The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-03-28

with Eranu name f0T loyal
ty to conscience and justice,
dM never the folk to plot or plan an
evil thing nor yet to suffer n wrong ut
any mans hand to so unrcpaid. and to
this day In all of our part Of the couu-
try to Its farthest corners you may
hear many tale In honor Of them,
and their pith and daring are we'll re.
membered and'are as firesidc proverbs.
The last Laird, my master, was a man
Of the most worthy traits, and am
snre. no man, lived that could truly
speak word TO his discredit, for the
name of Kennedy of Glenhaugh was
held among all people as warrant of
very honorable and sterling character.
A man lie wps as we'll both lovable
and loving, bsine God fearing andiust,
and having, as l can bear witness, a
heart single to the cause OF virtue and
q hand ever open to charity.
My master was just the sweetest
man, think, that walked the earth, and
II was ever like CLINT Of suns 1ine-
the sight Of his face. a most approach
able man was he, with one mood un-
changing. and that both free and kind
~, and indeed If he had need to he Sc
nous 1t was never in his manner to be
either sour or sulky or to open hl0 lips
TO speak 4 cruel or bitter word. a jo-
vial, bluff and genial man, outspoken,
fair and affectionate he was, and
when his spirits were high fond Of a
bit OF plea snntry, ana no man reader
to have Il hearty laugh. He had as
well a most easy manner of speech,
using the familiar Doric of the people
about him. and indeed among all men.
both high and low, he was held in es-
TEEN as man Of wise counsel, fair
speech and very affectfonate heart. l
dwell upon these things the more in
view of the strange happenings that
came and to make known the virtues
OF life that ere long came to be most
grfevouSly troubled and changed.
As for my lady, it was little fault any
could find in her, for she was truly n
woman Of gentle manners and even
temper, having a quiet dignity about
her to command the respect Of all, and
even II she could not win the love that
the laird got yet am sure there was
than to say slfet%ns a bit reserved and
distant and not likely to take many into
her confidenee. ~ sometimes looked ut
my lady and thought saw in her the
traces of some past trouble. and yet l
cannot Sny that / saw this clearly, but
as a dim thing oniy,1as if 1t were the
faintest shadow of some cloud that had
hung over her and had passed long
ago. ,..S
1t came about when I had been at
Gienhaugh for seven years and was
well installed in. the performance of
my duties rs steward that my master
was called away, on long journey to
Stirling, In the north, to see about a
parcel Of land lying in the neighbor-
hood Of the Links O Forth and being
entangled in ahe meshcs Of q legal dis
pute. We made great preparations for
getting him off properly, for the road
was long ones and it would be
month at least before he could be back
at Glcnhaush, oven If all went well
with him. AT last he was got off, and
was left in charge OF affairs till his
return.
/ well remember his leavetaking OF
his wife ans his wee maid Marion. who
had Just passed her sixth year. My
laird just took my lady In his arms,
and she clurg about his neck as though
she were never to- see him more, and
as for the classic Marion she made
matters terribly affecting with her
childish prattle and affection. so that
I WAS fain to turn away to keep from
making a fool OF myself and showing
them all what a soft hearted body
was.
1t was in the evening Of the thir-
teenth day Of the laird's absence when
Old Geordie. the carrier, coming along
the highroad from Abbeyfont, left Il
packet with me for. my lady Of Glen
haugh. took the packet into the
house, and when I had got to the
door Of my ladY's apartment knock.
cd, and my lady, coming to the door
herself, took the packet from me and
thanked me. as was her habit, for she
was never the woman to forget to ba
Doth mannerly and dignifed.
The next day. came Esther Ricalton,
my lady's maid, to me and says, 81
wadna say but.,my lady has heard bad
news O. some. kind, for heard her
sobbin' and moanin' through the nicht,
and this mornin' she looks n guild ten
years aulder than she did yestreen."
Il brought her letter yestreen." said
i, using the common manner of speech
which was natural to me, "and belize
some O her friends are dead"
1T maun be so," said she. "for / saw
ye gle her the packet and was in the
room WI her when she opened it. She
Just started and turned white. as If she
mad seen wrath, and gave groan so
pitifu'-like. as If her heart were crush
ed within her. Not n word did she say
to me. and | ken nae mair than this,
that she suffered WI some sair trouhle