The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-07-11
CHAPTER I.

va ETWEEN the fertile shores of
Ayrshire and the rugged penin-
~ sular of Kintyre lies the beau
tiful isle of Arran-a land Of
indescribable grandeur and loveliness,
linked by many romantic tie to the
world and the church universal. Here
the mighty Fingal kindled his signal
fires when the feet of Africola darken-
ed the waters of the Clyde; here Os-
sian, ''the king of many songs" came
to wait for that dark and narrow
house whose mark is one gray stone;"
here settled the great, silent, fighting
Norsemen, who hated lies and whose
religion it was to be brave; here Rob-
ert Bruce lit the beacon that was the
dawn of Bannockburn; here the Stu
arts hunted the red deer, and Cromwell
hunted the adherents of the Stuarts.
1t was also in this rugged land that
religion, pure and undefled, took the
deepest root, for what Knox planted
there the covenanters watered and the
free kirk perfected. No peasantry in
the whole world are so proud of their
spiritual lineage and so learned in the
holy book that makes their title clear
to heavenly nheritance-brave, hardy
fishermen and farmers, walking erect
in the ever conscious dignity Of being
sons of God.
Such q man was Robert Brodick,
farmer and fisher, whose cottage was
in cleft of the hills between Catacol
and Inachar. Five hundred years this
cottage had stood in it's naked granite
strength. 1t had often been rethatched,
but it's original unmortared stones were
as perfect as when Gillian Brodick first
laid them on the few acres of land
given him by Robert Bruce for some
personal service. And through that 500
years Robert Brodick could trace his
ancestry, man by man, fighters for
truth and liberty and followers after
Righteousness. He was fifty-five years
old. with the massive stature of his
forbears; simple. dignifed manner
and a disposition serious, shrewd and
straightforward.
He was sitting in the door Of his cot
tage one summer evening watching the
boats drift slowly out to the fishing
ground and listening vaguely to his
daughter Helen. who was singing soft
~ to herself as she moved about the
spotiess interior putting things to rights
after the evening meal. Now, Helen
Brodick was a beautiful woman, tall
and shapely, with finely formed face;
eyes gray, tender and eloquent; bril-
liant complexion, wavy masses of fair
hair rolled into loose coil and pos.
sessing in a remarkable degree the fine
Roman calm of definite ancestry.
And she lived the very life of the
sea. Her blood had tides in it and was
subject to ebb and flow. Away from
the sea she would have pined like a
stormy petrol in a cage. Yet it was
just this possibility which occupied her
fathers thoughts as he sat gazing at
the outstretched waters. His staff was
between his knees and his hands were
folded on it. and as he came suddenly to
some decision he lifted it slightly and
then let it fall with all the emphasis of
stamping foot.
"Helenw he called in tone of au-
thority.
II am near done WI the tea things,
father" she answered. 'I'll be with
you anon" And in a minute or two
she stood beside him in all her homely
sweetness. the odor and breath of the
ocean around her.
Are you wanting me. in particular,
father?" she asked.
II am. l was meeting the minister
today, and he was talking about you.
He is loving you. Helen; loving you
parfectly and unspeakably."
well. then. ! am not caring for him
to speak. What would the like of me
do in manse? 1t is Glasgow pulpit
he is seeking. and how could l live in
the city and away from the sight and
the sound of the sea? 1t is not think
able. father"
''The minister is we'll to do. 1t is not
stipend that he is depending on. He
has dry siller in the Bank of Scotland,
and would be fain and proud to see
you marriet on him. 1t is a great
thing to belong to the kirk and the
ministry"
81 am thinking it is just as great to
belong to the boats and the sea. The
first kirk was boat, and the first min
listers came out the boats. am mind
ed to marry a fisher lad. They suit
me-f1neP'
'"rhe siller. though-the minister is
rich and like to be richer"
"Siller is well enough, father, but
there is something better than siller.
1t is to be leal and true to what is set
dearest and deepest in the single heart
ed by him who made 1t. To marry the
minister. and me not loving him. would
be sworn lie to God and man. You
would not bid me so forswear my own
soul"
III would cut out my tongue first"
81 know that"
AYE, but fisher lads differ-some
good and some bad. / will tell you
plainly. Helen. that Roy Anderson is
not an improving companion for any
good girl. | am saying nothing against
Willie Anderson. but Roy is not as he
should be. You be to take care of
yourself. Helen, with the like of him."
"Have you heard any special Ill of
Roy. father?"
II cannot say that l have, but l
have taken his measure. and ! think