Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-05-13

CHAPTER I.
~ ETWEEN the fertile shores OF
| Ayrshire and the rugged PENN.
| - 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 o.
sian. 1.-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 anf whose
religion il 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 undetiled, took the
deepest root. for what Knox planted
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 a heavenly inheritance brave, hardy
fishermen and farmers. walking erect
In the ever conscious dignity Of being
SONS of God.
Such man was Robert Brodick.
farmer and fisher. whose cottage was
In a cleft Of the hills between Catacol
and Inachar. Five hundred years this
cottage had stood In its naked granite
strength. II 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 ffty-fve years
old. with the massive stature Of his
forbears; simple. dignited manner
and 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
ly to herself as she moved about the
spotless interior putting things to rights
after the evening meal. Now. Helen
Brodick was beautiful woman. tall
and shapely. with finely formed face:
eyes gray. tender and eloquent; bril-.
liant complexion. wavy masses Of fair
hair rolled into a loose coil aud pos
,sessing in remarkable degree the fine
Roman calm of definite ancestry.
Aud she lived the very life Of the
sea- Her blood had tides in II aud was
subject to ebb and flow. Away from
the sen she would have pined like
stormy petrol in cage. Yet 1t was
just this possibility which occupied her
fathers thoughts rs he sat gazing ut
the outxtretched waters. His staff was
between his knees and his hands were
folded on il. and as he came suddenly to
some decision he lifted it slightly and
then let 1t fall with all the emphasis Of
q stamping foot
Helen" he called In tone OF au
thorlty.
II am near done wi the tea things
father" she answered "l'll be with
you anon" And in 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.
fatherT' she asked.
81 am. 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 ] live In
the city and away from the sight and
the sound Of the sea? 1t Is not think
able. father"
THE minister Is well to do 1t Is not
q 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 great
thing to belong to the kirk and the
ministry"
II am thinking 1t Is Just as great to
belong 10 the boats and the sea The
first kirk was boat and the first min
listers came out the boats ! am mind
ed to marry fisher lad. They suit
me finer
"The siller. though-the minister 10
rich and like to be richer"
"Siller is well enough. father. but
there IL 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 It To marry the
minister. and me not loving him. would
be a sworn lie to God and man. You
would not bid me 30 forswear my own
loul."
II would cut out my tongue first"
IL know that"
AYE. but fisher lads di1er-some
good and some bad. will tell you
plainly. Helen. that Roy Anderson Ii
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
HOnn ADN