White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1922-12-01
Summary Of Events During the Mas
ter's Second Absence.

Summary Of Events During the Mas
ter's Second Absence.
OF the heavy sickness which de-
clared itself next morning, can
think with equanimity as of the last
unmingled trouble that befell my
master; and even that was perhaps
a mercy in disguise; for what pains
Of the body could equal the miseries
Of his mind? Mrs. Henry and had
He watching by the bed. My old
lord called from time to time to take
the news, but would not usually pass
the door. Once, | remember, when
hope was nigh gone, he stepped to
the bedside; looked a while in his
sons face, and turned away with a
singular gesture of the head and
hand thrown up, that remains upon
my mind as something tragic; such
grief and such a scorn of sublunary
/ things were expressed But the most
of the time, Mrs Henry and had
the room to ourselves, taking turns
by night and bearing each other
company by day, for it was dreary
watching.
i Never word did he utter of his
/ father or his wife, nor of the master,
srve only for day or two, when his
mind dwelt entirely in the past and
sfe supposed himself boy again and
upon some innocent child's play with
}his brother What made this the more
4ffecting: it appeared the master had
hhen run some peril Of his life, for
sthere was a cry-"Oh, Jamie will be
nrowned-oh, save Jamie!" which he
came over and over with great deal
aof passion.
y Finding no occasion of free speech,
4 bethought me at last of kind Of
documentary disclosure; and for some
Nights when was off duty and should
have been asleep, gave my time to
the preparation of that which I may
call my budget
But this found 10 be the easiest
portion of my task, and that which
remained, namely, the presentation to
my lady, almost more than / had for
titude to overtake. Several days I
went about with my papers under my
arm, spying for some juncture of talk
to serve as introduction. will not
deny but that some offered; only
when they did, my tongue Glove to
the roof of my mouth; and think
packet till this day, had not a fortu-
nate accident delivered me from all
my hesitations. This was at night,
when was once more leaving the
room, the thing not yet DONE and my.
self in despair at my own cowardice.
What do you carry about with you.
Mr.. Mackellar?" she asked. These
last days, see you always coming in
and out with the same armful."
: l returned upon my steps without a
sword, laid the papers before her on
sthe table, and left her to her reading
''Durrisdeer. 1857.
"Honored Madam trust l would
not step out of my place without oc.
.casion: but l see how much. evil has
,.foked in the past to all of your noble
house from that unhappy and secre.
tive fault of reticency, and the papers
on which venture to call your atten.
ton are family papers and all highly
worthy your acquaintance.
: Il append schedule with some nee
Assary observations, and am, Honored
3nadam,
: Your ladyship's obliged, obedient
"EPHRAIM MACKELLAR.
Schedule Of Papers.
"a Scroll of ten letters from
Ephraim Mackellar to the Honorable
james Durie, Esq, by courtesy Mas
Ter of Ballantrae during the latters
residence in Paris: under dates"
@tfollow the dates)-"Nota: to be read
Sin connection with B. and c.
~B Seven original letters from