20 THE OMAIIA DAITjY BEE ; SUNDAY , JUNE 0 , 1895.
( Copyright , U03 , by R. n. Crockflt. )
CHAPTER XXIV. Concluded.
Wat had Just arrived with my mother and
little Margaret of Glenvornock , who , winding
herself about her heart , had become as her
own child to her. They were weary and In
need of rest , but when I had told my news
and thu warning I had gotten from Gash
Gabriel In the fearaomo prcclnc'H of the hut
of Corpllcht Kate , every one felt the need cf
at once forsaking the hut and betaking ourselves -
selves to Cove Macatvrlck , which , If not so
pleasant or commodious , was at least far
moro safe.
So we loaded ourselves with Hugh Kerr'a
meal , and the llttlu bits of things that the
lasaes had gathered about them or brought
with them. My mother carried only an
oaken s'aff ' In her hand and her beloved sil
ver spoon ( with "Mary Hopa" on It In antique
letters ) , which her father had given her Tor
her own when she teamed to read , and first
took her place at the table above the salt ,
" 0 what wad ho hao said that was Lord
PriB'.dent of Session lnhls time , gin he had
%
seen mo llnkln' owcr the heather wi * my coits
kilted In my auld age ? " my mother cried out
once when wo hurried her , for she had over
a great notion of her Uncage , though Indeed
the Hopes are nothing to compare with the
Gordons for antiquity or distinction.
"I think your father was 'at the horn' malr
nor ylnco hlmsel' mlthcr , " said I , remember
ing certain dafllng tslk of my father's.
"Aye , and that Is just as true , " salJ my
mother , reconciling herself to her position ,
"forbyo the wlfo aye wears the cockade of
her lord. "
I thought of my Lady of Lochlnvar , and
barkened to Wat talking low to Kate Mc-
Ghle. I3ut I kept my mother by my side ,
and left Malste Lennox to herself , remem
bering the fifth commandmsnt , and knowIng -
Ing likewise that It would please Malsle best
If I took caie of my mother.
Thus we came to Cove Macaterlck.
Now the cove Is not wet and chill , as al
most all sea caves are , wlure the water
stands on the floor and drips from every
crevice. But It was at least fairly dry , If
not warm , and had been roughly laid with
wood dug from the Howes , not squared at
all , but only filled In with heather tops till
the floor was elastic like the carpets of
Whitehall.
There was , aj I have said , an Innerand
anouter cave , one opening out of the other ,
each apartment belns about sixteen feet
every way , but much more toward the roof.
And so It remained till late years , when as
t hear from the herd of the Shalloch , the
rocks of the Galry face seem to have settled
more down upon themselves , and so con
tracted the space. Hut the cave remains to
this day on the back hill of the Star over
the waters of Loch Macaterlck. The place
Is very lonely. Only the whaups and the
mountain sheep cry there , as they did in
our hiding times.
Wo gave the Inner ( and higher ) room to
the women folk , and divided the space with
a plaid hung up In the spacs which formed
t doorway.
We found Anton Lennox much recovered ,
but still very weak and pale. He sat propped
up on his heather bed against the side of
the cave , even whsn It was too dark to see ,
is It mostly was , his great sword leaning
igalnst the wall by his side.
I need not tell of the joy there was when
Maisle Lennox greeted her father , and we
that had been so scattered drew together
nco more. Hut as soon as I had told Wat
Df the happenings at the hut of Corpllcht
Kate , nothing would servo him but we must
set out and try and Intercept her from ful
filling her mission. Our trail from the
bower among the trees was fresh and might
bo followed. Wat determined at all costs to
turn the witch , and , having brought her U
her house , to keep a watch upon her there ,
at least till the rain had washed away our
tracks down the mountain side , and con
tused them among the moss-hags.
So , leaving most unwillingly the snug and
sheltered place of Cove Macaterlck , we
stepped out Into the gloomy and threatening
night. The fire still dickered , and the thun
der rolled continuously , but the rain held
off. The natural had mentioned that his
mother was making over the hill to Stralton ,
where for the time being Mardroqhat , the
informer , dwelt , and where was a troop of
liorso for the overawing of the country.
We decided that we should take our course
In that direction , past Peden's hut , where
the great wanderer had abode so often. It
was an uncanny nteht. but wo stumbled
long , now falling Into moss-hags almost to
the waist , scrambling out again , and so on
without a word of complaining. Wat's at-
tlro was not now such as that which he had
aonned to visit my Lady Wellwood. It was
but stout hodden gray and a checked plaid
like the rest.
So we mounted shoulder after shoulder of
heathery hillside , like veK > els that speed over
tndless billows of the sea against a head
wind. The thunder cloud which seemed to
prood upon the outer circles of the hills and
are you that r ak so lightly }
irch over the country of Macaterlck and the
Star grumbled nearer and nearer. Not sel-
lom there came a fierce , white , whlmpllng
flash , and the mountains seemed ready to
burn up In the glare. Then darkness ? blacker
than tver , and the thunder shaking the
svorld as though It had been a houseplace
With tkellets and pans clattering on the wall.
We had been walking for some time , bear
ing breast to the brae all the time , leaning
forward as a liorso leans to Its collar. We
came In time near to the height of the pass.
We could not see a yard before us , but we
( elt the ground begin to level In front ; and
lot we were In the throat ot the defile with
the hills black above us on either side.
Suddenly there was a terrible white flash of
lightning , brighter and longer continued
than any we had setn. The air teemed to
( trow the black of Indigo. The tliunder tore
the heavens' without ceasing. Flash followed
.rending flash ; Immediately before us on a hil
lock we saw a wouderous eight. There sat
Gsh Gibrlel , the Idiot , crouched squat llku
l d , at Ui hetd of a wouun who lay with
[
her arms straight at her sides , as though
stretched for burial.
As we stood Illuminated against the murky
blackness of the pass the monstrous thing
caught sight of us and waved his hands ,
dancing , as It seemed , upon spindles of legs.
How he had come so far and so swiftly on
such a night I cannot tell. But without
doubt there lie was on the highest rock of
the pass with the dead woman stretched at
his feet , and the fitful blue gleam of the
lightning pla > lng all about him. H was not
l comely or r canny right.
"Come yo here , " cried the Idiot lad ,
wavering above us ns though he were
danclngln the rsek of the pit , "and see what
Von has done to my mtther. I aye tolled
her how It wad be. It docs na good to
strive wl' Yon. Yon can gle ye your palks
so brave and easy. Ilut my mlthcr , she
wad never hear reason , and so there she
lies , streekcd on the 'Nick o' the Dead
Wife. ' You has riven the life frae my
mlther ! "
\Vo were close at his side by this time ,
and we saw a strange sight that shook our
nerves more than the thunder. A woman
of desperately evil countenance lay looking
up past us , her eyes fixed with an expres
sion of bitter wrath and scorn upon the
black heavens. Her face and hands were of
a deep crimson color , either by the visitation
of God or by the flickering flame of wlldflra
that played about us.
Gash Gabriel surveyed the sight with a
kind of satisfaction. He went herpllng
about It round and round. Ho squatted
with crossed legs at Its head.
"What think ye o' that ? " he asked.
"That's my mlther. She's near as bonny
as me , think ye no ? Yon mlcht hao made
her bonnier to look at In He was to be so
111 to her. "
And he crouched still lower down again ,
and took the terrible scarlet-stained face
and neck on his knses.
"Mlther ! mlther ! " he walled , "aye telled
yo It wad come to this mockln' Yon dlsna
do. A wee while maybe He lets ye gang
on ; but no for lang ! You can bide His
time , and julst when ye are crawlln' croose
and thlnkln' on how blythe and canty ye
are blaffl like a fiatight o' flre Yon comes
upon ye , and where are ye ? "
He took a long and apparently well-satis
fied look at his mother.
"There ye are , an' by my faith ye are no
bonny , mlther o' mine. I telled ye what
It wad be afore Yon had dune wl' ye. "
It chilled our blood to hear the twisted
being cry out thus upon the mother that
bore him. He seemed even pirated that
what he had foretold had como to pass.
We stood , Wat and I , In silent amaze before
him , as the storm continued to blare till all
above us seemed but the mouth of a great
black trumpjt.
Sometimes * wo seemed to bo in a largo
place , rlbbsd nnd raftered with roaring
sound , upholstered with pale violet and blue
lightning Hashes ; and then again the next
moment we were shut within a tent of vel
vet blackness like a pall , with only the
echoes of the war of the midnight rolling
away back among the hills. There seemed
no God or Pity abroad that night to look
after pulr intilr-wnndered folk , tut only
mocking devils that rode on the horses of
the pit.
"Come awa hame , Gabriel , " said I , "ye
can do her little good. I fsar she's by wl'
"By wl' It ! " quoth the Natural , fleerlngly.
"Na , only beginning wl' It. D'ye no ken ,
hlll-man-wl'-the-hlrpllnG-leg , lhat Yon has
gotten her. I sea her stannln' afore Yon ,
wl' her face like red fire , a. black lie In her
mouth and Ill-Intent In her heart. For , aa
the tree falls , so doth It lie. "
The Imp seemed to have gotten the words
at some field-preaching.
"Think ye I dldna warn her ? " he went
on. "Yon , braw chlel , ye hae gotten youi
warnln * this nlcht. Meddle na wl' Yon.
neither dare Him to his face lest He be
angry , for He can BO easily set His heel
on ye. "
He stroked the hair off the dead woman's
brow with a hand that looked like a hairy
claw.
"Aye , an' ye were'na sic and 111 mlther
to me , though you selled yourael' to Ye-
Ken-What Whatna steer there Is aboot
the soul o' a puir auld body. Hear till
It
And he waved his hands to the four alrts
of heaven , and called us to hearken to the
hills shaking themselves to places. "Slccan
a steer aboot a pulr feckless auld woman
gaun to her aln place ! I wonder Yon l ! >
not ashamed o' hlmsel' ! "
And the twisted man-thing put his hands
to his brow and pressed the palms upon
his eyes , as If to shut out the unceasing
pulsing of the lightning and the roar of Hit
anger of God breaking up on the moun
tains.
"Sao mucklo for sae little an1 after a * nao
pleasure In the thing ! I dlnna see what there
Is In the Ulack Man's service to malt" slccan
a brag aboot. Gin ye sup tasty kail wl' him
In the fore nlcht , he aye caa's roond wl' the
lawln' I' the mornln' !
"Loan ! Losh ! Sae muckle for sao little , I
declare I will cut cot the three marks that
my mlther made on me , and gang doon to
Peden at the Shalloch. I want nae malr sic
wark as this ! Na , though I was born wl' the
Ulack Man's livery on me !
"Preserve us ! This is as fearsome as that
year there was nae meat in the hoose , and
Gabriel brocht some back , and brocht It , and
brooht It even as It was needed , and Kate o'
the Corpllcht she readied It and asked nae
questions. Hut only tearln' belly-hunger gled
us strength to eat that awesome meat. An'
a' the neighbors died of starvation , Ton-
skcn and the Slav an' the bonny Hill o' the
Buss , a' save Gib and his mlthcr , their
leevln' lanes. But jae nictit Yon sent
Gabriel's sn : to find him oot ; or maybe the
Black Th.ng gat lowse , for that It was his
hour.
"And pulr Gabriel gat a terrible frlcht
that nlcht.
"Wad ye like to hear ? Aweel , pulr Gabriel
was lying on his bed up that stair , an' what
think ye there cam to him ! "
He paused and looked at us with a coun
tenance so blanched and terrible that we had
almost turned and ran , for the lightning
played upon It until It seemed to glow with
an unholy light , and that not from without ,
but from within. It was the most terrible
thing to be alone with such a living creature ,
and such a dead woman In the lonesome place
he had called the"Nick of the Dead Wife. "
What with the chattering of our teeth and
the flicker of the flre. the old dead witch
seemed to rise and nod at us.
"So Gabriel , pulr man , lay and listened In
his nakoi he. ] , for ho had gotten tilu fill that
nlcht , though u' the lave were hungry , an'
that o' his aln provldln * . But as he lay he
heard a step come to the door , an' the sneck
lifted , an' a foot that waena his mlther's
came Into the passage , dunt-duntln' like a
lametcr hcrplln' on two staves !
"An * then there cam a hard footstep on
the stair , and a rattle o * fearsome-llke soonds ,
as the thing cam up the ladder. Gabriel
kenned na what It mlcht be. An' whan the
door opened an * the man wl' the wooJen
feet cam In preserve me , but he was a
weary-lookln * tyke.
" ' \Vhaur frae ? ' salj
\ cam ye Gabriel.
" 'Frao the gravel' says he. Ho hadna
muckle to tay , but his e'en war like glmblets.
" 'What mak's your e'en tae white an'
deep ? '
" 'The grave ! ' says he. He hadna muckle
to say , but he pak"dourey than ever.
" 'What mak'a yo lauch sao wide at pulr
Gabriel ? '
" 'The grave , ' say he. Ho hadna muckle
to say , but he stepplt to the bedtlde.
" 'What made that great muckle hole In
your ilde ? '
'You made III' cried tbe ghaUt , loupln'
The partnership ot Berry & Lincoln was cot
I'V iT- * rA < M4 . * > * . * a/ l AlIkolit
at Grabrlel's throat ; an * pulr Gabriel kenned
nae malr , ' "
And even as the monster shouted out the
last words the words of the specter of his
vision Gash Gabriel teemed to us to dilate
end lean forward as If to spring upon us.
The wild flre reeled about as though the ele
ments were drunken , and Wat and I fairly
turned and fled , shouting Insanely with terror
na uo ran , leaving the ftrlckcn witch with
the face of Mood , and that .misshapen elf
raving and shouting on the hillside these
two alone nt midnight In the "Nick of the
Dead Wlfp. "
"Aye , rln , rln , " we heard him call after
us , "Uln fast nnd Yon will no catch ye till
It Is your hour ! "
And truly Wat and I did run In earnest ,
stumbling nnd crjlng out In our terror , now
foiling and now getting up , then falling to
the running again without a single word.
So ns we came liot-fcot over the Illg of
Lochrlcaur we seemed to run Into the sheeted
rain , for where we had been only the blue
dry fire had ringed its , but here we ran Into
'
the downpour as tho'ugh the fountains of the
deep of heaven were broken up and wert
falling In a white epate upon the world.
We were more wet , weary , and terrified
more than we had ever been In our Jives
before we reached the hermitage of the cave
of Macaterlck. There we found the women
waiting for us , listening to the roar with
out , and hearkening In the lown blinks to
Auld Anton Lennox praying , while the
lightning seemed to run Into the cavj nul
shine on the blade of the sword he h W In
his right hand. So wo stripped our vet
clothes nnd lay In tlyj outer pl.ics all the
night , where there was n flro of * ed peats ,
and the women withdrew themselves Into
their Inner sanctuary. I could see the
anxiety In their eyes when we came In. for
they could not but n o the ghastly Inrir
In our faces. But without any agreement
between ourselves Wat nnd I rllent/ ! re
solved that we should imt acquaint nry of
the party with the Judgments of lint night.
CHAPTER XXV.
A DESIRABLE GENERXL A'KETING.
The morning dawned colder mid more
chilly. The catch of the autumn of I ho year
wns In the air , and It was'ahre.v lly cold
till the sun looked over the hills in the ttist.
This was the great day of the Societies'
general meeting , which find been ummoned
In the wilds of Shalloch on Mlnnoch.
Though the morn dawned caller , with a
white rime of frost lying on the grass and
making gray the leaves of the trees , the
day of the great conventicle was one of great
and luring heat. My mother was set to go
and Kato McGhle also. Wat must accom
pany them , and I had a letter from Gronlngen
which I behoved to read. With Anton Len
nox , stout of heart even In sickness , absdo
my laps Malslo Lennox , of whom ( though I
looked to be back on the morrow ) , I took
leave with sorrow and a heavy and sinking
heart.
For us that were used to making a herd's
track acro3 the hills , It was not a long step
over the tnoors to the foot of the Gralgfaclo
of Shalloch , where the general meeting of
the Societies was to take place. But It was
a harder matter with my mother.
She needed help over every little brink of
a peat brow , and qs wo passei Tonskeen ,
where there Is a herd's house In the wild ,
far from man and very quiet with Go I , I ran
to get her a staff , which the shepherd's good
wife gladly gave. For there was little that
would bo 'refused to a wanderer In these
parts when on his way to a Societies' meet
ing.
ing.Wo left the strange , unsmiling face of
Loch Macaterlck behind , and took our way
for the rocky cllnt , up which wo had to
climb. We went by the rocks that are
called the Rig of Carclacli , where there Is
a pas less steep , to the long , wild moor
of the Shalloch-on-Mlnnoch. H was a weary
job getting my mother up the face of the
galry , for she had so many knick-knacks
to carry and so many observes to make.
But when wo got to the broad plain top of
the Shallock Hill It was ea.iler to go , though
at first the ground was boggy , so that wo
took off our stockings and kept on the dyrett
part. Wo left the burn of Knocklach on our
left , playing at kcek-boglo among the
heather and bent , now standing stagnant In
pools. ' , now ringing cleav over slaty stones ,
and again disappearing altogether llko a
hunted covenanter.
As soon as we came ove- ' the brow we
could see the folk sa'-hfi-iii ! ; . U was wonder
ful to see them. Little bla''k Jots move !
across the green meadows In whl'U the faiin-
steaillng of the Shalloch-on Mlnitcnas bet
a cherry little house , thatched and with a
pew of blue kinoke from Its chimney telling
of cheer and warm hearts within. Over the
short brown heather of the ' .ops ( he wander
ers came , as we were d..lng otti.e\es : ,
past the lonely trees at the Rowantree , by
the hillside track to Stralton , up the little
runlet banks where the heather was blushing
purple , they wended their ways all toward
one place In the hollow. There alreidy
there was a thick cloud cf folk under the
rlckle of stones that runs slldlngly down from
the steep brow of Cralgfaclc.
As we drew nearer we could see the not
able Session Stone , a broad , fiat stone over
hanging the little pourle burn that tinkles
and lingers among the slaty rocks , shining
bone white In the glare of the autumn sun ,
I never saw a fairer place , for the heights
about are good for sheep , and all the other
hills withdrawn and distant. It has not the
eye-taking glorious beauty of the glen of
Trool , but It looked a Sabbath land of
benediction and peace that ( Jay of the great
Societies' meeting.
Upon the Session Stone the elders were
met , mostly white-headed men with dinted
and furrowed faces , bowed and broken by
long sojourning among the moss hags and
the caves.
When we came to the place we found the
folk gathering for prayer before the confer
ence ot the chosen delegates of the societies.
The women sat on plaids that had been
folded for comfort. Opposite the Session
Stone was a wide heathery amphitheater ,
where , as on tiers of seats , rows of men
and women could elt and listen to the
preachers. The burnle's voice filled up the
breaks In the speech , as It ran small and
black , with the drouth under the hollow of
the bank. For the rain and storm of
the night had not reached this side of the
bill.
bill.I
I sat down on a Hchened stone and looked
at the grave , well-armed men that gathered
fast about the Session Stone , and on the
delegates' side of the water. U was a
fitting place lor such a gathering , lor only
tae tsnctisninuu , > tiiuuii > uoMii7t
the tuMkarUU * tax t dwr ic-l
from the lonely brown hills above could the
little cup of conventlcla bo seen In the lap
ot tbe hill. And on all the moor tops that
lookfd every way , couching torpid and
drowsed In the hot sun , were to be seen the
sentinels , pacing the hrathcr llko watchmen
on the going round and telling the towers ot
Zlon , the sun flashing on their spikes and
musket barrels as they turned sharply like
Well-disciplined men.
The only opening was to the southwest ,
but even there only the distant hills of Col-
monell looked In , blue add serene. Down
In the hollow there was a glint of melancholy
Loch Moan , lying all nbrond among Its
green , wet heather , and stretches of yellow
bent.
bent.What
What was most surprising In this assembly
was the entire absence of anything like con
cealment. From every quarter , up from the
green mcndons of the Mlnnoch valley , over
the scaurs of the Stralton hills , down past
the cralgs of Cralgfacle , over from the deep
howe of Cnrsphnlrn , streams of men came
walking and riding. The sun glinted on their
war gear. Had there been a trooper within
miles upon any of the circle of hills the
dimples of light could not have ben misted ,
for they caught the sun and flecke.l the
heather , as when one looks upon a sparkling
. ° ea with the sun rising over It , when each
wave carries Us own glint ot light with It
upon Its crest.
As I looked th heart within me became
glad with a great joy. So long had we hidden
and run like hares that we had forgotten that
there were so many In the like case only
needing drawing together to bo the one power
In the land. But the time was not yet.
I asked of a dark , long-haired man who
stood near us what was the meaning of such
a gathering. He looked at me with a kind ot
pity , and 1 saw the enthusiasm flash from
his eye.
"The Seven Thousand ! " he said ; "ken yo
not the Seven Thousand upon the hills of
Scotland that never bowed the knes to Baal ? "
"Pardon me , friend , " said I , "but long hid
ing on the mountains has made me Ignorant.
But who are the Seven Thousand ? "
"Have > o Indeed hidden on the mountain
and ken not that. Did ye never hear of them
that wait for the time appointed ? "
I told him no.
"Then , " said he , "who may you be that
kens EO little ? "
I said that I wns William Gordon , younger
son of the persecuted house ut the Gordons
of Earlstoun.
"Oh , the Bull's brother ! " eald he shortly ,
and turned him about to go away. But Spit
fire Wat was at hs ! elbow , and took the daik
man by the elbow , presently halted him , and
span him round EO that he faced us.
"Who are you that speaks so lightly of my
cousin ot Earlstoun ? " he asked.
I think that Wat had forgotten that he was
not now among his cavalier blades , who are
ready to do them justice , put every pot-
liouso quarrel to the arbitrament of the
sword , which Is In fact a better way than
dispute and the strife of tongues.
The dark man smiled. "Ye are hot , young
sir , " ho said. "These manners better befit
the guardroom of Rob Grler of Lag than a
HE TOOK THE TERRIBLE SCARLET-STAINED PACE AND NECK ON HIS KNEE3.
gathering of the Seven Thousand. Hut since
yo ask my name , I am poor , unworthy Robin
Hamilton , on whom the Lord hath set his
hand. "
Then we knew that this was Sir Robert
Hamilton , who , with my brother Sandy , had
been the Societies' commissioner to the low
countries , and was here at Shclloch-on-Mln-
noch to defend his action. Brother of Jean
Hamilton , Sandy's wife , ho was , and of a yet
more sombre piety.
Then though 1 knew that he had been the
rock on which the Covenant had split at
Dothwell , and a stone of stumbling In her
counsels ever since , yet because ho looked
so weary and broken with toll , travels and
watchlngs that my heart could not but go out
to him.
Aa I looked and said nothing a more kindly
light came Into his eyes as he looked at 'V7at.
"Yo will be Dlack Bess of Lochluvar's son
a tacked-on Covenant man. But a kind ! }
lad for all yo are to brisk with your tongue
and ready with your blade. I have seen the
day when It would have dome me a pleasure
to step out with you , In days that were full
of the pride of the flesh. I do not blame you.
I fight first and ask why after , ls the Gordon
all over , but do not forget that this day ,
here on the wild Bide of the Shalloch-on-Mtn-
noch , there are a thousand gentlemen of as
good blood as your own. Homespun cloth
and herd's plaldles cover many a man of
ancient name tills day , that never thought to
find himself In arms against the king , savs
oven for the truth's sake. "
Robert Hamilton spoke with such < m air of
dignity and sadness tliat Wat lifted his hand
to his blue bonnet In token that he was
pacified , and with a kindly nod the stranger
turned among the throng that now filled all
about the place of meeting.
It was a wonderful sight and made our
hearts beat high only to lot k upon It. Upon
the Session Stona twelve men stood , with
heads bared to the fierce heat of the sun.
All of them were1 cray-heailed men saving
two , only a lad of pals and girlish faea with
dark , sweet eyes and towering above him the
flecked raven locks of Sir Robert Hamilton.
These were the commissioners of districts , all
ordained elders. At one side was a little
table brought from the house of the ShallocU
and a man sat at It busily writing. By a
curious sword cut across his cheek I knew
him for Michael Shields , the clerk and his
torian of the United Societies.
Behind upon the hillside was drawn up a
guard of 201) horse , and the tossing bits and
jingling accoutrements mttde a pleasent sound
to me that loved such things , which were
mostly the portion of our enemies. The wide
amphitheater opposite to the Session Stone
was chiefly occupied by the women and
elder men , who , as I have said , sat upon
plaids spread upon the bank. Behind these
again , upon the gently eloping side of the
Shalloch hill , was a noble sight that made
me gasp for gladness. Company behind com
pany were rsnked the men whom Robert
Hamilton had called the Seven Thousand.
There were officers on their flanks , on whose
drawn swords the sun glittered , and though
there was no uniformity of dress there was
In every bonnet the blue favor of the Cove
nant. Their formation was go steady and
their number * so largo that the whole hill
side seemed covered with their regiments.
Looking pack over the years , I think we
might have rltked a Dunkeld before the time
with such an ordered host.
I heard one speaking In the Drench lan
guage at my elbow and looked about me ,
whereupon I spied two men who had been
walking to and fro among the companies.
"But all this will do little good for a
little , " said cno at the ipeakera. "We must
Worldr nter'"lned ' a large number of ] I
ylth llteruy and 'musical program. I |
keep them out of the flcld until wo are
ready. They need one to draw them Into tlio
bond of obedience. They are able to fight '
singly , but they cannot fight together. "
"No matter , " eald the other , "they will |
stand us In good stead one day when the ,
prince sails over. The Seven Thousand shall
be our mainstay In that day , not In Scotland - !
land only , but In Britain. " |
Dy tills I guessed that these two were
officers of the prince of Orange , sent over to
see If the time were yet ripe.
Meanwhile the meeting proceeded to the
voice of prayer and the rolcmn throb of
psalmody. It was a great and gracious thing
to hear the swell of prnlss that went up from
that hillside from the men that had wor
shiped In the way of silence and In private
because they dared no other for many weary
months ,
( To be Continued. )
TIIK t'/.Mir.v.s jt.iitr.
Mnrimret Vnmlegrlft In the Arconau'
It wits out on the western frontier ,
The miners , tugged and brown ,
\\rto gathered n roll ml the posters ,
Hie clicus bnd come to town !
The grunt tent * hewn In the dnrkuees ,
Llko n wonderful palace of light , s
And rough men crowded the entruno.
Slums u dn'l comu every nlghtl
Not n woman's fnco among them ;
Mnny a face that wns bad ,
Ami some Umt were only vacant ,
And pome that were very sad.
And behind n cnnviis curtain ,
In a corner of the place ,
The clown , with chalk and vermilion.
Was making up his face.
A weary-looking woman.
With a smile that still wns sweet ,
Sewed on n little garment.
With a cradle nt her feet ,
I'nntnloon Ftoo < l ready and waiting ;
It was time for the going on ;
Hut the clown In vain rvurclUMl wildly ,
The "property baby" was gone.
Ho murmured , Imp.itlertly hunting ,
"It's sttantie tliut I cannot llml ;
There ! I've looked In every coiner ;
It inti t have born left behind ! "
The miners were stamping nnd shouting ,
They were not very patient men ;
The clown bent over the cradle ;
"I must take you , little Hen1 !
The mother started and shivered ,
ll\lt trouble and want were near ;
She lifted her baby gently ;
"You'll be very careful , dear ? "
"Careful ? You foolish dmling ! "
How tcndeily It was said ;
While a smile shone through the chalk ami
paint :
"I love each hair of his head ! "
The noise rose Into an uproar ,
Misrule for the time was king ;
The clown , with n foolish chuckle ,
Hotted Into the ring.
Hut us , with u squeak and flourish ,
The llddles closed their tune ,
"You'll hold him ns If he was made of
glass ! "
Said the clown to pantaloon.
The jovial fellow nodded :
"I've n couple myself , " he said ;
"I know how to handle 'em , bless youl
Old fellow , go ahead ! "
The fun grew fm-t and furlou" .
And not one of nil the crowd
Had guessed that the baby was alive ,
When he suddenly laughed aloud.
Oh , thnt baby laugh ! It was echoed
From the benches with a ling ,
And the roughest customer there sprung1 iru
With , "Hoys' It's the renl thing ! ' '
The ling was jammed in a. minute ,
Not a man that did not strive
For "a shot at holding the baby , "
The baby that was "alive ! "
Ho was thronged by kneollrfj suitors
In the midst of the dusty rlnir.
And he held hli court right royally ,
The fair little buby king ,
'Till one of the ihoutlng courtiers ,
A man with n cold , hard face ,
The talk for miles of the country ,
And the terror of the place.
Hsilsod the little king to his shoulder ,
And chuckled , "Look at that ! "
AH the chubby fingers clutched his hair ,
Then , "Hoys , hand round the hall"
There never wns such a hatful
Of silver , and gold , and notes ;
People ate not always pennllc.ss
Uocnusc they don't wear coats.
And then , "Three cheers for the baby ! "
I tell you those cheers were mount.
And the way In which they were given
Was enouKh to inlse the tent.
And then there was sudden silence.
And a gruff old miner paid ,
"Come , boys , e-'ou' ' h of this rumpus !
It's time It was put to bed. "
So , looking a little shee'nMi ,
Hut with faces strangely bright ,
The audience , somewhat UnRerlnB' ,
Flocked out Into the nlpht.
And the bold-faced leader chuckled :
"He wasn't * a bit afiald !
He's o.t Kamo as he's KOOil-looklnR1 ,
Boys , that wns n show that paldl"
OBJECT TO THE ENDEAVORERS.
rhrlr Activity ' niil to tin Distasteful In
the Orthodox.
Some old-fnshloned Presbyterians , nnd
especially many of the older men of the
ministry , says the New York Sun , look with
distrust upon the growth in numbers end
power of the Christian Endeavor society. It
Is the boast of American Presbyterians that
their church has a republican form of govern
ment , but the Influence of the clergy and the
ciders has hitherto been exceedingly strong
In this ecclesiastical republic , and the
Christian Endeavor societies form an inde
pendent body within the church entirely be
yond the ofllclal control of the governing
officers. The members of the society are
mostly young persons , and they refuse , as a
body , to recognize the authority of the ses
sion , though , as Individual church mem
bers , they are of course clearly under Us
authority.
The more aggressive of the Christian En
deavor societies have In some Instances un
dertaken to dictate to the whole congrega
tion , and they have often Insisted upon the
calling of a young minister rather than an
old one. There have been some striking
Instances of the sort In Pennsylvania , where
the Christian Endeavor organization Is
strong. The Christian Endeavor societies arc
active In church affairs , nnd the pledge of
each member on joining the organization Is
to further the upbuilding : of the church and
be faithful In attendance upon the services.
The movement Is pre-eminently one of the
youth of the church , and it l.as often worked
to the Injury of old pastors , so that some of
the old men go so far as to speak of It as
threatening the unity of the church.
One thing that makes the active champion
ship of young men by the Christian Endeavor
societies distasteful to the older clergy Is
the fact that 700 ministers In the Northern
Presbyterian church arc without charges.
This Is about 14 per cent of the whole
clerical body. There Is no systematic mctlioJ
of bringing pastorless churches and unem
ployed ministers Into communication with
each other , and ns the power of appointment
to pastorates lies with the Individual con
gregations and not with any central body , the
difficulties presented by the case of empty
pulpits and Idle ministers are very great.
The Christian Endeavor societies seek to fill
the vacant pulpits with young men , to the
exclusion of unemployed old men , and the
theological seminaries all over the north ,
seven In number , exclusive of excommuni
cated Union , are busy turnips out hundreds
of new ministers each year to compete for
places with the TOO already Idle. Some
prcfcbytcrles Incline to discourage the licens
ing of young men while BO many old pastors
are Idle , and there Is a small body of men
in the church that look with jealousy upon
the education fund , which Is designed to
help through college and the theological
seminaries young men seeking to enter the
ministry.
The Methodist church , foreseeing the pos
sible danger of a strong body of young
church members , organized Independently of
the governing body , keeps the Epworth
league , which Is the strong organization of
young Methodists , carefully under the author
ity of the church. Some Presbyterians be
lieve that the safety of the church demands
the subjection of the Christian Endeavor
societies to the authority of the church.
The Eoclety , an a whole , Is not denomina
tional , but Includes members drawn from
several Protestant denominations , Including
the Methodist as well as the Presbyterian ,
but the local organizations are connected
with Individual churches. The last general
assembly of the Northern Presbyterian
church appqlnted a committee to Investigate
the matter of young people's associations ,
and If this committee does what the older
men hope , It will overhaul the question of
the Christian Endeavor societies , The re
port , If favorable to bringing the societies
under the church authority , may cauqo con
siderable trouble ; and , Indeed , whatever U
recommended touching the society will prob
ably provoke warm dincut.Ion , as many of
the younger ministers are zealous friends of
the young people's movement.
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The former recslved hit High ichool diploma i
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