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TOE OMAITA DAILY J1EE ; SUNDAY , EAY 20 , 1895. 11
CHAPTER XV.
THE GREAT CONVENTICLE.
On our way to the conventicle we came to
the place that la called the Moil of the
Duchrao Hank , and found much people al-
r < .ady gathered there. It Is a very lonely
place , on the edge of a beautiful and still
water , called the Line of Grenoch. In tha
midst of the water and Immediately opposlto
to the moat there Is an Island , called the
Hcllan lib , full of covert ? and hiding places
among hazel bushes , which grow there lu
thick , matted copses. Beyond that again
there are only the moors and the mountains
for thirty miles. The country all about Is
lalry and boggy , Imposslb'e for horses to ride ,
while over to the eastward a llttl ? the road
passes to Kclls and Carsphalrn , but out of
tight , behind the shoulder of the hill.
There wa. < a preaching tent erected on a
llttlu eminence In ths middle of the round
bare top of the moat. The people sat all
ibout , and those who came late clustered on
the further bank , across the ditch.
I observed that every man cam ? fully
irmed , for the oppression of Laudcrdalo In
Scotland , and especially the severities of
John Graham and Robert Grler Iir Galloway ,
were bearing their own prop r fruit. The
three maids sat down together , and Wat
Gordon and I sat down near them I as near
to Malsle' ' Lennox as I dared , because , for old
acquaintance take , my liking was chiefly
toward her. Also , I perceived that Kate
McGhle was more Interested to talk to me of
my cousin than to hear concerning myself , a
thing that I never could abide lu talking to
i woman.
Uut Mnlslo kept her head bent and her
lacs hidden by the fold of her shawl , for she
had , even at that time , what I so sadly
lacked , a lively Interest In religion.
From where I sat I could ECO the watchers
on the cralgs above the Hollan Isle , and
those also over on the hills by.the Folde. So
many wore they that I knew that not a
mulr fowl would cry nor a crow carry a
itlck to Its nest without a true man taking
note of It. I heard afterward that over by
the fords of Crae they had come on a certain
Informer lying crouched In the heather to
tvatcli what should happen. Him they chased
for three miles over the heather by Hlogarle ,
clodding him with divots of peat and sod ,
yet not so as to do the Ill-set rascal over
much harm. Hut a clourlng docs such like
good.
Then there arose the sweet sound of sing
ing ; for Mr. Cameron had gone up Into the
preaching tent and given out the psalm. Wo
ill ctood up to sing , and as I noted my
: ousln standing apart , looking uncertainly
about , I went over to him and brought him
to my side , where one gave us a book to
look upon together. As they sang I watched
to sec the sentinel on the cralgs turn him
about to listen to us , and noted the r..tx ket
on which he leaned. For these little tcrks
of observation were ever much to me , though
the true whig folk minded them not a 1-nlr ,
but stuck to their ringing , as Indeed It was
their duty to do.
But , oven to me , the sound of the psalm
was unspeakably solemn nnJ touching out
Ihere In the open field. It seemed as we sang
of the God that was our refuge and our
strength that as we looked on Grcnoeh wo
were Indeed In a dcfenced city , In a place of
broad rivers and strcamc , wherein should gene
no galley with oara , neither should gallant
Ihlp pass thereby.
I had never felt so near God or had so
sweet an Income of gladness upon my spirit ,
though I often wondered what It all meant
when I heard my father and mother speak
together. There seemed a gale of the spirit
upon the meeting , and I think that from that
moment I understood more of the mind of
them that Buffered for their faith , which , In-
Iced , I think a man cannot do till ho himself
Is ready to undergo his share of the suffering.
Hut when Richard Cameron began to speak
t easily forgat everything else. Ho had a
laminating voice , the voice of a strong man
crying In the wilderness. "Wo arc here In a
kenned place. " he said , "and there are many
witnesses about us. Tojay the bitter Is taken
out of our cup. If , It be only for a moment.
Yea , and a sweet cup we have of It now. We
who have been much on the wild mountains
know what It Is to bo made glad by Thy
works the works of the Lord's hands. When
wo look up to the moon or the stars , lo ! the
hand of the Lord Is In them , and wo ore
glad. See ye the cornrigs up ayont us there ,
in the Duchrae Hill , the hand of God Is In the
iweet springing of them when the sun shines
i0on them pfter rain , and It Is He who eend-
ith forth every pile of the grass that springs
THERE SAT OLD ANTON.
10 sweetly In the meadows by the water
side. "
I own It was very pleasant for me to
listen to him , for I had not thought there
was such tenderness In the man. Ho went
n :
"We are hlrsled over moss and moor , over
: rag and rocks'and after us the devil drives.
Do not crabblt with us , O Lord ! It U true
wo have gotten many cals ) , and. have not
answered. Wo In the west and south have
been llko David , cockered and pampered
jverinucli. Not even the wild highlands have
illten through 10 many calls as we have here
In Galloway and the south.
"For I bear testimony that It Is not easy
to bring folk to Christ. I , that am a man ,
weak as other men , bar testimony that It Is
not easy not easy even to come to Him for
oneself ! "
And here I saw the people begin to yearn
toward him , and In the gray light I saw the
tears running silently down his cheeki. And
It teemed as It the minister and also the
moat part of the people fell Into a rapture
of calm weeping , which , itrange enough ,
forced Mr. Cameron often to break off short.
"Are there none such hero ? " he asked.
And I confess my heart went out to him ,
and all my aim stood black and threatening
before me as I listened. I vow that at the
time I feared hli words far more than ever
1 did lag and hU riders thli bolng my first
living experience of religion nml the day
from which 1 and many another ground our
hope.
Then , ere. ho commanded himself to speak
again , I took a glance at the maid Malsle
Lennox beside me , and the look on her face
was that on the face of a martyr that had
como through the torture and won the vic
tory. Hut the little Insa that was called
Margaret of Glen Vernock clung to her hand
and wept as she listened. Hut Kate McOhle
only looked away over the water off the Hol-
lan Isle to the blue barn rigging of the Or-
char Hill , and seemed lie thcr to see nor to
hear anything. Or at least I was not the
man to whom was given the art to see what
were her Inner thoughts.
Hlchard Cameron wont on :
"Are there any hero that find a difficulty
to close with Chrlit ? Hut before we speak
to that-1 think we shall pray a short word. "
So all the people stood up on the hillside
and the sough of their uprising was like" the
wind among thecedars. And even as he
prayed for the Spirit to come on these pcor
folk , that \\ere goon to be scattered again
over the moors and hags as shesp that wanted
a shepherd , the wind of the Lord ( for so 1
think It was ) came breathing upon us. The
gray of the clouds broke up and the sun
shone through so kindly and warm that many
, let their plnlds fall to the ground. Hut tbo
mists still clung about the mountain tops of
the Hennan and Cairn Edward.
Then , after he had prayed not long , he
went on again to tpeak to us of the love am
sufferings of Christ , for the take of whose
cause and kingdom we were that day In
that \\lld place. Much he pleaded with us
to make sure of our Interest , and not think
that because we were there at a field preach
ing , therefore all was well. Oh , but he
was faithful to us that day , and there were
anany who felt that the gate of heaven was
very near to them at the great conventicle
by the Water of Dee.
And oven after many years , I that have
been weak and nldderlng , and that have
taken so many tins on my soul elnce I fa
there on the bank by Malsle L nnox am
trembled under Mr. Cameron's words , give
God thank and service that I was there to
hear the Lion of the Covenant roar that day
upon the mountains of Scotland.
Yet , when he spoke thus to us at this par
of his pleading , It was most like the voice
of a tender , nursing mother , that woulc
wile her wayward bairns home. Hut when
ho had done with offering to us the cross
and commending Him that erewhlle nuns ,
thereon , I saw him pause and look nbou
him. He was silent for a space , his eye
gleamed with an Inner fire , and the wlm
that had arisen drave among his black locks
I could see the storm gather to break.
"There are the Uennan and Cairn Kdwan
and the Mucklo Craig o' Dee look over a
them I take them to witness this day that
have preached to you the whole counsel o
God. There be some great professors amonf
you this day who have no living grace o
whom I only name Black MacMlchael am
Mucklo John , for their sins are open ant
patent , going before them Into judgment
There arc also sonu > hero that will betra
our plans to the enemy and carry their re
port of this meeting to the Mallgnants. To
them I suy : Carry this word to your master
'Ye may blaw your bagpipes till you burst
we will not bow down and worship you
glalks no , not though ye gar every held her
weigh Its tall and the wind whistle throug
our bones as we hang on the gallows tree. ' '
Here he held up his hand and there was
great sllenc ; .
"Hush ! I hear the sound of a great hos
I hear the gate of heaven beset. The thron
of them that are to be saved through suffer
Ing are about It. And One like unto th : So
of Man stands there to welcome them. Wha
though they set your heady , as they shal
mine , high on the Netherbow Port , or cas
your body on the Gallows' dunghill , as they
will Sandy's here- ? Know that there wallet
for you One at the door with face mor
marred than that of any man One with HI
garments reJ coining up from Dozrah. On
that hath trodden the winepress alone. And
Ho shall say as He sees you com ? throug ;
the swellings of Jordan : 'These are they tha
have come out of great tribulations and hav
washed their robes and made them white I
the blood of the Limb. ' 'Lift up your heads
0 ye gatey , and bo ye lift up , ye cverlastln
doors , for the redeemed of the Lord &ha !
also enter In ! ' "
So he made an end , anil all the peopls wer
astonished ut him , and they looked even the
for the chariot which It had been foretolc
should come and snatch him out of morta
sight.
CHAPTER XVI.
PEDEN THE PHOI'HBT.
Yet the chariot of flro came not , for th
time was not yet , though the grinding of It
wheels was even then to bo heard at th
door. But the Lord had yet a great day'
darg to do In Scotland with Hlchard Cameron
Then , after silence had endured for a time
another minister rose up to speak to us. A
murmur went about , and wonder and Joy sa
on every face. Ho was an old man. tall am
gaunt. His hair , lyart and long , fell upoi
his shoulders. Ills beard descended upon hi
breast.
"Pelen the prophet ! " was the whisper tha
went about. And all bent eagerly forward t
look at the famous wanderer , whom all hel <
at that time to have gifts of utterance am
prophecy beyond those of mortal. He It wa
that had been a thousand times hunted Ilk
a partridge upon the mountains , a hundrei
times taken In the net , yet had ever escaped
He It was for the love of whom men had laU
down their lives like water , that AlexaiUe
Pedon might go scatheless and speak his Mas
ter's will.
Ilowed he was and broken ; yet when h
spoke his natural strngth was In no wls
abated , and at his first word the fear of th
Lord came upon u . I looked at Lochlnvar
who In his time had ridden so hard on hi
track. He sat open-mouthed , and there wa
a Oazo of awe In his look.
Alexander Peden had hardly spoken a sen
tence to us when the spirit of prophecy brok
upon him , and ho cried out for Scotland , a
was his wont In those days. His voice ros
and rang not llko a war trumpet , as dl <
Cameron's , but rather like the wild wind tha
goes about the house and cries fearful word
In at the chinks and crevices.
"A bloody sword , a bloody sword for thee
O pulr Scotland ! Many a mile shall the
travel In thee and fee nought but waat
places , nor so much as a home reeking pleas
antly on the brae. Many a conventicle ha
been wared on thee , my Scotland , and Wels
and Semple , Cameron and Carglll have crlec
to thee , but ere long they shall all bo put t
silence , and God shall preach to thee on !
with the bloody sword. Have ye ever wli
nersed for the caus ? and covenants ? Or hav
ye been dumb dogs that will not bark ? I
that ben o , God will nuke the tongues tha
owned Him not to fry and flutter upon th
hot coals of hell. He will gar them blutte
and bleeze upon the burning coals of hell )
"Speak , sirs , or He will gar these tongue
that He hath put Into your mouths to poppl
and play In the powpot of hell ! "
As he said these words his eyes ebon
upon us like to burn us through , and his ac
tlon was most terrifying ai lie took hi
great oaken staff and shook It over us. Am
we trembled beneath him like silly bairn
taken In a wrong.
Hut he went on hU way as one that crle
for vengeance over an open grave In which
slain man lies.
"Ye think that there bath been bloodshe
In Scotland , and so there hath dear am
precious but I tell you that that which hat
been U but < u the dropping of the mornln
Icud ere the sun rises In his strength , to
mid-noon the thunder plump that Is yet to
ome. "
"Not since the black day of Dothwell have
slept In a bed I I have been Nazarlte for
tie vow that was upon me. Have any of you
een me In New Luc ? ? Not even Ritchie
ere could have overcrowded me then for
trength and stature. I stood as a young
ree by the rivers of waters. Look upon me
low to crooked by the caves and the moss-
tags that I could not go upright to the scar-
old. The sword handle Is ( It for your hands ,
nd the Lord of Battles give ycu long arms
when you measure swords with Charlci
Stuart. Hut old Sandy ls good for nothing
tow but the praying. He can only bide In
its hole like a toothless tyke , lame and blind ,
and glrn his gums at the robbers that spoil
ils Master's hcuse.
" 'Crook-back , crab-heart , " sayeth the prov-
rb , " he cried , "but I think not PO , for my
icart I ? warm this day toward you that Fit
here , for but few of you shall win through the
lay of wrath that Is to co.iie In Scotland. "
Ho turned toward the place where we sat
ogether , the maids , my cousin , and I. A
treat fear In my heart chilled me like Ice.
Vas he to denounce us as traitors ? Hut he
nly said slowly these words In a soft and
novlng voice , as one that hath the team
lose behind :
"And there are some of you , young maids
find weak , hero present , that shall make a
name In Scotland that shall never die ! "
With that ho mada an end and sat down.
Then came one , white-faced and panting ,
rom the hill on the east.
"Tho riders arc upon us flee quickly ! " he
cr.ed.
Then , Indeed , there was great confusion
i ml deray. Some roseup In the act to flee ,
lilt Anton Lennox , who had the heart of a
soldier In him and the wit of a general , com-
nanded the men to stand to their arms , put-
Ing the-women behind them. And through
he confusion I could see stern-faced men
novlng to the front with guns and swords
n their hands. These were the disciplined
nembers of the praying societies , as I
earned , whom Cameron , and afterward lien-
wick , drew together Into one military bond
of defence and fellowship.
For me , I stood where I was , the maids
only being with me ; and I felt that , come
what might , It was my duty to protect them.
< ate McOlico clasped her hands and stood
as one that Is gripped with fear yet can
naster It. But Malsle Lennox , who waste
to ma. looked nver to where her
' ' long time ( till , no man glaring to move. U
struck mo as strange till In that great con
course of shepherds noCTO much as a dog
barked. In a momcn 1 taw the reason.
Each herd was sitting ; , oil , the grass , with
his dog's head In his , Ian. wrapped In his
platd. Then came the Scattering of the great
meeting. And cs we WiU .our ways home I
cannot tell whither LqcmtJyar fared or who
accompanied him. Nor f&r many a day did I
see him , though I both , foiight and mourned
for him. Such wcro thtL 'Chances of our life
at that dark time , when fir oilier might part
from brother and meet no more , and when
a father might go out to took the lambs and
be found by bis daughter fallen on his face
on the heather by the1 sVfep ree , with that
on his breast that was jibt'Honny ' to see when
they turned him over. ' Ai for mo , I went
home with Malsle Lennox1 ahd her friend , the
young lass of Glen Verildtk , np wa * Indeed
my plain duty. Wo w'alt cd side by side In
silence , for we had great thoughts within us
of Cameron and I'eden and 'of ' the blue banner
of the covenant that was not yet wholly put
down.
CHAPTEH XVII.
BIHSAY THE COBBLER.
So many of the wanderers abode at the
Duchrao that Malsle Lennox was much cum
bered with serving , yet In her quiet , sedate
way she would often take u word with me In
the bygolng , as If to let me feel that I wis
not lonely. And It cheered mt much to find
that I was not despised because 1 was as yet
no great fighting man of many Inches and
noble make like my brother Sandy. Also I
loved women's converse , having been much
with my mother Indeed never long away
from her pldo till my vain adventuring forth
to Edinburgh In the matter nt the estate.
As for Earlstoun we heard It was to be for-
faulteed very soon , and given to Hoberl
Orler of Lag , who was a very graball among
them. IiulccJ , no one way better than an
other , for even Claverhouse got French , "In
consideration. " It was said , "of his good serv
ice and suffering. " His brother David got
another estate In the Shire , and Hothes and
Lauderdale were as "free coups" for the
wealth rf the fined and persecuted gentry.
Whenever there was a man well-to-do and of
good repute , these men thought It no shame
to i trlvo to take him In a pnare , or to get
him caught harboring on his estate some in-
tercommuned persons. Then they rubbed
hands , nuSged one another In council when
they heard of a rising In arms. They even
cried out and shook hands for Joy. because
PADEN THE PROPHET.
father stood at the corner of his company.
Then , because she was distressed for him
and knew not what she did , she drew a half-
knitted stocking out of the pocket that
swung beneath her ktrtle , calmly set the
stitches In order and went on knitting , as Is
the Galloway custom among the hill folk
when they wait for anything.
There was a great silence a stillness In
which one Heard his neighbor breathing.
Through It the voice of Peden rose.
"Lord , " ho prayed , "It Is Thine enemies'
day. Hour and power are allowed to them.
They may not ba Idle. But hast Thou no
other work for them to do In their Master's
service ? Send them after thoss to whom
Thou hast given strength to flee , for our
strength Is gone and there are many weak
women among us this day. Twine them
about the hill , O Lord , and cast tha lap of
thy cloak over pulr Sandy and thlr pulr
things , and save us this ono time. "
So saying , he went to the top of a little
hill near by , from which there Is a wide
prospect. U Is called Mount Pleasant. From
thencs he looked all around aild waved his
hands three times. And In a minute there
betel a wonderful thing. For even as his
hands beckoned , from behind the ridges of
tli ? Duchrao and Drumglass arose the level
tops of a great sea of mist. It came upon
the land suddenly as the "haar" that In the
autumn drives up the eastern valleys from
the sea. Like a river thati rises behind a
dam , It rose , till of a sudden It overflowed
and came toward ITS over the moorland , mov
ing with a sound llko runnlg water very far
away.
Then Peden the Prophet come hastening
back to us.
"Move not ono of you out of your places ! "
ho cried , "for the Lord Is about to send upon
us His pillar of cloud. " Then the mist came
and made llttlo by little a very thick dark-
neM , and Poden said :
"Lads , the bitterest of the blast Is over. We
shall no more be troubled with them this
day. " And through the darkness I felt a
hand placed In mine whoso I could not tell ,
but I hoped plainly that It might bo Malsle
Lennox's hand , for , IB I have said , ehe was
my gossip. At least I heard no more the
click of the knitting needles.
The mist came yet thicker , and through
It there shone now and then the flickering
leme of pale lightning , that flashed about us
all. Then we heard strangely near us the
jangling of the accoutrements of the troopers
and the sound of voices.
"Curse the Whig's mist , It has come on
again ! We canna steer for It ! " cried a
voice so near that the hill men stood closer
In their ranks , and my own heart leaped till
I heard U beat Irregularly within me.
We marked the sharp clip , clip , as the thod
horses struck the stones with their feet. Now
and then a man would clatter over his horse's
head as the poor beast bogged or itumbled.
Looking over between the trees , I could
faintly discern the tteel capi of the troopers
through the gloom as they wound In single
file between us and the water side. U was
but a scouting party , for In a moment we
heard a trumpet blow from the main body ,
which had kept the road that winds down to
the old ford over the Black Water on the
way from Kirkcudbright to New Galloway
ard Kenmulr.
In a little the founds came fainter on our
tars , and the awing and trample ot the hoofs
grew so far away that we could not hear them
any more.
But the great crowd * of people stood tor
It gave them color for more exactions , and for
keeping an army In the field , which , with pro
viding and accoutring , was also very profit
able for them.
But at the Duchrao we abode fairly scure.
At night we withdrew to th * birn , where be
hind the corn mow a very secure and quaint
hiding place had be n devised. In the barn
wall , as In most of the barns In that coun
try side , thete were no windows of any fclzc
In fact , nolhlng sav ; a number of three-
cornered wlckelf. These \\ere > far too smal
to admit the body of a man , but by EO.TO ex
ercise of Ingenious contrivance in keeping
with the spirit of an evil time , the bottom
stems of one of these wickets had been so
constructed that It turned outward upon a
hinge , which so enlarged the opening that ona
man at a time had no difficulty In passing
through. This cunning trapdoor was In the
gable end of the barn , and conducted the
fugitive behind the corn mow , in' which the
harvest sheaves were piled to the celling
Here we law many a time while the troopsrs
raged about the houw Itself , stabbing every
suspected corner of the corn and hay with
their blades , but leaving us quite cafe be
hind the great mass of the mow.
Yet for all It was a not unquiet time with
us , and I do not dny that I had much pleas
ant fellowship with Malsle Lennox.
But I have now to tell what befell at the
Duchrao one Sabbath evening , when the pur
suit had waxed dull after Bothwell and before -
fore the San uhar affair had kindled a new
flume.
At that time In Gallqway all the tailors
shoemakers and artificers tilld their work by
going from house to lieu o according as the
several families had ne fj of them. Nou
there was one man , vho , sat near us at the
conventicle , whose actions It was Impossible
to mistake. When the , trappers were jingling
past beneath us ho flung himself on the
ground and thrust bli plaid Into his moutl
to prevent his crying out fpr fear. So pltlfu
did he look that when \'f. was past my cousin
Wat went over and asked pf him :
"What manner of hll ( man art thou ? "
For Indeed the men of the broad benne
were neither coA\ar < ] a < nor nldderllngs. Bu
this fellow was shaking ; -with fear like the
aspen In an unequal wind ,
"I am poor Blrsay , tho9 cobbler , " the man
answered. "An * It plriue' your honor , I like
not to come BO near tbae III loons of soldiers. '
"What sent you to 'tliconventicle , then
when you fear the redcoats so greatly ? '
asked my cousin. a
The little man glanced up at my cousin
with a humoreome gleam In his eye. He was
bent together with crouching over his lap
atone , and as he walked he threw hlmsel
Into all kinds of ridiculous postures.
"Weel , " he said , "ye see , It's no easy ken
nln' what may happen. I hae seen a con
ventlcle scale In a hurry and leave as mony
as ten guld plaids on the grund forbye
Btblea and neckerchiefs. "
"But surely , " I Bald to the cqbbler , "you
do not st'al what the poor honest folk leave
behind them In their luste ? "
The word seemed to startle him greatly ,
"Na , na ; Dlrsay steals nane , atealln'a n
canny , " he cried. "Them that steals nines
In a tow , an' forbye , burns in muckle hell
bleezln' up In fuffln lows julst as the bcordle
auld man Sandy Peden Mid. "
And the cobbler Illustrated the nature of the
conflagration with his hand.
"Na , na , " he cried , In the strange , yam
mering speech of the creature , "there's nae
stealln' In gctherln' theglthcr what Ither
oiks hae strawcd , surely. That's I' the guld
bulk Itsel' . An' then after the blzz Is bye ,
an' the sough calmed doon , Dlrsny can gang
rae auld wife to auld wife and say to Ilka
yln , 'Ye wadna loss ocht lately , did ye , guld
wife ? ' 'Ay , ' says she. 'I lost my Bible , my
ilald or my kcrcher at the field preuchln ! '
Ay , woman , did ye ? ' says I. 'They're ter
rible loons thao sodg-rs for grlppln' and
mudln * . Nee I make boots for a seargeant
hat has mony a dlzzcn o' thae things. '
"WP that the auld wife begins to cock her
ugs. 'Maybes he has my bible ! ' 'I wndna
vunncr , ' says I. 'O , man , Blrsay , ' she says ,
I hao aye been a frean' o' yours , yo mlcht
o'en see gin he has It. nn' seek It aft him !
There's the texts an" beads o' mony pennons
o' guld Malstcr Welsh and precious Malstcr
Golhrle In the hlnner end o1 the bulk ! '
" 'So , ' says I , nff-tmnd like , 'supposln'
100 , julst supposln' that Sergeant Multi-other
las gotten your bit bulk , and that for
reendshlp to me ho was wullln' to palrt
wl't , what wad the bit bulk bo worth to ye ?
Ye see It's treason to hao sic a thing , and
rank conspiracy to thl and barter to get It
jack but what wull frcemls no do to
oblcego yln anlther ! ' "
"Ay , man , Bfrsay , " I said , to encourage
dim , for I saw that the little man loved to
talk. " nn' what wull the auld body do
then ? "
"Faith , she'll gle mo the siller to tak' to
Sergeant Mulfeather and get back her bit
buklc. An' that's julst what Blrsay wall do
l1 rlcht gnld wull , " ho concluded cantlly.
"And hae ye ony malr to tell me. Ulrsay ? "
I asked him. For his talk cheered the day.
and as for belief , there was no reason that
one should believe more than seemed good
of Blrsay's conversation.
"Ay , there's wan thing : more that Blrsay
: ias to say to yo. You an' that braw lad
wl' the e'en llko a lassie's are no richt
Whigs , I'm thlnkln' . Ye'll nlbllna be o' the
same way of thlnkln' ns mysel' ! "
At this I pretended to bo much discon
certed , and said : "Wliecsht , Blrsay ! Up
canny wl' your tongue ! Mind wliaur yo are'
What mean you ? "
Trust Illrsay , " he returned cunningly ,
cocking his frowsy head like n year-old
sparrow. "Gin the king , honest man , never
comes to malr harm than you an' me wusses
: ilm , he'll come gey wccl oot o' some o' the
ploys that they blame him for. "
"How kenned ye , Illrsay , " I said , to humor
Him. "that we wcrna Whigs ? "
" 0 , I kenned brawley by the fashion o'
your slioon. Time sheen were never made for
Whigs , but for honest king's folk. Na , na ,
: hey dlnna gree weel wl' the moss-broo ava
iliac sort wl' the narrow nebs and single
solos. Only decent , sweerln' , regardless folk ,
that wiiss the king weel , tryst bhoon like
them ! "
It was clear that Blrsay thought us as great
iraltors and spies In the camp as he was
Himself. So he opened his heart to us. H
was not a flattering distinction , but as the
confidence of the little man might be an
ckment In our own safety and that of our
[ rlends on some future occasion , I felt that
weould assuredly not undeceive him.
But wo had to pay for the distinction , for
from that moment he favored us with a
prodigious deal of his conversation , which ,
LO tell the truth , savored but seldom of
wit and often of sculduddery.
Blrsay had no hense of his personal dis
honor , and would tell the most alarming
story to his own discredit , without wincing
n the least. He held It proof ot his superior
caution that he had always managed to keep
Ills skin safe , and so there was no more
o be said.
'Ay , ay , " said Illrsay , "these are no canny
times to be amang the wild hill folk. Yln
wad need to boeel payed for It a' . There's
the two black McMlchaels they wad think
nae malr o' splatterln' your harns again the
dyke than o' klllln' n whutterick. Deil a
tialr. An' then , on the Ither hand , there's
Ill-contrived turncoats like Westerha' that
wad aye be pluff-pluffln' poothcr and shot
nt pulr men If they were mulrfowl. An'
tie's no parteeclcr eneuch ava wha he
catches , an' never will listen to n word. "
"Then there's the awesome nlchta whan
the ghalsta and worlocks are about. I canna
bide the nlcht ava. God's dayllcht Is guld
eneuch for Blrtay , an' as lang as the sun
shines there nae fear o' dell or wltchwfo !
gettln * hand o' the pulr cobbler chlel ! But
\\lien the gloamln' cuddles doon intll Iho lap
o' the nlcht , and the corpcannLs lowe i' the
bogs , an' yo hear the dells lauchln' and chun-
nerln' to themselves In a' the busses at the
rcadsldes , I declare every stound o' manhood
fle awa' clean oot o' Blrsay's heart , an' he
wad like to dee but for thought o' the After
come. An' 'deed. In the mlrkeerle .nMdnlcht ,
whether he's fearder to dee or to leeve , pulr
Hlrsay dlsna ken ! "
"Hut , Blrsay , " I said , "Ill-doers are Ill-
dreaders. Gin ye were to drap a' this thl
ery an' clash-carryln' wark , yo wadna be
fear.d o' man or dell ! "
"Weel do I ken , " Blrsay said , "that slccan
ploys are no for the like o' me but man , ye
t > eo , like Ither folk , I'm terrible fond of the
siller. An' there's nocht BO comfortln' , wh n
a' thao things arrt yammerln' to get haud
o' ye , as the thocht that ye hao'a wofl .filled
Btockln'-flt whaur nane but yersel' can gst
haud o't ! "
And the creature writhed himself In glee
and slapped his thigh.
"Yae stockln' fu' , man , " ho said , "an * tied
wl' a string , an' the Ither begun , an' as far
up as the Instep. O man , it's blytho to
think on ! "
"But heard ye o' the whummel I gat off
thl ? verra Duchrao kitchen laft ? " said Illr
say. He oftsn came over In the gloaming
on ni nowegatherlng expedition. For It wat
a pleasure to give him news of a kind , and
my ccusln , who had not a great many occupa
tions since Kate McQhle had gone back to
the great House of Balmaghie , took a sp-c
delight In craklng up stories ot so ridiculous
a nature that Blrsay , retailing them at head
quarters , would without doubt soon find his
credit gone.
"The way o' that was this , " Blrsay con
tinued. "As I telled ye , I gun frao noose
to hooso In the exercise o1 my trade , for
there's no slo a suiter 1' the countryside as
Blrsay , though he says It hlmser , an' no
slccan watertight sheen as his ever gaed on
the fit o' man. Weel , It was ae nlcht last
winter , 1' the short days , Blrsay was to
begin wark at the Duchrae at sax by the
clock , an' when it comes to coontln' hours
wl' Auld Anton Lnnox o' the Duchrae , ye
maun begin or the clock has dune the strlk <
In' . Faith , an a * the Lennoxes are the
same , they'll baud the nose o' ye to the
grindstone an' the weemen o' them are
every hair as bad as the men. The-ro's auld
Lucky Lennox o' Lennox Plunton what said
ye ? aweel , I'll gang on wl' my story , gin
yo like , but what's a' ttio stc r so sudden ,
the nlcht'B of ore u"s ?
"As I was cayln' , I bad to start at Auld
Anton's on the Monday morning' , gey an'
early , BO I thocbt I wad do my travelln' In
time o' day , an' get to the Duchrae afore
the gloamln , ; an * In that way I wad get the
bolter o' the bogies , the dells o' the bogs
the black horse o' the Hollan Lane , an' a1
sic uncanny cattle.
"But I minded that the auld ted , Antor
Lennox , was a terrible man for examtnin
In the Carrltches , an' aye speer-specrln' at
yo what la tbo Reason Annexed to some
perfectly unreasonable command an' that
kind o' talk dlsna suit Blrsay ava. So
what did I do but started ewer in tbo after
noon , an' gat there julst about tbo time
whan the kye are mllklt , an' a' the folk
eythcr at the byre or In the stable.
"So I watched my chance frae the end o
the hooso , an' when no a leevln' soul was to
be seen , I sllpplt up the stairs , upeelln' on the
rurgs o' the ladder wl' my etockln' eoles
as quiet as pussy.
"Then , when I got to the middle o' the
laft , wharun the big hole o' the lum Is , wl
the reek hlngln * thick afore It gangs oot a
the rlggln' o' the hcose , I kecklt doon ; am
there at the table , wl' his elbows on thi
wood , sat Auld Anton takln * his Ics on oo
o' the big Bible , like the bauld auld Whig
that he Is , his whinger In a leather tashe
swlngln' alilnt him. lt'n a queer thing tha
for a' cao often as I hae telled the curate
aboot him , he has. never steered him. There
maun be something no very thorogh a boo
the curate , an' be none so great a hero wl
the pint stoup either , man !
"Aweel , as the forenlcht sllpplt on , an * the
lassies cam' In frae the byre , an' lads fra
the stable , It was just an I expected , They
drew up their stools aboot the hearth , go
out their Bibles , an * warmed their Uos
Lord preserve me , to tee them stttln *
croose an' canty ewer Effectual Callln * an
Reason Annexed , as gin they had b en crtckin
an * slngln' In a changebDOs : ! They're a quee
fowk thae Whig * . It wad hue scunnered a
see ! An' twa-tbrco n&ebora cam' In by to ge
9 Business Is not a guino of clinnco nt our store ; when you maxo your pur
9I 9I I chnscs of us you [ jot yourmnncy's worth. There uro no OLD CI1KSTNUTS
I in Farnituro Dojwvtmcnt , and no MOTH KA.TKN CARPETS on our
shelves. Nolthor do wo advertise to gull nn article for Two Dollars that is
i worth Seven. Dealers who resort to such methods will bear watching and
} are on a par with STRKIJT FAKIRS. You knoyv them.
}
}
The success of the New Big Store is attributed solely to HotT
O fable Methods well made poods at reasonable prices. Wo furnish
.your homo cjiuploto. One Price to everybody , whether you buy for
cash or on Easy PaymentsWe take pleasure in nhowintf you
through our immense establishment , whether you wish to purchase or not.
SPECIAL INDUCEMENTS
To NEW BEGINNERS in Housekeeping ,
LAFAYETTE
Luke Jllnnctonki , Minn.
SL-.I OII of 19HS bi'ilm
Juno Uinil L.KAI > INO
SUMMKIl IIOTKr , OF
THK WKST. Krery ron n
'aci'H tliu 1-iko llc.iltli-
fill location. All modern
comfortH. dally conccrln -
Hno Hconory.bcHt or nshlnir and unllliie. One hour from St I'-uil. BO mlmiti's from MlimcnpollB. Pro'
audit trains , Aildri-BH K. V. IIOLCOMliR , Uieat Northern llulUlnir , ST. 1'AUL , MINNESOTA , untl1
JunoiO , iiticr that nt Hotel.
creiitcit appetite , filils YOUR DRUGGIST SELLS IT.
flla'Htlo > i , i//rt/ ( * vain
V * > uif ttroilnct'H fcfrcKlt'
V till7r 'li. It ( a poiitively BlackTonicMed.Co
guaranteed to cure any { linen , . ,
If you have not given It a Manufacturers ,
' 1 do so to-day and watch
miraculous powers
the benefit o' the cxcrceescs ! Faith ! If
Clovers had come by the road ho wad liao
landed a bonny flaucht o' them , for there
washa yln o' the rlvo but had grlppet sword
at cither o' the twa rlsln's. For a' the nuld
carles had been at Pentland an' a'
the young plants o' grace had been at
Bothwell ay , an' Auld Anton an' twa-turee
malr had been at them baltli ; an" gin there
had been a third he wad hao been there ,
too , for he's a grim auld carle , baltli gash
and sleeve , wl' his bible an' his brass-muntlt
pistols an' Ills Effectual Callln' !
"Then bywhlles , atwecn the spells o' the
questions , some o' the young ylns fell
atalkln' , for even Auld Anton canna haud
the tongues o' the young blrkles , an * nmang
Ither things what did the loons do but start
to lay their Ill-Ecraplt tongues on me , an'
begood to mlsca' pulr Blrsay for a' that
was 111 ! "
" 'Listeners hear nae gtild o' themselves'
Is an auld-ferrant say , Blrsay , " I said.
"Aweel , " the suitor went on , "that's as
may be. At ony rate It was 'Blrsay this'
an' 'Blrsay that , ' till ever porrldge-fcd spcl-
dron nn' Ill-gabblt mlmmoo'ed blzzlo had a
lick at pulr Blrsay.
"But at the lang an' lost the nuld man
heard them at it , an' ho was julst the man
to let them hear aboot It on the deafest sldP
o' their helds. Ho was aye a don at re-
provln' , was Auld Anton. No mony o' the
preachers could haud a can'lo to him at tbe
job. "
"Is It no a gey queer thing , " said Blrsay ,
breaking off nls story , "that when wo set to
an' curse a' an' sundry , they ca' It profane
sweerln' , an' mlsca' us for awesome sinners ,
but when they lay their tongues to their
enemies on" curse them , It's ca'ed a testi
mony an' printed In a bulk ? "
The thing did Indeed strike mo as strange ,
but I desired to keep Blrsay to bis story ,
so I only said :
"But , Blrsay , what did the auld man eay
to them when ho heard them mlsca'ln' you ? "
"Oh , bo e'en telled them tha It wad fit
them better to look to their aln life an'
conversation , an1 that It wld bo tellln' them
yao day , gin they had made as guld a Job
of their life wark as Blrsay made o' his
bits o' sheen a malst sensible an' just ob
serve ! Faltb , the auld ted la nane sao 111
an auld carle , though slccan a dour and
malsterfu' Whig. He kens guld wark when
he sees It !
"So when they were a slttln' gey an' aham'-
faced under this reproof , whang ! doon on the
hearthstane fell my suitor's elsliln the can-
keraome tnlns had sllppltt o' my pooch
an' drappit ewer th edge or the hole In the
laft aboon the fireplace ,
" 'Preserve u& , ' I thought to ) myself , 'It's
a' by wl' Blrwy noo. They'll be up the stair
ewarmln' like a bee'a byke. ' But when I
kek It omer , they were ai slttln' gapln' at
the elsliln that had rtottlt on to the floor. An'
what wl' mo atoerln1 an' lookln' ewer the
edge , clash fell my braid knife , that I cut
the leather wl' oot o' my pooch.
"It fell on the clean stane , an' then lap to
the side , nearly on tbe knees o' a great fat
gussle o' a loon tbo ca' Jock Wabster. An'
Jock was In slccjn a hurry to get oot o' tha
road o' the thing for he thocht It wasna
canny that he owwbabnced hlmsel' , and ,
certest owe a he gaed among the Insult. * , Btool
an * a' , wl' an awesome clatter. An' a' the
lassies cried oot wl' frlcht an' gruppit tin
lad they llklt best , for there's a deal o1
human nature even amang the Whigs , thai
the Covenants canna fettle , nor yet Effectual
Callln' keep In bounds , and nae Hoot tliero'i
Reason Annexed for that to ! "
'My sang , but when Auld Anton got him
straucht on his chair again , whatna tonguu
threshln' did he no glo the laraea. an' Indeed
a' the lave o' them. He caa'ed them for
a'thlng that was bad , and telled them what
kin' o' black 111 consciences they bood hao
to bo feared o' a wee bit thing that was
but wood an' aim. But when they shoned
him the knife * wliaur It lay gllntln' on tha
hearth ( for nae man o * them daurcd to touch
It ) , Anton was a wee thing staggered hlmser ,
an' Bald It was a sign sent ta reprove them
for speakln' aboot pulr Blrsay on a Sabbath
nlcht. 'It was a dell's portent , ' he said , 'an1
nae mortal man ever forged that steel , an1
gin onybody touched It ho wadna wunner
but it wud burn him to the bane , com In'
dlrec' frae slo a place as It had dootless loupll
frae. '
This tickled me sao terribly that I crcepll
a wee nearer to ECO the auld tod's face na
ho laid It off to them about the dell's elihln
an' his leather knife that had baltli been bocbl
frao Rab Tnmmin , the hardware man In the
Vennel o' Dumfries , an' wasna payed for
yet ! When what d'yo think happened ?
"Na , ye couldna guess weel , I creeplt
maybe a hair ewer near the edge. The
auld rotten board glcd way wl' me , an' doon
Blrsay fell amang the peats on the hearth-
Etane , landln * on my hlndcrlands wl' a branga
that nearly brought the hooso doon. I gaed
yea skeloch as I fell , but , graclouB me , " said
Illreay , waving his hands , "that was as
naethlng to the scratch that the fowk aboot
the fire gled. They scattered llko a ( lock o'
wild deuks when a chalrge o' shot splalrges
amang them. They thocht the 111 auld boy
was coined Into the midst o' them , an' we *
yao consent they made for the door. Jock
Wabster took the hill baa-haaln' llko a calf
as he ran , an * even bauld Auld Anton stood
by the door cheek wl' his sword point
atween him an' the dell whummelt on Ills
hearthhtane !
"But I dldna bide lang amang the reed
pelts , as ye may gues' . I was rcramblln' oot ,
whan the ould man grubblt me by the cuff
o' the neck , on' maybes because he had be n
a kennln * frlchtlt hlinsel' , he gled pulr lilr-
say an awesome warm pair o' lugs. Ha
near dang me stuplt. Gin I had gano to the
laft to escape Effectual Callln' , he dldna
scruple to gin me Effectual Daudln' , an *
that without any speerln' or as muckle' * a
single reason annexed ! "
"And what , " I said , "same of Jock Wab
ster ? "
" 'Deed as for Jock , " said Blrsay , "he got
great experience o' religion and gaed to join
John Gib and his company on the Flowe o'
tbe Deerslunk , where Maluter Lennon van
quished them. But he dlnna catch Jock ,
for Jock said gin he had beat the dell flat-fit
In a race , he wasna feared for ony Lennox
o' the squad. But Jock was aye ewer great
wl' the weernen folk , an * sao John Gib'n
notions julst suited him , "
Here Blrsay made an end of his story ,
for Anton Lennox himself came In , and of
him Ulrsay stood In great and wholesome
fear.
( To be Continued. )
