The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-08-18
CHAPTER CONTINUED.
A WINTERS TALE

O'~'~~
lodging The place was very i'll i
habited, mostly by the free-tradir
sort; there was man with a broke
head at the entry; halfway up, in
tavern, fellows were roaring and sin,
ing, though it was yet nine in tn
day. Altogether / had never seen
worse neighborhood even in the grea
city of Edinburgh, and | was in tw
minds to go back Jessie's room wa
of piece with her surroundings an
herself no better. She would not Civ
me the receipt (Which Mr. Henry ha,
told me to demand, for he was yer,
methodicaD until she had sent GU
for spirits and | had pledged her in ;
glass; and all the time she carried
on in light-headed, reckless way
now aping the manners of lady. now
breaking into unseemly mirth, now
making coquettish advances that op-
pressed me to the ground OF the
money, she spoke more tragically.
Its blood money said she, 81
take it for that: blood money for the
betrayed. See what I'm brought down
to! All, if the bonnie lad were back
again, it would be changed days But
he's deid-hes lynn deid amang the
Hieland hills-the bonnie lad, the bon
ME Iad!"
ut
She had a rapt manner of crying on
the bonnie lad, clasping her hands and
casting up her eyes, that think she
must have learned of strolling play
ers; and | thought her sorrow very
much of an affectation, and that she
dwelt upon the business because her
shame was now all she had to be
proud of. | will not say | did not pity
her, but it was loathing pity at the
best; and her last change of manner
wiped it out. This was when she had
had enough of me for an audience and |
had set her name at last to the re-
ceipt. "There!" says she, and taking
the most unwomanly oaths upon her
tongue, babe me begone and carry it
to the Judas who had sent me. 1t was
the first time | had heard the name
applied to Mr. Henry; l was stag
gered besides at her sudden vehe-
mence of word and manner; and got
forth from the room, under this
shower of curses, like a beaten dog.
But even then | was not quit; for the
vixen threw up her window and, lean t
ng forth, continued to revile me as | ,
vent up the wynd; the free-traders. c
coming to the tavern door, joined in |
he mockery and one had even the h
to set upon me a very 4
avage, small dog, which bit me in S
ne ankle. This was strong lesson, G
ad | required one, to avoid i'll com s.
any; and rode home in much pain S;
rom the bite and considerable indig. II
alton of mind. h,
Mr.. Henry was in the stewards W
pom, affecting employment but a
ould see he was only impatient to tn
ear of my errand M
"Well?" says he. as soon as l came al
{; and when | had told him some go
ing of what passed, and that Jessie m
emed an undeserving woman and pa
+ from grateful: "She is no friend M.
me- said he; but indeed, Mac sn
liar, have few friends to boast of; an
d Jessie has some cause to be un. eff
st. | need not dissemble what all ba
g country knows: she was not very VIII
III used by one of our family" This de,
S the first time had heard him re- of
to the master even distantly; and wo
hink he found his tongue rebellious. hin
en- for that much; but presently he sor
iumed. This is why / would have on
hing said. 1t would give pain to his
8. Henry-and to my father" he tim
led with another flush. we
Mr.. Henry" said /, "if you will the
e freedom at my hands, would and
you to let that woman be. What the
vice is your money to the like of
one mas no sobriety and no Her
nomy; as for gratitude, you will yet
soon get milk from a whinstone: ried
If you will pretermit your bounty. upo,
ill make no change at all but just sma
save the ankles OF your messen. One
J. had
r, Henry smiled. But l am of Ii
we'd about your ankle" said he. was
next moment, with proper was
ity. t;ons
md observe" ] continued, Il give that
this advice upon consideration: first