The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-04-29
CHAPTER /.

luTuSIluS his utiluS lulO his pUCkeIS
and looking straight before him. Here
there is nothing for me, and, as you
say, there is nothing to keep me here.
1t was her wish besides; and yet-yet
hate leaving it." 4 n y
II can well understand it, lad. I
was the same. It is just in us Scotch
men, this love OF the land. And I had
Josn, too, to keep me. here; and so I've
just stuck on and made a precarious
living, and I've but STAYED off the evil
days, for now my boys will have to
go. We can't make a living in the
old country, and there's no Joan, is
there?" asked the old man, kindly.
mo. No woman has ever been any
thing to me except my mother" said
the lad
We'll, well, time enough; there's
sure to be-" said Macpherson "A fine
lad like you!" AS matter Of fact. the
old man said ''Weel. weel," but that
did not take away from the kindness
of his speech. You've always got a
friend in me. wish could help you
substantially; but that isn't easy Still,
if you need it. l can make push as
we'll as my neighbors."
Thank You kindly" said Alan Mac
kenzie, "but there will be no need Of
it. The sale of my poor little sticks
will pay my passage money and there's
good place waiting for me when get
out, so that there will be no need for
me to go borrowing. l wish felt a
little more enthusiasm about making
money. It's said to be in Scots blood,
but 1t isn't in me. I would fain stop
here and watch the clouds settling
round the hilltops all the rest of my
life than 60 to South America, and
make my fortune. Yet because my
mother wished it. and because she was
so overjoyed when the offer came to
me, l feel it is just my duty to do it,
neither more nor less"
1t did not take long for Alan Mac
kenzie to sell his few possessions, and
to turn his back upon the little Scotch
town. He was going as far as Glas-
gov, to take a steamer to South AM
erica. His story was simply this: A
lad to whom his father had once given
free passage to South America had
done so well at Rio that he was now
one OF the foremost merchants there
He had remembered his benefactor and
when he heard of the captains death,
had written and offered a good place
in his counting house to Alan Macken-
zie. Mrs. Mackenzie was dying of
painful disease, and she saw in this
offer future for her son who she so
tenderly loved, and she was keen that
he should accept it. So that when she
died there seemed nothing for the lad
to do but to go.
He was good looking lad standing
about six feet in his stockings He
had passed his twenty-first birthday.
but he was younger than lads gener-
ally are at 81, having no experience in
the world, and ncne of men and won-
en-. He had worked at school always,
having been fond of his books, and he
had played outdoor games, so that he
had very little knowledge of either the
usual amusements or the perplexities
of life.
When he had finally said good-by to
his native place his spirits began to
rise within him. The world and adj
venture were before him. He had said
good-by to the old life, but the new
was there. He had never been so far
as Glasgow before. and the big town,
with it's lighted streets and the ships
in the river, attracted him. After all,
there was something pleasing in big
things. Large enterprises and wealth
attracted and had charms after all. So
that it was with a lighter heart that
Alan Mackenzie embarked finally.
He loved the voyage. Heredity corrlts
for something and his father had loved
the seq. He felt it was his own ele-
nent. When he reached Rio it was
with high hopes and resolves to make
his mark. He had kind reception
from Richard Dempster,a and here again
Alan felt the charm of riches and
power. Dempsters house was one of
the best in Rio. his clerks were we'll
paid, and his wife and daughters occu-'
pied place second to none in society.
DemDster wanted Alan to become ac-
| customcd to the work. and then to
found another branch of the house in
mining town some hundred miles
away.
! Dempster had two daughters, fine,
fresh, handsome girls. but no sons.
The obvious thing would have been
for Alan Mackenzie to have fallen in
love with one of the girls, to have set
tied down comfortably and prosper
ously in Rio; but there was one thing
against it. There was little vein of
romance in Alan's nature. and he dis
liked the ob.ious. Besides, he had the
independent mans dislike to being be-
holden to his wife for his advance
ment. So that although he was on
terms of perfect friendship with Ina
land Eleanor Dempster. yet he neither
sought nor wished for any stronger
l feeling. ~