The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-10-07

-'h'c' anu Tie ButttTS where ne mao
learned to slide, and the shop where
he had trod, and the ratings in which
he had ratified his clachan as he went to
school: and all those thousand and one
nameless particulars. which the eve
sees without noting, which the memory
Keeps indeed yet without knowing. and
winch, taken one with another build
up for us the aspect of the place that
we call home: all these besieged him.
as he went, with both delight and sad
ness.
His first visit was for Houston,
VINO had a house on Regents Terrace,
Kept for him in old days by an aunt.
Inc door was opened Ito his surprise)
upon the chain, and voice asked him
from within what he wanted.
Il want Mr.. Houston-Mr. Alan
Houston" said he.
And who are yer" said the voice.
This Is most extraordinary, thought
John; and then aloud he told his name.
Not young Mr.. John?" cried the
voice, with sudden increase of Scotch
accent, testifying to a friendlier feel
ing.
The very same" said John.
And the old butler removed his de-
lenses, remarking only, 81 thought We
were that man." But his master was
not there; he was staying, 1t appeared,
at the house in Murrayfield and though
the butler would have been glad enough
to have taken his place and given all
the news of the family, John, struck
with little chill, was eager to be gone.
Only, the door was scarce closed again,
before be regretted that he had not ask
ed about that man."
He was to pay no more visits till he
had seen his father and made all we'll
at home; Alan had been the only pos
sible exception, and John had not time
to go as far as Murrayfeld But here
he was on Regents Terrace; there was
nothing to prevent him going round
the end OF the hill. and looking from
without on the Mackeuzies' house. As
he went, he recollected that Flora must
now be woman of near his own age,
and 1t was within the bounds Of posi-
bility that she was married; but this
dishonorable doubt he damned down.
There was the house, sure enough
but the door was of another color, and
what was this-two door plates? He
drew nearer; the top one bore, with dig
nified simplicity the words, "Mr. Proud
foot" the lower one was more explicit,
and informed the passer-by that here
was likewise the abode of "Mr. J. A.
Dunlop Proudfoot, Advocate"
The ProudfoOts must be rich, for no
advocate could look to have much bust
ness In so remote quarter; and John
hated them for their wealth and Cor
their name, and for the sake of the
house they desecrated with their pres
ence. He remembered Proudfoot he
had seen at school, not known; little
whey-faced urchin, the despicable men,
Der of some lower class Could 1t be
this abortion that had climbed to be
an advocate, and now lived in the birth
place of Flora and the home Of John
tenderest memories? The chill that had
first seized upon him when he heard of
Houston's absence deepened and struck
inward. For a moment, as he stood
under the doors of that estranged
house. and looked east and west along
the solitary pavement of the Royal Ter
race, whore not cat was stirring, the
sense of solitude and desolation took
him by the throat, and he wished him
self in San Francisco
And then the figure he made, with
his decent portliness, his whiskers, the
money in his purse, the excellent cigar
that he now lighted, required to his
mind in consolatory comparison with
that of a certain maddened lad who, on
certain spring Sunday ten years
before, and in the hour of church
time silence, had stolen from that city
by the Glasgow road. In the face Of
these changes, 1t were impious to doubt
fortunes kindness. All would be well
yet; the Mackenzies would be found
Flora, younger and lovelier and kinder
than before; Alan would be found, and
would have so nicely Disseminated his
behavior as to have grown, on the enc
hand into valued friend of Mr.. Mich
olson's, and to have remained. upon
the other, Of that exact shade of jovial-
ity which John desired in his compan-
ions. And so, once more, John fell to
work discounting the delightful future;
his first appearance in the family pew
his first visit to his uncle Greig, who
thought himself so great a financier
and on whose purblind Edinburgh eyes
John was to let in the dazzling day
light of the West; and the details in
genera! Of that unrivaled transforma-
tion scene, in which he was to display
to all Edinburgh porily and Iuccessful
gentleman in the shoes of the derided
fugitive.
The time began to draw near when
his father would have returned from
the Office, and it would be the prodiga's
cue to enter. He strolled westward by
Albany Street, facing the sunset en-
bers, pleased, he knew not why, to
. l.. oil. I'D ....G