The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-02-25

! encouraging, kindly luoKs. I'm real
glad to see your sister, Master Tom;
but you're a thoughtless. laddie to
bring her so far, and her not accus-
/ toned to rough riding. Marget, is
the kettle boiling for the young led
] die must have some tear
] And you can bring in the hot
water and a. the rest of it," said
| Blackmore, for us that are no so
! fond of teach, Master Tom? After
your ride good glass will do We nae
! harm
J Janet sat still and gazed while
these hospitable preparations were
going on. The large table was COW
cred with oilcloth, not unconscious
| of stains. And the men gathered
| round one side, upon which a tray
with "the hot water" and black bot
tie and a strange array of glasses,
big and little, had been placed. This
seemed the first thing thought of in
/ the house; for Margaret. the big
| woman servant Everything was big) !,
brought in the tray, pushing open the
door with 1t as she bore it in front of
her before the order had been given.
And presently the fumes of the hot
"toddys filled the room, pungent and
| strong, making Janet feel faint and
sick. The men flung themselves into
chairs, or stood about, filling the
other end of the room-a small,
rough, dark crowd with Tom in the
midst. They were all very "kind" to
, Tom, patting him on the shoulder,
addressing him by name, filling his
glass for him, while Janet, alone at
the end of the table. looked on
alarmed. The mistress was bringing
out from cupboard cups and sau-
GERS, basin Of sugar and other prep
arations for the tea.
1T would do the little miss far
more good to taste glass o. my
brew, and put some color into her
cheeks, said the master of the house.
3Haud you tongue. goodman, and
leave the young lady to me. TAX
you care what you're about. You'll
get both yourself and other folk into
trouble if you dinna pay attention"
"Toots! a glass will harm nae
body" B1ackmore said.
II want my. sister to see that
mare" said Tom-"that mare, you
know, Blackmore, that you said you'd
keep for me. want her to see the
stables. / told her all about you,
and that we were tremendous
friends
aAh, laddie!" said Blackmore, @the
sight of you brings many thing
back Many and many's the time
your father"
Il told her so, said Tom, with his
glass In his hands. Here's to all OF
you. And I mean to stick to fathers
friends.
Toni" cried janet, with start.
The smell of the whisky, the crowd
OF men, the loud voices and sound OF
their feet upon the floor, scarcely
deadened by the thin carpet, scared
her altogether. sob, Tom" she said,
I'm too tired to see anything. Let us
go home-oh. let us go home!" and
/ overcome by excitement and con.
fusion, Janet began to cry.
MY bonnie dawtie, said the mis-.
l = ~-Ss W~%A~ SAAA " 9Et yOuI b0d.
"Oh. let us get home, cried Janet:
1T will soon be dark. I'm frightened
to ride after it is dark. All those
dreadful roads! oh, Tom, let us get
home-oh. Tom, let US get home!"
Master Tom, said the mistress,
its true she says. It's not at for a
bit thing like her to be gslloping a.
those unciyilized roads in the dark.
Charlie shall put in ane Of the horses
In the dog-cart and drive her hame."
THAT will l." said Charlie" risine
with a great deal of noise. He was
the best looking of the young men.
and he put down his steaming glass
with alacrity. "I'll put in Spanker.
1 and she'll gang like the wind"
You'll have to be very canny With
her. for she's awful fresh" said an.
other of the men.
Don't be fool. JAM" cried the
boy; she'll ride home fast enough.
And I'm not going to have it; do you
hear, Charlie? What's the good Of
making a fuss? I'm not going to
have it, he cried, stamping his foot.
DO you want me to get into a row?
Why, as good as gave my word"
He stopped short himself, and they
all paused; janet, too, hastily chok-
ing the sob in her throat. gazed at
him with startled look.
| Maybe it was never to come back
here that we gave your word. Mr..
Tom.' said Blackmore, rising up; u
would guess that by the looks of We.
Well. yell keep your word, my young
man; at least ye'll as near keep it as
is possible now. Charlie! out with
the CART, man! what are you wait
ing for? and take the young lady
hame. 1t was name of her own will,
that's clear, that brought her here.
Ye can say that il it was his fault, it's
clear that it was name of hers. We
| had hn%fos. foIxo htx. ~ l,ohf~& 4