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


nate and cruel past
The laird grew stronger and better
day by day, and at last he moved about
among us again, the laird Of Glen
haugh, in his usual way, though far
changed from the laird that we had
once known. He now spoke but little,
seeming to be aye thinking or trying
to think of something and keeping
much of his thought to himself. 1
could not but think that he was still
concealing some deep feeling within,
for there was pathetic look in his
eyes that was pitiful to see and just
gave me the tenderest feelings for him
when l looked into his face. With me
he was ever the same. with never a
sour look or hard word, and, though he
came often to me and we talked Of
many things, yet he never spoke Of my
lady, and in truth l never spoke to
him nor yet put forth any word that
could cunningly cause him to speak Of
her or his troubles. l saw that II lie
had aught to say he would say it, and
1 was too true n friend of his to try to
probe into the wound he had and add
further to his pains.
That T1bbie Jameson had given my
master some mysterious message was
prone to think, and l shrewdly deter
mined to have an eye to her and to get
Mt the bottom Of the matter in round
about way in the course of time, but
1t was long before I met her on the
road, and when did she forbade my
approach, scowling at me and mutter-
ing curses and shaking her staff at me
in most spiteful temper.
During these days my master spent
most Of his time in wandering over the
fields about his own lands. AS he
grew stronger the habit increased upon
him and was continued, so that he
would be away for hours at time,
having climbed the hills back of Glen
haugh and penetrated to the heart of
the glen, it might be, but do not think
he ever entered Tibbie's cot or held
converse with her at any time. Some
times he wandered down to the shores
Of the Killochan bay to sit and
watch the waves rolling in and hear
their Curgling among the stones, but
wherever he went he was ever the
same, n man aimlcSs and hopeless, or,
~
only and let the days go by to fulfill
the appointed period of life.
Since that terrible night when my
master had spoken to me of his lady
and had closed his lips with the fren-
Zied blasphemy of his despair and had
set off for France, which was many
months gone, he had never spoken to
me word that bore upon these woeful
things Of the past, nor had his wife's
name ever again passed his lips. had
come to feel that time. with it's soften
Ing influences, had brought to him q
fair measure of reconcilement to the
DEGREES of destiny and that at last his
mind was recovering from the cruel
shock 1t had suffered.
Thus day succeeded day, and the
months went by, and while life with its
duties was active among us and all
things moved onward under the spur Of
ambition and hope, yet there always in
our midst was the good master Of
Glenhaugh, q living dead man, n man
who had long ago finished his course
and dwelt among us as one who had
died and come back to us as only the
shadow Of man.
The spring was well advanced when
heard that Tam Jameson had left
our part Of the country, and no man
knew where he had wandered, but he
was ever bird OF migration and little
heed was taken Of his going. Later
had taken supply of victualing, ac-
cording to an old habit, to Tibbie at the
head of the glen, and in answer to nv
questions as to her sons whereabouts
the crusty old crone had replied to me
curtly enough that "a fule was aye ask
ing questions"
l think Tibbie was the most ungra.
cious and ungrateful old bosom man