The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-09-06
THE
HEATHER
IN BLOOM
GO by D. }. walsh,

garded her with satisfaction.
"You look nice, Ellen" he remarked,
cycling the smooth black silk gown.
severely plain but of the best quail
aty, and her soft bands Of silvery.
white hair. "How wish I could take
you over to Edinburgh; there are
his voice held note of pathOs--
"'some of the old friends left. I'd like
to show you Edinburgh castle by
moonlight. I remember one night l
was In the hotel across the street
from the gardens that lie just below
the hill that is topped by the pile of
gray stones and"
Ellen pinkened. She glanced sharp
iy at the pile of gayly tinted travel
folders that the old man had been
studying. Erie, you are getting rest
less. Ever since that $1,000 was left
me you have wanted to squander 1t
on foreign travel. OF course"-her
voice softened as she regarded the
dean, lined face of the old Scotchman
THAT queer place with the steep
hills paved with rough cobble-stones
and the outlandish people with their
kits and bagpipes will always seem
like home to you and I'd like to see
old Bruce who lives alone on the
heath with his collie dog for com.
pany. but / can't defraud my kin.
Dick is my brothers son and l want
to leave that $1,000 to him intact"
Eric sighed as she talked. It. was
true. Ever since the money had so
unexpectedly arrived he had been
thinking of Bonny Scotland. An al
most uncomfortable inconsistencies for
his birthplace had seized him and he
l0nged to feel the deck of an ocean
liner beneath his feet and hear the
watch boom out the bells. ut is your
money. Ellen, but do you think that
Dick really needs it? We have only
q few years left at most and he is
young. With youth one has enthu
'siasm-a future-the old have only
their memories"
''Dick will do better soon," defend.
ed Ellen, although there was an odd
dubiousness in her mind even as she
spoke. Sometimes feel that Lucy
must be extravagant or possibly quar-
'relsome for they"
Eric nodded comprehendingly as
Ellen's loyalty prevented further crit.
icism Of her kin, but he smiled In.
wardly as he listened to her belief in
the in-law's culpability. Lucy was
only niece by marriage, consequent
" she must be at fault. Eric was con.
WINGED that Dick, the in-law to him.
was worthless. lazy young fellow,
who would probably never amount to
anything, but he knew to voice his
belief to Ellen would bring down a
storm of angry words and would
really grieve her. Therefore, he pulled
away at his pipe and resumed his
study of the fascinating travel fold.
ers. Two thousand dollars would give
them year abroad. IF l could only
earn some money" thought the old
captain restlessly, but the empty
sleeve precluded such ambitions.
Ellen went on her way, but so per-
turbed was she from the thoughts
aroused by Eric's speech that she
completely forgot to telephone, accord
ing to her invariable custom, to Lucy
announcing her arrival. Lucy lived
at the other end of the town. and
Ellen hated to go into q drug store
and spend the necessary nickel Long
habits of thrift remained with her
and nickel dropped into an outside
telephone seemed wasteful to her.
She wanted to leave Dick as much as
possible. How they will enjoy our
little cottage when we are through
with it." she reflected tenderIy. Every
board and nail in the tiny place was
surrounded by old memories of their
happy youth. Eric had been the kind
est of husbands and had worked and
cherished her with all his strength.
Most of the cottage had been built by
his own hands-before the loss of the
left arm. Here her sparkling blue
eyes dimmed as she remembered his
grief at having to give up active work
to depend solely on his pension. This
with the cottage sufiiced, for they
were accustomed to plain living, but
now doubts assailed her as she re-
called the longing In his face when
he spoke of Scotland and his kins.
men. After all the money had been
left to them to use and he wanted to
travel. She remembered a time when
she had craved plush coat. although
her dark cloth jacket was perfectly
good. Eric. had worked nights and
earned enough to surprise her with
the plush garment, and on her wed
ding anniversary she had worn the
warm, silk-lined coat that enveloped
her with fragrant warmth.
She was torn with doubts as she
went up the steps of the rented house
where Dick lived. The place looked
shabby and uncared for. greatly in
contrast with Ellen's neat cottage.
II would love to cross the ocean,"
she thought wistfully. Eric's wander
lust had seized her, but duty looked
grimly ahead.
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