The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-02
. HE Black Bull was not an or
dinary inn-rather a survival
of tho wavSide houSp Of rest

from the rear down to the river, and
the cheerful white front of the house
stood out from the gloomy background,
beckoning welcome like human
friend
On each side the porch were benches
where the farmers sat on market
days exchanging the gossip of the
countryside. Indoors the best kitchen
was the gathering place
On certain March morning fire
of pine logs blazed in the CRATE, and
the side window was thrown open to
let the breeze from the pine wood
stray in. Contrary to precedent, the
hostess of the Black Bull was spin
ster. While her father lived she had
set aside all offers of marriage. and
stood Staunchly between the old man
and his besetting sin Of conviviality
till she laid him. honored and lament
ed. i'll the kirkyard on the HILL
One suitor had remained persistent,
Robert Jardine. OF The Willows. His
farm was on the DumfrieSSnire hill.
and he looked down on the Black Eull
from its gable windows. But he did
not content himself with that. He was
Il frequent visitor. and Esther Norri-
sons face took tin@e Of pink, and
she gave i hasty touch to her smooth
hair as she heard his voice in the
porch. She was prim. precise young
woman with fixed ideas, and Robert
Jardine was easy-gofng and genial so,
by law Of contrasts. they We're made
for one another. He was Il man of few
nd y-oS 0l fn
stand With his back to the fire. srrok
ing his brown beard. and watching Es-
ther. No one would have taken him
for Il wooer. and yet. in his slow fash
ion, he was bearing down steadily on
the port of matrimony.
ITS real heartsome up yonder the
now" he said. The sole-ihorn's a in
bloom in the lane. an the brides are
singin' and the lambs skippin' in the
meadow-it's real heartsome at The
Willows"
1t was not the first time Esther had
heard the charms Of The WILLOWS.
varied only by the season.
II wouldn't wonder she asseuted.
1.-The country's aye nice in the spring
time. Is it a good season for the
lambs. Robert?"
Well l haze seen better. There's q
good few O them dousy enough like.
I'm no SO rich the year as l thought
to be. Ye see, | was reckonin' on get
tin the house new papered an painted
this spring. but with wisttul glance
at her. I'm waitin'.'
Esther smiled.
11l Fnli>4sn3a Al- la3a
you'd a mind to sell the Black Bull
He'd give ye a good price fort" He
did not look at her again, for he knew
by heart the obstinate upcast of her
chin when he mooted this topic.
An what for would sell the Black
Bull. Robert Jardine? Folk Shouldna
be ip haste TO make changes. They'll
be the longer O ruein' them"
He sighed.
We'll, I must be movin' home
though there's nobody carn' much
what road l 90. I'm missin' the old
mother more every day"
The words touched her. She held
out her hand. and it was lost in his.
Some day. Robert. maybe there will
be one 10 watch for your hame comm.
His face flushed and he laid his
hands on her shoulder, but She drew
back
"Oh. I'm no sayin' who it will be.
she added.
There's but one woman in the world
for me, an Wen ye ken that. Esther
he said sterniy, and strode away.
The little town among the hills was
~ . .t,,,
were rare and precious One OF these
was the yearly visit Of Signor Jacob
with his circus and menageTie. 1t was
the market day and crowds stooc
gaping 1T the gay procession. In start
ling contrast with the ladies in velve
and spaEgleS was Il monster ape in ;
cage bringing up the rear. His crafty
old bewrinkled face looked out from
between the bars. ana he pat fogtf
Il Steaithy hand to seize an inQUSitivt
old farmers spectacles or snatch
swain's gay necitie. suddenly. no on,
could tell how or why. a hubbuh aros,
-shrieks and ioStlip@ and scrimmagr
The fastenin@s Of the apes cage hat
given way. and, with Il wild dash FOL
freedom. he bounded, jabbering ant
cMttering. over the heads of the ter
ritied crowd. Signor Jacob smoked
his pipe that afternoon i'll the porch o.
the Black Bul. The performance wa.
postponed while his troupe scattered
in quest of the missing member
He has the cunning of fifty foxes
has old Jargo,' he said. He has
doubled on HE more than once; but h,
turns up when he gets hungry. He
Il crafty old boy
You'll come with me to the show
ESther!' asked Jardine, who loved
variety entertainment.