Fairlie was laid up
with cold 1t was there with the others.
| She sent me a college book Fairlie had bor-
| roWed And here are my answers, every
| one from first to last"
He lifted copying book out of little
press of japanned iron. II loved her. sir,
with all my heart. though [ never told her
| more than you will find written here. And
would not have spoken till had the right
But In writing / gave her my best. And
| | have copied every line and syllable here
| They are clear for you to read. and as
for plotting mischief against my beloved or
her sister, think you who have watched
me from child, might have known me
| better"
Name kens the heart when the blood O.
youth rims red. said the old man. senten-
tiously. but deed thocht name i'll O. ye,
Johnny, lad. And yet-and yet"
What is t-speak out. Perhaps / can
| clear all!'' cried John
Little fear but I will speak" said the
old man. David Glendinnfng has not
travelled from the Boatcraft O. the Cover
| water to this place of noises and cryinEs
without rcSOivin' n Snp3k his mind. TO