The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-04-18
By DAVID MACLURE

L
was but the interest O frien' o. the
ia1rds, and | hae great pride in the
name o Glenhaugh. and it wasna in
ony spirit o idle curiosity | followed
the laird. but yell no say word o. it
lest 1t michtna be so easy to convince
MIN o my feeling in the matter: so,
Master Gillicuddy, yell no forget YER
promise to me, and NUNS the word"
That same afternoon | saw the laird
from my window coming across the
deldS from the direction of the glen
and. though it was late and the dark
ness of evening thickening. yet | could
see that he walked slowly and that his
head was bent down like man think.
Ing. did not see him enter the house.
but heard his step during the even
Ing In his own rooms as passed by on
my way through the halls.
AT 10 O'Clock at night, as | was on
my way again by his door. having n
duty In that part of the house, heard
him still In his room, and he was Dac-
ing the floor, l knew, in some great
agitation, for the sound Of his step was
plainly an indication of a change that
had taken place in him to make him
more restless than usual | had got
out q pace away and was thinking
with sore distress what terrible strain
he was under when his door opened
and his voice startled me.
"1s that ye, Gillcuddy"
AYE" l answered, turning. as it
onythi ing We necdT"
"Gillicuddy," he said, 81 hae need O.
muckle.' And as he said il | noticed
that his voice was low and subducd.
and tone Of ineXprcssiblc sadness
and WEAKNESS was in it, so unlike the
sharp. imbittered accents 20 had
heard from him since his rc.nrn from
France.
"Come in, man." he said "Srnt the
door behind ye. | hae something to
say to ye."
AS / entered he turned from the fire.
place where he Stood ana | snyy y
Hare of light fash up from the Goals
where torn fragments of paper flicker.
ed and curled. When | had closed thc
door behind me, | stood wailin" for
MN to speak. After standing Il mo-
ment or two gazing at the dying flame
he turned toward me and. taking three
steps, stood before me in silence, and
I was at great loss to know what TO
expect.
= noticed that mis- face was drawn in
to an expression of the most painful
agony of mind and that his eyes had n
wild, vacant stare as of one whose very
soul is affrighted with some terrible
thought. Not word did he say, but
stood in the middle of the room, ncrv-
ously clutchinG a fragment of paper,
the last remnant of that which was
turning TO ashes on the Goals. His head
was thrown back SO that | could see
the whites Of his eyes cleaning with
an unnatural light, and he never stop
ped biting his under lip in ceaseless
and wild agitation. At last, with q
great start and twitch of every fea.
ture. he seemed to recOllect something
or to suddenly come to purpose to
speak.
"Gillicuddy," said he, and his voice
was deliberate and solemn past all de.
scrption there be question O Scrip.
ture that hac been pondering DER, and
maun hae yer answer TO it. 1t is this,
IF man die. shall he live againY"
1 was beside myself with fear of him
when he said It, but I answered with
as much composure as was master of:
"Pm thinking there's nae death, my
master. but that it will a. he matter
O. change and that n man will O. a
verify live again"
He stared at me intently and with
his twitching features at rest while /
spoke, as though his peace Of mind de.
pended on my answer
And tell me, Gillieuddy," he asked.